A Woman is a Woman is a 1961 movie directed by Jean-Luc Godard.
WHAT HAPPENS?
A young woman wants to have a baby with her boyfriend, whose interests lie elsewhere. His friend is brought into the relationship, which only leads to complicated feelings.
ONE LINE REVIEW
A Woman is a Woman sees Godard take on the absurdity of relationships.
THE ACTORS
Anna Karina stars in her first Godard feature and it’s obvious the director is infatuated with her. Karina’s big, expressive eyes and range of emotion are continually highlighted throughout. Her character, Angela, possesses little depth beyond her main motivation, yet Godard accentuates her naivety and allows her style to emerge.
Jean-Claude Brialy and Jean-Paul Belmondo play Emile and Alfred, Angela’s potential suitors. The prolific Brialy is efficient as the cynical and often cold Emile – he continually shoots down Angela’s desire for a baby. Belmondo breezes through his performance as the cavalier Alfred.
THE DIRECTOR
A Woman is a Woman fits into a unique place in Godard’s filmography. There are few gangster references and no overt political leanings present. As such, it features a light tone. Being only his second feature, we also see the subversive experimentation that would mark his later work. Early on, Karina announces: “before acting out our little farce, let’s bow to the audience.”
Throughout the movie, Godard reminds us that we’re watching a movie. Karina makes a regular habit of winking to the camera. Meta moments abound, including Alfred mentioning that “Breathless is on TV tonight.” A police duo interrupt an argument to canvass the apartment. Emile and Angela decide not to talk to each other – instead they argue through book titles.
THE BEST – Self-Referential Godard
Alfred mentions Breathless and later asks about Jules and Jim. Later, when negotiating with a prostitute who wants to see a movie, Belmondo leans into the screen and references Burt Lancaster. The best line comes from Emile, who asks both Angela and the audience: “Is this a tragedy or comedy? Either way, it’s a masterpiece.”
THE BEST Part 2 – The Egg
Karina’s Angela performs a great sight gag with a long-developing egg flip – which could actually be commentary on domestic affairs….or it’s just an egg flip.
THE BEST Part 3 – Alfred Gets Out Of Paying His Bar Tab
Belmondo’s performance is a bit subdued, at least compared to his other Godard roles. However, his best one-liner comes as he sets up an unwitting bartender.
THE WORST – Is It Just Me or Is This Movie Really Depressing?
The tone is light and the movie’s farcical quality is continually emphasized, yet I felt a weird dread as Angela’s existence was reduced to having a baby with two suitors who refuse to participate.
FOX FORCE FIVE RATING – 4.25/5
A Woman is a Woman shows Godard beginning to exploit the subversive cinematic tricks fully on display in his later works. It’s fascinating to see him in this place – even more so when the tone remains breezy and apolitical.
