Paris Belongs to Us
Paris Belongs to Us • 2h 22m
Directed by Jacques Rivette • 1961 • France
Starring Betty Schneider, François Maistre, Giani Esposito
One of the original critics turned filmmakers who helped jump-start the French New Wave, Jacques Rivette began shooting his debut feature in 1958, well before that cinema revolution officially kicked off with THE 400 BLOWS and BREATHLESS. Ultimately released in 1961, the rich and mysterious PARIS BELONGS TO US offers some of the radical flavor that would define the movement, with a particularly Rivettian twist. The film follows a young literature student (Betty Schneider) who befriends the members of a loose-knit group of twentysomethings in Paris, united by the apparent suicide of an acquaintance. Suffused with a lingering post-World War II disillusionment while also evincing the playfulness and fascination with theatrical performance and conspiracy that would become hallmarks for the director, PARIS BELONGS TO US marked the provocative start to a brilliant directorial career.
Up Next in Paris Belongs to Us
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Richard Neupert on PARIS BELONGS TO US
In this interview, recorded in 2015, Richard Neupert, professor of film studies at the University of Georgia and author of “A History of the French New Wave Cinema,” discusses the themes and legacy of Jacques Rivette’s debut feature, PARIS BELONGS TO US.
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Le coup du berger
Directed by Jacques Rivette • 1956 • France
Just before embarking on PARIS BELONGS TO US, Jacques Rivette directed the following 1956 short film about an adulterous wife and her lover’s attempt to figure out how she will explain his gift of a mink coat. Cowritten by fellow French New Wave lumina...
