French New Wave
In April and May the BFI celebrates the 50th anniversary of the French New Wave
Film Season
April - May 2009
BFI Southbank
A two-month season celebrating the pioneering work of the critics-turned-filmmakers of the Nouvelle Vague - most notably Chabrol, Truffaut, Godard, Rohmer and Rivette.
Pierrot Le Fou
Opens in cinemas nationwide on 22 May 2009
Sight & Sound
May issue
In our May issue we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the French New Wave. We look at the actors that redefined stardom, revisit the directors that have been obscured by the focus on a handful of auteurs and asked a selection of filmmakers about what the New Wave means to them now.
The 400 Blows
Opens in cinemas nationwide on 10 April 2009
Fifty years on from its unveiling at the Cannes Film Festival, Truffaut's superb feature debut remains an influential landmark in the history of the cinema.
Pierrot le fou
Opens in cinemas nationwide on 22 May 2009
Godard called it the story of the "last romantic couple", but it was also his spectacular farewell to the style and spirit of the Nouvelle Vague.
DVDs and books from the Filmstore
- Les Demoiselles de Rochefort
- The French New Wave: Critical Landmarks
The Nouvelle Vague at the Ciné lumière
The New Wave season is presented in collaboration with Ciné lumière. For details of screenings there (13-22 March; 14-21 April), or information on the symposium 'The Nouvelle Vague: 50 Years on' (13 & 14 March) please visit www.institut-francais.org.uk or telephone 020 7073 1350
Competition
Win a copy of each of the DVDs promoted on this page, plus a poster of 'The 400 Blows'. For your chance to win simply answer the following question: What does the French term 'faire les quatre cents coups' mean?
To enter email the answer, along with your name and telephone number, to win@bfi.org.uk by Friday 3 June.
