Movies by Jacques Rivette

Jacques Rivette: A Visionary Craftsman of the French New Wave Jacques Rivette was a true original in the pantheon of French cinema. As a key member of the renowned Cahiers du Cinéma group, Rivette's filmmaking approach was defined by a spirit of improvisation, loose narratives, and an embrace of lengthy running times that allowed his stories to unfold at a languorous, contemplative pace. This unconventional style set him apart from many of his French New Wave contemporaries, positioning Rivette as a singular cinematic visionary. Rivette's two-part epic Joan the Maid exemplifies his meticulous, expansive approach, chronicling the life of the legendary Joan of Arc over nearly five hours of screen time. Films like the hypnotic Celine and Julie Go Boating and the mysterious L'Amour fou further showcase Rivette's talent for crafting intricate, labyrinthine narratives that reward patient, engaged viewing. Even in more compact works like The Duchess of Langeais and Va Savoir, his camera remains a window into richly textured worlds, brimming with mood, character, and subtle, shifting power dynamics. Across his diverse, daring oeuvre, Rivette emerges as a true maverick, a filmmaker who redefined the possibilities of the medium through his uncompromising vision.