Is French New Wave Maestro Jean-Luc Godard Retiring?

There aren't many legends left. These are the people who shaped filmmaking into what we see today. The people who made movies an international sensation. One of the last pillars is Jean-Luc Godard. He's been making movies for over 60 years. The 90-year-old has been giving us cinematic masterpieces year after year. From Breathless to The Image Book. 

He was recently invited to speak about his forthcoming projects and the pandemic in a seminar lecture with Lausanne’s ECAL University of Art and Design.

In the chat, Godard spoke about optimism about the virus' place in movies.

“The virus should definitely be talked about once or twice. With everything that comes with it, the virus is a form of communication. It doesn’t mean we’re going to die from it, but we might not live very well with it either.”

But we're not focused on that interview right now. We want to talk about this 85-minute interview with IFFK - International Film Festival of Kerala below. 

In case you didn't watch, deeper into the interview, Godard mentioned something else coming to an end. As Godard paused, he said, "I’m finishing my movie life—yes, my moviemaker’s life—by doing two scripts and, after, I will say, 'Goodbye, cinema.'"

Yes, one of our pillars of filmmaking has plans to step down. He's certainly earned it, but it's hard to hear. 

Godard was a pioneer of the French New Wave, someone who bravely and boldly has always let film challenge him. He has always seemed to be on the cutting edge, making a 3D movie a few years ago, and still is producing work vying for the Palme d'Or at Cannes. I mean, Criterion calls him "our greatest lyricist on historical trauma, religion, and the legacy of cinema."

So how will we remember Godard? I think as someone who always worked because he loved it so much. That's enough inspiration for me. 

Let me know what you think in the comments.