Entry#179: Jules et Jim

Trailer

François Truffaut was considered one of the leading directors of French New Wave. This style of film, unlike the static and melodramatic dramas of Hollywood, desired to create narratives about realistic people with a dialogue that sounded as natural as possible and seemed as close to reality as possible. Still, despite the heavy intent of realism, French New Wave was also concerned with the romantic nature of the lawless and of the bohemian. As Jules and Jim is considered one of the high points of Truffaut's career, I found it only natural to want to check out the film.

The film follows the friendship of two bohemian writers, Jules and Jim, over the course of 25 years and one complicated love triangle. The writers met in college, with Jules being the extroverted one and Jim being the shy one, and the two immediately clicked with one another. They shared everything with each other - stories, ideas, critiques, and even women. However, things begin to change once Jules is introduced to the sexy and artistic Catherine, a woman who's just as complex and laid-back as the two friends are. Soon enough, both men find themselves in love with Catherine and we're led through a narrative of heartbreak, war, and confusion.

The characters are definitely the focus of this film. Though the cast is small, only consisting of fifteen different people, the focus and presentation of these characters is just superb. They're written and developed in a very intelligent and realistic manner, making it all the more easier to connect with and care about these people. Jules and Jim, obviously, are the most likable set of characters in the film. Catherine's presence may disturb their friendship at points, but the bond between these two friends can easily be felt through the script and the acting. The first act, by far, had to be the best in terms of characterization. The originality and freshness allows for a narrative that feels like it can be pulled in any direction it pleases.

On the down side, however, that "pulled in any direction" comment is taken a bit too far. I had no qualms with the majority of the first and second acts, but the third act of the film simply perplexed me. I understood how our characters got to this point, yet I can't understand their actions during this section of the film. It seems completely spontaneous and out-of-touch with the rest of the film. The ending especially felt doomed by this "randomness" in the third act. I won't give anything away, but it almost feels pretentious in its complete lack of logic.

Still, the characters really make up for this disappointing third act. The script is very intelligent, as I said, and it creates life-like people living in a world that seems just like our own. Films have been known to stretch the truth, in terms of human dialogue, but Jules and Jim felt quite natural. There were a few moments when it felt artificial, yes, but these moments are few and far between. The rest of the script breathes with a great sense of charm in its freshness. In fact, there are many sequences throughout the film where the main characters just sit down and talk with one another. These conversations - whether they're discussing the meaning of a play or the consequences of a divorce - are fresh and feel very, very real. It's this kind of playfulness and charm that makes the film so appealing.

The cinematography is wonderful as well. The camerawork, created with the help of fast-moving cameras and rollerblades, is very fluid and open, fitting in very well with the moods and themes of the film. The visuals are very stylish and authentic, making for a style of cinematography that's both aesthetically-pleasing and critical of the stationery camera that was popular with Hollywood dramas at the time.

Moving on, however, the film's pace can sometimes feel too fast for its own good. This is especially apparent during the film's introduction, which is so rushed that it's difficult to really understand what's going on. So much information and background is thrown into this opening that it's like trying to mash a CliffNotes version of the events into your head. The pace does get better later on, but the fast pace sometimes doesn't work out for the benefit of the film.

All in all, though, Jules and Jim is a very intelligent, charming, and graceful film. Though the fast pace and marred third act disappoint, the character-driven narrative and spectacular visual style make for a film that's easy to get whisked away by.