In October 2025, renowned filmmaker Richard Linklater presented us with two films about unconventional artists, both of which explore how style can intersect with substance. Nouvelle Vague, his film about the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless, is shot in the style of the French New Wave. Blue Moon, which tells the story of lyricist Lorenz Hart, is a chamber piece that unfolds with the intimacy of live theater. However, despite being released in the same month, the two works could not be more different. Nouvelle Vague embodies the energy and spirit of the French New Wave, paying tribute to the filmmakers who defined the movement. In contrast, Blue Moon is more restrained and introspective, a poignant character study that examines themes of art, success, fame, sexuality, legacy, and loneliness.

Nouvelle Vague is equal parts a love letter to the French New Wave and a hangout movie. Richard Linklater has been discussing his desire to make a film about the production of Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless for over a decade, and with Nouvelle Vague, he turned that vision into a reality. It’s a film about the French New Wave shot in the style of the era. However, it’s difficult to say whether someone like Jean-Luc Godard himself would love it or hate it, as it feels like a loving homage that occasionally veers into unintentional parody.