The energy and momentum of youth have been longtime themes for five-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker Richard Linklater, from Before Sunrise (1994) to Boyhood (2014). Now, with Nouvelle Vague, the director turns his camera back 60 years to a pivotal moment in cinema, to a time when the creative imagination and experimentation of young people in Paris led to a new way of making films: the birth of the French New Wave. 

What is Nouvelle Vague about? 

Nouvelle Vague is Oscar-nominated director Richard Linklater’s love letter to the revolutionary magic of the French New Wave, reimagining the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless, which ultimately cemented Godard as a pioneer of global cinema. 

As critic turned director Godard makes and breaks the rules, a mix of fresh faces and daring talents — including Zoey Deutch as Jean Seberg, Aubry Dullin as Jean-Paul Belmondo, and Guillaume Marbeck as Godard himself — bring his spontaneous, electric film to life. 

Capturing the youthful dynamism and creative chaos at the heart of one of the world’s most beloved and influential movies, Nouvelle Vague transports us to the streets of 1959 Paris for an ode to the transformative power of cinema.

Jean-Luc Godard (Guillaume Marbeck)

Who is in the cast of Nouvelle Vague? 

Wearing Godard’s iconic black sunglasses is Guillaume Marbeck, with Zoey Deutch and Aubry Dullin portraying Breathless’ stars Jean Seberg and Jean-Paul Belmondo. The film also includes portrayals of dozens of icons that were foundational in forming the French New Wave movement, including François Truffaut, Agnès Varda, and Éric Rohmer.   

Who is the creative team behind Nouvelle Vague?

To make his ode to the process of making a film, Linklater worked with a talented crew of craftspeople, including:

• Writers Holly Gent, Vincent Palmo Jr., Michèle Pétin (Halberstadt), and Laetitia Masson
• Producers Laurent Pétin and Michèle Pétin (Halberstadt)
• Cinematographer David Chambille
• Production designer Katia Wyszkop
• Costume designer Pascaline Chavanne
• Makeup artist Turid Follvik
• Hair stylist Franck-Pascal Alquinet
• Editor Catherine Schwartz

Jean Seberg (Zoey Deutch)

Has Nouvelle Vague been nominated for any awards? 

After premiering at Cannes Film Festival where director Richard Linklater was nominated for the Palme d’Or, the film has gone on to receive a nomination for Best International Feature at the Gotham Independent Film Awards. Actor Zoey Deutch was honored with the Breakthrough Performance Award at Savannah Film Festival for her portrayal of Jean Seberg. 

When will Nouvelle Vague be on Netflix? 

Nouvelle Vague is now on Netflix in the US.