POSTPONED! French New Wave: Hiroshima Mon Amour (Resnais 1959)

PLEASE NOTE: We are POSTPONING FOR ONE WEEK!!!!! Now Feb 7, 2026.
Hiroshima Mon Amour was directed by Alain Resnais in 1959. The "French New Wave" is primarily associated with the film journal "Cahiers du Cinéma," for which Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut, Jacques Rivette, and Claude Charbrol all wrote, who went on to become the "French New Wave's" most prominent directors. But at the same time there was another group of directors, also associated with the French New Wave, called the "Left Bank" directors, which include Agnès Varda (Cléo 5 to 7) and Alain Resnais, who directed this movie.

Why were they on the left bank, and why were Godard and Truffaut on the more stodgy right bank? It's all very confusing. I think rather than try to parse and get straight who followed what philosophy, for me at least the point is just the unbelievable level of intellectual activity going on in Paris in the '60s (and well, always). It makes you want to cry. We the hangers on can only buy thick glasses and marvel.

One interesting aspect of the "Left Bank" was that they were less specifically focused on film; they seem to be more of an artistic movement/philosophy in general. I say this because one of my favorite French authors, Marguerite Duras, was associated with the "Left Bank" filmmakers, and she actually wrote the screenplay to Hiroshima Mon Amour.

Remember, watch the movie first, come ready to talk about it!

We will meet on Friday, January 30, 2026, at 8PM, at LEANING TOWER OF PIZZA at 24th Street and Lyndale, same as always. See you there!