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Top 3 French NewWave Films

The French New Wave was a term to describe a number of French directors in the late 50s and 60s who made films influenced by Italian Neorealism and the spirit of classical Hollywood movies. Some of the common techniques and motifs were long tracking shots, existential themes and the absurdity of humanity. Many of the French New Wave films dealt with philosophical themes and focused on the importance of the individual. Here is a list of the top three most influential French New Wave films.

La Collectionneuse (The Collector)

This 1967 film by Eric Rohmer is included as part of his series “Six Moral Tales” and is the fourth in the set. There is not much in the way of a plot but the film revolves around a young art collector who spends him summer in Saint-Tropez at a villa where he meets a beautiful girl (played by the often forgotten Haydee Politoff) who is known as “collector” of men. It’s a beautiful, evocative film, and one of Rohmer’s best, with honest performances by everyone involved.

A Woman Is a Woman

One of the most famous French New Wave directors and one of the most famous French New Wave actresses, “A Woman is a Woman” by Jean-Luc Godard and starring Anna Karina is a classic film in the genre and a great example of how the New Wave directors subverted many classic Hollywood tropes such as the musical comedy and put their own French twist on it. Karina is an exotic dancer and the story revolves around a love triangle she finds herself involved with. Of course, there is lots of random breaking into song

The 400 Blows

Many people have called “The 400 Blows” not only Francois Truffaut’s best film, but one of the greatest films ever made. A defining film in the French New Wave, “400 Blows” is a powerfully moving and hilarious story about Antoine Doinel, an ordinary French adolescent living in Paris. He gets into trouble, steals poker chips, fights with his parents, and at the end, runs away. The final scene is a classic New Wave shot that has even been parodied by “The Simpsons.”.

About the Author

Alan McGee is a freelance writer from MN.

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Top 3 WB Television Shows

The WB, a now defunct broadcast network still loosely operating under a merger with UPN  as The CW, was one of the most popular television networks in the late 90s and early 2000s for family and teen entertainment television. Some of the shows that aired during this time are still fondly looked back upon and were used as starting points for many popular actresses today, from Jessica Biel to Katie Holmes. Here is a list of the top three WB television shows.

Gilmore Girls

One could argue that “Gilmore Girls” set the stage for many of the pop-culture referencing, smarmy, and talky sitcoms and comedy-dramas of the mid 2000s. “Gilmore Girls” was one of the most topical and clever shows on television during its run and started the careers of Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel who have gone on to appear in movies as diverse as “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” “Sin City,” and “Bad Santa.” “Gilmore Girls” ran for a respectable seven seasons, eventually following Bledel’s character Rory to college and of course dealt with her mother’s relationship problems both with men and her parents.

7th Heaven

A guilty pleasure, and a favorite show of my religious parents, “7th Heaven” was a family drama about a Protestant minister and his family in California. Like many sitcoms, each episode dealt with a different moral lesson or controversial theme, from alcoholism to pre-marital sex to the dangers of gambling at poker tables. The show eventually courted controversy when actress Jessica Biel attempted to rid herself of her “goody goody” image from portraying Mary Camden on the show posed for provocative pictures in Gear magazine. The writers eventually wrote Mary out of the show but she did return for a few reunion episodes and finales. While you may or may not have agreed with the conservative, often religious messages of “7th Heaven” you had to respect the influence and popularity of the show.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

“Buffy” was another huge success for the WB and has gone on to become a hugely popular cult series with very loyal fans and even academia articles written about it. Both Alyson Hannigan and David Boreanaz are currently starting in hit television shows that they wouldn’t have without their work on “Buffy.” The creator and writer of “Buffy,” Joss Whedon has gone on to direct and write for other television shows like “Angel”, “Firefly” and the most recent, “Dollhouse” starring Eliza Dushku. “Buffy” was known for its clever dialogue and intelligence and for breaking television ground with bisexual plot lines and characters.

About the Author

Alan McGee is a freelance writer from MN.