Product Description

Jean-Luc Godard transformed the face of cinema with his prolific, influential and revolutionary body of work which includes such classics as 'Breathless', 'Weekend' and 'Slow Motion' to name but a few. His video series 'Histoire(s) du Cinema', consisting of eight episodes made over a period of ten years, is an extraordinary look at the medium through the eyes of this unique filmmaker. Hugely ambitious in scope, the series covers a wide range of topics from the birth of cinema to Italian neo-realism to Hollywood and beyond. A dazzling montage of sight and sound, 'Histoire(s) du Cinema' features a diverse array of film extracts, the voices of - among others - Juliette Binoche and Alfred Hitchcock, and an eclectic music soundtrack ranging from Beethoven to Leonard Cohen.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9660 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-09-22
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Formats: Box set, PAL
• Number of discs: 3

Synopsis
Consisting of eight episodes made during the course of a ten year period, HISTOIRE(S) DU CINEMA is acclaimed French Filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard's astute series that examines many of cinemas most important facets, including its birth, the emergence of Italian neo-realism through to the importance of contemporary Hollywood today.

Review
A magical mystery tour through the medium of cinema Breathtaking works wonderfully well --The Independent

Review
An autobiographical memoir and an epitaph for cinema from one of its most ardent believers --The Times

Customer Reviews

The Power of Cinema
This is one of the most central works of the artist who un-matched in the history of the medium has pushed the very boundaries that have made cinema what it is. This massive work is a work to watch and enjoy, then watch again and again to get a subjective grasp of. The ideas that are put across in this DVD-set are some of the most interesting ideas on cinema ever produced.

This set is a must not only for all Godard fans but for anyone with any interest in the esscence of cinema. The ideas put across in this work will be of interest for years to come and this work is truly essential in the history of cinema and for cultural expression in any form - be it visual, audio, text or other.

His story of cinema
How does this series of films/TV programmes work? Would reading a review with a star rating help? Do we need to `get' the references?

Perhaps it would be best to stop reading this now and watch the DVDs.

To require an informed, cine-literate response to such a work belies its power and undermines its affect. It may be that Godard's Histoire(s) du Cinéma is an encyclopedic, historic text that does demand multiple viewings and require a degree of knowledge; Knowledge of European and Film History; but it can be viewed cold by anyone interested in cinema.

Histoire(s) may reveal more with multiple viewings but its affect is immediate. Regardless of whether one understands the puns or the multiple cultural references; whether one disagrees with the white, male, eurocentric attitude; it is his story.

Dark Windows or the Death of Godard

Flow of thought for the hardcore fans of cinema nouveau
This is a very interesting collection of film-essays about the cinema in the old-style experimental mode. I am still quite ambivalent about them and I haven't finished watching them... But I will, I think.
High marks for originality, low for pretetiousness that only Goddard can get away with...