Jules et Jim

Director
François Truffaut
Cast
Jeanne Moreau (Catherine), Oskar Werner (Jules), Henri Serre (Jim), Michel Subor (narrator)
Date
1962
Duration
105 Minutes

The writers Jules (a German) and Jim (a Frenchman) share many views on art and literature.  Their close friendship, however, will be severely tested by the introduction of the ebullient Catherine (Jeanne Moreau) into their lives and the impending Great War.

Widely regarded as his masterpiece, Jules et Jim marks Truffaut on top of his game.  The director’s confidence is reflected in the experimental and rule-breaking techniques he employs throughout the film, such as the playful use of jump-cuts and freeze-frame.

Perhaps most striking are the performances of the three actors, which are as pitch perfect as Moreau’s now legendary rendition of Le Tourbillon de la vie.