La Pointe Courte (1955)

Director: Agnès Varda
Stars: Philippe Noiret, Silvia Monfort, Marcel Jouet
Runtime: 80 minutes

Synopsis: Follow the story of a couple who goes to a small French fishing village to try to solve the problems of their deteriorating marriage.

Verdict: Agnès Varda is so much more than a filmmaker. She's a pioneer of Cinema, one whose influence still resounds to this lovely day. Her recent passing came as a shock to many lovers of the art, but the legacy she left behind guaranteed her a place in the realm of immortals.

"La Pointe Courte" not only celebrates her directorial debut, but is also cited as being the first stone of the movement that is the French New Wave, later enriched by the works of Truffaut, Godard, or Trivette. Its historical significance is reason enough to convince any cinephile to watch it even if I wouldn't necessarily suggest it as an introduction to Varda's work.

Despite effectively capturing a sense of community in the small village in which the events are set, I was rather let down by the scenes following a couple going through a rough patch. As they wander around the hometown of the husband, they discuss their failing marriage through unconvincing and rather ostentatious dialogue. The acting wasn't always on point either, and you could tell that while Varda's voice was present throughout the short runtime of the very light movie, it was still a bit too shy to roar as loudly as in her later projects.

Overall, "La Pointe Courte" is a cute little watch that holds important historical significance, but I'd only recommend visiting it when you become more familiar with Varda's filmography. I can't say that I was invested in it as much as I wanted to be, but I nevertheless found its depiction of the small fishing village to be a highlight that will stick with me more than every other element featured.

FINAL GRADE: 6/10