Vivre Sa Vie

I'm still exploring the films and impact of Jean-Luc Godard on cinema and my latest exploration has brought me to Vivre Sa Vie (1962). It is another exceptional film with the alluring Ann Karina, as Nana a woman drawn to prostitution for a number of reason and not lastly because of financial troubles. It has impressive cinematography from Goddard regular Raul Coutard and equally impressive score by Michel Legrand. It has a 12 tableaux structure that is somewhat novelistic and incorporates cinematic homage to films like Dreyer's The Passion of Joan of Arc as well as fellow New Wave film maker Trauffant's Jules and Jim. The films is philosophic as much as it is impressionistic and still feels fresh today. The Criterion treatment includes: a new, restored high-definition digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition, audio commentary featuring film scholar Adrian Martin, a video interview with film scholar Jean Narboni, conducted by historian Noël Simsolo, a television interview from 1962 with actress Anna Karina, excerpts from a 1961 French television exposé on prostitution, an illustrated essay on La prostitution, the book that served as inspiration for the film, stills gallery, director Jean-Luc Godard’s original theatrical trailer, a new and improved English subtitle translation, and a booklet featuring Godard’s original scenario, a new essay by critic Michael Atkinson, interviews with Godard, and a reprint by critic Jean Collet on the film’s soundtrack.