CAMERA STYLO (Jean-Luc Godard)

Godard's work is unique in almost every aspect. The style stands out to me for the outlandish music that often is too intense for the scene, quick jump cuts that skip through a whole conversation or wacky scene transitions. The themes in his films also have a certain continuity to them. They talk about relationships among young people in Paris and what they care about. I read that Godard would often put much of his own life experiences into his work as well. The story arch in BREATHLESS (1960) is probably my favorite. BELMONDO has to evade capture after killing a police officer. He uses his network of ex-girlfriends around Paris to evade them for some time before he is caught while explaining all of his side stories with the ex-girlfriends. The most exciting part to me about his camera work is how he uses a style called "camera stylo" where the director chooses exactly how the camera should move.