Detective [1985]

While speaking about Detective critics often say that, after years of making films for himself, Godard once more chose to make one for the audience. However there’s a damn good catch here – the ‘audience’ in the statement isn’t an all-encompassing one, rather those accustomed to the iconic and quintessentially unique style of filmmaking that marked his movies during the heyday of the French Nouvelle Vague movement in the 60’s, i.e. those which are popularly identified with the epithet ‘accessible’. Starring the inimitable Jean-Pierre Leaud as the eponymous detective, the movie follows parallel storylines with a swanky Parisian hotel as the common link. As with Godard’s works, the plot has taken a backseat vis-à-vis the structure and style of execution. Filled with pop culture references, plethora of red herrings, witty and satirical commentaries on a host of topics ranging from infidelity to urban life to literature, Detective is a passionate blast of energy and an oblique homage to some of Godard’s favourite genres, viz. film noirs, private eye, gangster movies, etc.









Director: Jean-Luc Godard
Genre: Comedy Drama/Urban Drama/Crime Drama/Social Satire/Ensemble Film
Language: French
Country: France