Speaking About Godard

Rating:
Summary: Godard Talk
Review: "Speaking About Godard" by Kaja Silverman and Harun Farocki will stimulate Godard afficionados into conversations about Godard's work as the authors have themselves in this book. The authors devote chapters to selected works from the French auteur's oevre analyzing and debating specific aspects of the films. They attempt to find the meaning of specific scenes in the following Godard films: "Vivre sa vie", "Le mepris"("Contempt"), "Alphaville", "Weekend", "Le gai savoir", "Numero deux", "Passion", and "Nouvelle Vague". Some film stills accompany the authors examples from the respective films. You may not always agree with their analysis, but they don't always agree with each other. Of course, Godard's films are so rich with meaning, they are open to debate. The conversational style of the book makes it a great read for those stimulated by the great filmmaker's work.

Rating:
Summary: Godard Talk
Review: "Speaking About Godard" by Kaja Silverman and Harun Farocki will stimulate Godard afficionados into conversations about Godard's work as the authors have themselves in this book. The authors devote chapters to selected works from the French auteur's oevre analyzing and debating specific aspects of the films. They attempt to find the meaning of specific scenes in the following Godard films: "Vivre sa vie", "Le mepris"("Contempt"), "Alphaville", "Weekend", "Le gai savoir", "Numero deux", "Passion", and "Nouvelle Vague". Some film stills accompany the authors examples from the respective films. You may not always agree with their analysis, but they don't always agree with each other. Of course, Godard's films are so rich with meaning, they are open to debate. The conversational style of the book makes it a great read for those stimulated by the great filmmaker's work.

Rating:
Summary: Film as Text
Review: Even for those unfamiliar with all of Godard's films, these conversations are interesting. Although the book sometimes reads like a postmodern primer with footnote references and keyterms to all the 'right' writers of the sixties and seventies, the analysis is generally more complex and undogmatic. The scene by scene structure of each dialog also guarantees a trueness to the original "text" of the film, that is not always found in critical writing on film.

Rating:
Summary: Film as Text
Review: Even for those unfamiliar with all of Godard's films, these conversations are interesting. Although the book sometimes reads like a postmodern primer with footnote references and keyterms to all the 'right' writers of the sixties and seventies, the analysis is generally more complex and undogmatic. The scene by scene structure of each dialog also guarantees a trueness to the original "text" of the film, that is not always found in critical writing on film.

Rating:
Summary: a good way to start learning about Godard
Review: The layout of this book is interesting and accessible. It is basically an extended conversation between two fans of Godard, who just happen to be very learned in film studies/theory as well. The chapter on "Weekend" is particularly good. If you are finding yourself drawn to Godard, but do not know where to start, try this book.

Rating:
Summary: a good way to start learning about Godard
Review: The layout of this book is interesting and accessible. It is basically an extended conversation between two fans of Godard, who just happen to be very learned in film studies/theory as well. The chapter on "Weekend" is particularly good. If you are finding yourself drawn to Godard, but do not know where to start, try this book.