Is It Really a Great Movie? Part Twelve: My Life to Live

by dan heaton

Using Roger Ebert's Great Movies book as a guide, this series of articles will focus on all films included on his list that previously have escaped my notice. Since all lists are subjective, I am not treating Ebert's choices as the essential selection of films. However, his essays offer the perfect chance for me to explore both classics and lesser-known pictures from around the globe.

Jean-Luc Godard’s My Life to Live may not receive the international acclaim of his 1960 film Breathless, but many experts have heralded it as a classic picture. The Venice Film Festival bestowed the Special Jury Prize and the Pasinetti Award (Best Italian Film) on the unique 1962 film. France’s Godard was the epitome of cool in the ‘60s, and his movies retain their modern style long after their initial release. The sharp black-and-white images, chic clothes, and constant smoking only enhance this film’s staying power.

My only prior exposure to Godard was seeing 1964’s Band of Outsiders, which offered great scenes but fell a bit short on the emotional side. One exciting dance sequence had some close similarities with Pulp Fiction’s Travolta/Thurman combo, which is not a mere coincidence. Tarantino’s cool characters honor (or steal from) Godard’s best work, and those parallels are evident in My Life to Live. The story comprises 12 individual scenes that each focus on Nana (Anna Karina) – a comely lady who leaves her husband to pursue an acting career. Unfortunately, her aspirations lead nowhere, and she slips into a life of prostitution. Her demeanor is extremely subdued even when she deals with guys who are not at the top of the social scale. Nana remains the epitome of cool through nearly everything, but her smooth demeanor fails to mask the emotional turmoil residing beneath the surface. Sporting short black hair and smoking incessantly, she lacks much outward emotion but is affected by her associate’s harsh actions.

The film’s highlights include two lengthy sequences that could hardly be more different. Each moment almost exists in an entirely separate genre from the other, but that disparity adds to the effectiveness. The first involves Nana’s pimp Raoul (Sady Rebbot), who spends considerable time discussing the intricacies of the prostitution business. His words are cold and direct and vary little from how a corporate boss might speak to a new office worker. The story’s energy picks up at this point, which is eerie considering the profession being described. The other pivotal scene involves a random conversation between Nana and an old man at a local cafe. Their philosophical discussion covers the nature of life and our place in it. He relates an odd story that intrigues Nana, and their conversation feels far removed from her passionless trysts.

The twelve sections are separated by titles and extremely brief summary descriptions. While they all contain Anna Karina and Michel Legrand’s remarkable score, each moment could exist separately from the rest. The story does progress broadly towards its surprising conclusion, but this result is not really the point. Even while Nana’s life denigrates, exciting small moments and Godard’s sharp direction keep us engaged. One memorable scene involves her viewing The Passion of Joan of Arc (my next article!) and tearing up while Maria Falconetti cries on the screen. Karina commands our attention, and her success is largely due to the camera’s loving gaze. She was Godard’s wife at the time, and their connection is evident during this film. Nana spends her time smoking and often doing very little, but Karina makes even the throwaway moments interesting. I should also mention Raoul Coutard’s excellent cinematography, which gives the scenes a contemporary, unique perspective.

My Life to Live is not a groundbreaking picture, but its effect stays with you long after the viewing. Roger Ebert describes how the film left him motionless through the presentation, and I agree with this sentiment. Godard, Karina, Legrand, and Coutard use their talents to grab you for the entire running time. I would not place this picture at the top of this series’ choices, but its appeal is undeniable. One of the Great Movies project’s primary goals was to discover artists’ work that would motivate me to explore them further. This intriguing picture has inspired me to seek out Godard’s other notable films in the near future.