THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO MAKE A MUSICAL / "UNE FEMME EST UNE FEMME"

Yes, naturally we all know that musicals, music hall numbers are one of the staples of classic Hollywood back in the day. And that was precisely what directors such as Jean Luc Godard were criticizing back in the ‘60s. I don’t mean the popularity of musicals of course, but classic Hollywood and the lifestyle it stood for as a general rule. Directors like Godard tried to make their films “unfilmlike” if that’s a word at all. And the aim in doing that was to get the viewer to think about the film. Why a certain thing was done, what it stood for. Something, anything to jerk you out of the soporific state more commonly known as “getting in to a movie” and get us actively participating. That is why the films of directors such as Godard are often deemed unwatchable by most normal folk. I mean, fair is fair; sometimes you just want to unplug and relax. Actively participating in a deep and meaningful philosophical debate is not the first thing you want to do after a tiring day at work. However, there is wisdom in checking these films out from time to time, when you are in the mood for something serious. Not least because the results of Godard’s experimental style are not always boring /unwatchable (or both). Like this post modern musical, Une femme est une femme.
Angela (the rather dazzling Anna Karina who Godard would end up marrying) is a stripper. She has, however, dreams and hopes like other women. And one of them is starting a family. She is determined to have children soon, and her schedule is pushed back just a touch when the latest tests inform her that that very same day is her most fertile day to fall pregnant. Now she has only a couple of hours to convince her boyfriend Emile – but he doesn’t exactly look favorably on this idea that has been sprung on her. So she turns to her husband’s best friend Alfred (Jean Paul Belmondo) who does care about her but is still a little surprised by her offer – and besides there is Angela’s boyfriend to think of. So what will our heroine do? Will she be able to start the family she wants so much? Or will she have to wait until the next fertile date comes along?
Now, this is and is not a musical. Music features greatly in it, no doubt about that. But the characters do not actually break out into song (apart from Angela, who sings as she does her number on stage). It is nevertheless, and very openly, a salute crossed with a criticism of the genre. The storyline is funny when you get into it - and please note this film was made in the early sixties so what with one thing and another, it was quite brave to have the whole film about sex, getting pregnant by anyone at any cost (and that could be a poke at some storylines still knocking around today!). And even though the “non-diegetic” (not pertaining to the “film universe”) elements will jar with you from time to time, you will begin to find it funny after a while. A couple of my favorite quotes and examples are these : Alfred (Jean Paul Belmondo) is summoned to Emile and Angela’s flat after the couple have had a major quarrel. Emile wants Angela to ask him to go to bed with her if she’s so desperate and Angela is hesitating. Alfred listens for a while and says “I hope this is not going to take long, A bout de soufflé is on TV and I don’t want to miss it.” – A bout de soufflé is a film by Jean Luc Godard =). Another favorite is that when an actor is mentioned at some point in the film ( I forget who) Jean Paul Belmondo turns to the camera with a big grin and says “He’s a good friend of mine!” Things like that. There are a lot more I can think of but I’ll let you pick them up on the way. Now, this is not the usual way one watches a film but for me, it gave the impression that, I don’t know, I was part of the action. Sitting relaxing with friends, you know, that kind of ambiance. And I mean chatting, not just listening to a lecture – as it were. It’s a nice easy Godard if you want a soft landing into French New Wave. I mean, I don’t like everything I have watched that he has done, but this was a winner in my books.