Eighty–three year old French–Swiss director Jean–Luc Godard's "Goodbye to Language" is an experience in itself. What some critics have described as "exasperating," I found provocatively awakening, and thoroughly enjoyed this haphazard 3D mashup of clips, audio mishaps and extended rants of love, language and human nature.
The story revolves around the meeting of a married woman and a single man. On the surface, the way it follows the relationship is almost as tumultuous as the relationship itself. Clips of classical music, film extracts, and saturated scenes make up the narrative that is in part told from a dog’s point of view. As a film directed by a new wave French screenwriter and director, “Goodbye” presents commentary through every reel.
An explanation will not do the smeared shots, aural dysfunctions and evocative language of the film justice. If you’re at the theatre for a night of sitting back and relaxing, “Goodbye to Language” may not be for you—but if you’re into obscure cinema and have 70 minutes to spare, take a chance on this film.
Check out what else we saw at the Philly Film Festival!
