Breathless / A Bout de Souffle
In Jean-Luc Godard’s seminal debut film, Jean-Paul Belmondo is Michel, a small-time crook who is hunted by the authorities for a car theft and the murder of a police officer. He attempts to persuade a hip American journalism student (the unforgettable Jean Seberg) to run away with him to Italy.
There’s a before and an after Breathless: it changed the language of cinema. From the way it was filmed to the way it was edited, Godard worked in direct opposition to the rules established by the previous 50 years of cinema. The modernist vitality that moved its conception is key to the impression we still get today that the film hasn’t really aged. Which can be said about a lot of the French New Wave’s film.
They led a revolution, which was to remain a central point of reference to many a filmmaker up to this day.
One of them, Richard Linklater, composed the most beautiful homage to this beloved classic. You can discover Nouvelle Vague before or after Breathless. Both combinations work and come with different pleasures!
This screening is supported by the French Embassy in Ireland.
Cork International Film Festival is delighted to return to its Principal Venue, The Arc Cinema on North Main St, Cork, for its 70th Festival edition, Thursday 6th to Sunday 16th November 2025.
The Arc Cinema Cork is home to The GATE Screen — a space dedicated to preserving and celebrating the legacy of the beloved former Gate Cinema — and an ideal spot for meeting fellow festival goers in between screenings. The GATE Screen features luxurious double sofa seats and tables, creating an intimate and sophisticated viewing experience. It is dedicated to showcasing arthouse films, including independent and local productions, foreign and Irish language titles throughout the year.
