Apologies for lack of email replies and posts! My silly computer decided to be inconsiderate and go on the fritz (again). So I’m only just catching up with things now that it’s all fixed! I had a sewing post planned for today, but can’t find a link I need, so hopefully that will go up tomorrow…
[ red tights! and silly poses! ]
Lately I’ve been on an early 60s French film kick. For some reason, despite a brief foray into foreign films several years ago, I managed to never watch any of Jean Luc Goddard’s films, which I know are considered the holy grail of 60s French cinema. So thanks to canceling my cable and getting Netflix instead, I’ve been watching all the Goddard films I can get. Which means I’m mildly obsessed with the early 60s right now; a period I haven’t really given much thought to in awhile. So thanks to the wonderful world of the internet, here are some screencaps from one of the films I recently watched: A Woman is a Woman (or Une Femme Est Une Femme if we want to be correct) from 1961. (Thanks to Anja for hooking me up with where to find some good film stills!)
[ I love the tam with the pompom. ]
[ gorgeous hairstyle and that classic 60s tailored coat! ]
[ so theatrical, yet I adore the fur collar so much! ]
[ I love this whole outfit. I could kick myself for getting rid of a plaid skirt I had just like this! ]
[ cute and classic (and there is that blue eyeshadow). ]
[ I love the "sausage curl" pigtails! ]
If you haven’t seen this film, but like foreign movies that have a bit of a flair for the silly, you’ll love this. Besides the adorable Anna Karina and cute early 60s clothes, there is a scene involving using book titles to insult someone (rather than speaking) that is not-to-be-missed! I’ve seen a couple other Goddard films in recent weeks, but what are your favorites (or perhaps, your favorite foreign film)?
[ all stills from here. ]
so cute! love the pig tails
Looks like a really nice movie, I’ll be sure to check it out!
My favourite foreign movie at the moment is “Komt Een Vrouw Bij de Dokter”. It is a Dutch film about a woman who gets cancer. Everything is seen from the side of her housband. It is a modern film, made in 2009. But I still love it.
I just love all of Godard’s 60s movies – I’m working on some Godard inspired clothing projects at the moment and so I just can’t get enough of these stills!
I really want to watch Une Femme est Une Femme properly. I’ve seen almost all of it – but without sound and projected onto the wall of a bar in Berlin! I love the dancing bit at the beginning. and her outfits!
My absolute favourite foreign language film is Das Leben der Anderen/the Life of Others. So so good!
Oh, please do share the movies you liked! For a long time I wanted to get my paws on those 60′s (and by all means 50′s) movies and it’d be just lovely to get some tips!
Bisous
OT – I remember those velveteen bows in the hair!!!! I had some little ones myself. Great clips.
Love,
Mom
I’ve never seen any of Goddard’s films, but now I’m going to look for them!
One of my favorite movies of all time is “Mitt Liv Sund Hund,” or, “My Life as a Dog.” It’s a Swedish film set in the late 50′s. The story is bittersweet, and the clothing and sets are wonderful.
French New Wave is my favourite era of films— the clothes, settings, political climate, and sexual tension, are just a perfect storm of intrigue and beauty. Most Godard films are so fun to watch. I also like François Truffaut because his storytelling is a great mix of melancholy and silliness.
I’d definitely recommend Breathless (À bout de souffle, 1960); Jean Seberg is the most charming!
I also love Bande à part (Band of Outsiders) for its classic love triangle.. and Anna Karina… and the café dance scene!
I have been thinking lately of watching Milena again. Loved it. Also, Run Lola Run was one of my modern favorites (from when I was much younger and in love with her punker hair ; )
Mitt Liv Sund Hund is a very sweet movie. One I liked was Kundskabens Træ (The tree of knowledge), a Danish film from 1981 set in the 50′s.
But to tell the truth my real love is Bollywood. And the clothes can be fantastic. (Not to mention the dancing and music!) Devdas is a good one for yummy clothes.
ah, godard is definitely one of my favorites! and this is such a fun and cute film for sure. i always wish i could do my eyeshadow like that, but i never get it right when i try…
These pictures look amazing! I’ve only seen “2 or 3 Things I Know About Her” and wasn’t a big fan of it, but maybe I’ll give Goddard another chance!
Hi Casey,
Thanks for this post. The sixties are definitely an era that I like in terms of fashion. I have actually been meaning to post about Jacques Demy’s films (post is ready I just need to get some screencaps). He’s also a New Wave french director, though a little underrated, mostly due to the fact that his universe is a very romantic and poetic one, and doesn’t have the political subtext that Godard’s films have. Also a lot of his films are musicals or “sung” films, which one often either loves or hates.
Amongst many other things, his films are remarkable in the way he coordinates colors in seneries and wardrobes, while being very much stapled “1960′s era”.
One of my favorite is “Les Demoiselles de Rochefort” (“the Yound Ladies of Rochefort”). It’s just a concentrate of joy and happiness. with a contrats of white and saturated punchy colors in the Courrèges inspired dresses and I can’t help but smile the whole way through when I watch it…
Thanks again for your post, it’s inspiring me to get on with mine and post it sooner rather than later !
Oh, I loooove ‘Une Femme Est Une Femme’…It always makes me want to mess my hair up into a little messy bouffant and wear dark eyeliner! (which looks horrid on me, alas!)tee hee!!
I just can’t seem to pull off that sort of make-up! It’s ever so sweet, though!! 
Hope your having a beautiful week so far!!
Yay this is my favorite Anna Karina film! I love how silly and whimsical the situations are, especially the one with the silly poses and the book titles! I also love Anna Karina’s wardrobe in this film! Thanks for sharing, Casey!
Quelle coincidence, I just ordered this from Amazon yesterday! I haven’t watched it for ages, so good to be reminded of just how wonderful the colours are.
Vivre Sa Vie, Alphaville, Pierrot le fou, and 2 ou 3 Chose Que Je Sais D’Elle are all goodies – and good for fashion, before it gets all 80s!
Breathless has just been restored for its 50th anniversary and is currently playing at cinemas in the UK. I went to a party for the rerelease last week and shamelessly wore a stripey t-shirt, huge red skirt and this bow belt – everyone must’ve thought it was a comedy French outfit, but really it’s just part of my everyday wardrobe!
I love French films, although I haven’t seen very many. The most recent one I saw was Hiroshima, Mon Amour, which was pretty good except for the ending which was really drawn out. Thanks for the suggestions!
I’ve only seen a couple of Godard films (Vivre sa Vie and Bande a Part – I’m too lazy to italicise/check my poor French spelling) and kind of liked them. I would like to see more, though! Another French film I like from close to that era is Les Diaboliques.
I started getting into the Italian neo-realist films…I love Ossessione.
I don’t know what my favourite foreign film is, though I have fond memories of a silly Italian film called Johnny Stecchino with Roberto Benigni (by the way, once I remembered I had seen Life is Beautiful I realised I NEVER want to see it again…too sad) and this even more ridiculous series of fantasy films called Fantaghiro about an Italian princess, in sort of Renaissance times, I guess, who goes on some kind of quest disguised as a boy and there’s a talking goose and a rock and an evil sorceress. I desperately want them on DVD but they don’t come with English subtitles. ;]
Though now I’m reminded I still really need to get Love in Thoughts (a gorgeous German film set in the 20s/30s about two friends who make a suicide pact in the name of love…based on a true story), Goodbye Lenin and The Edukators on DVD. I have a bit of a crush on Daniel Bruhl. ;]
-Andi x
Me thinks Miss Casey needs a new computer. I thought the photos were sad eyes representing your computer woes and not stills from a movie.
Currently, my favorite foreign film is A Very Long Engagement. It is one of the most beautiful films I’ve ever seen. The clothes! The scenery! The people! All of it gorgeous and charming and so, so sweet.
If you’re into 60s French films, however, I’d recommend The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. It’s a French musical film, and every single line is sung. I also love seeing the clothes and of course, the umbrellas. Catherine Deneuve is so beautiful.
Oh goodness I love her little sailor outfit. Looks like a fun film.
This movie is great–especially for the hip use of color and trendy apt. decor.
I do have to 2nd the vote for Jacques Demy. His sung movies have amazing production design–truly outrageous.
1964, Umbrellas of Cherbourg
1967, Young Girls of Rochefort
Both movies feature Catherine Deneuve, who is gorgeous in her French fashions, along with the other cast members. The singing can be relentless however, so don’t feel guilty if you have to fast forward to the next scene!
I’ve never been into foreign films. I guess I’m just a lover of all those old black and white films with Hepburn, Grant, Bogart, etc.
But I did wear blue eye shadow (remember I’m old and grew up in the 60s) and even wore those thick, heavy bangs, long straight hair and my hair in those sausage pigtails. I have friends who wore the teased, poufed hair styles and beehives.
You should see my high school annual
all kinds of retro prettiness going on here. thanks for posting these.
Masculin Feminin is my favorite Anna-less Godard film. Esoteric, of course, but it has to be.
Gorgeous, thanks so much for posting. I must track down this film and I think I must also have a fringe like hers. xK
I do love this film a lot! My another Godard favorite is “Contempt”, featuring the beautiful Bridget Bardot
*Ena*