What It's About:

Small-time, Bogie-worshipping hood Michel Poiccard (Belmondo) may be a bit tormented, but he is a first-rate charmer who scores a beautiful American girlfriend, Patricia Franchini (Seberg), with a job selling the International Herald Tribune in the bustling heart of Paris. Michel is also wanted by the law for killing a cop, so he and Patricia hide out for a time, trying to scare up enough cash to split for Italy. As their relationship tightens, so does the police dragnet.

Why I Love It:

One of the more fascinating and important works in cinema, and a great, loving tribute to American film noir, Godard's "Breathless" epitomized the French New Wave with a minimal yet innovative tale of doomed love. The tremendous appeal of this movie comes from its innovative use of sound (Mozart meets French pop), handheld cameras, and jarring cuts - not to mention an ultra-hip swagger beautifully performed by Belmondo. The lovely, perky Seberg reinvigorates a female cliché - the gangster's moll - giving her a bit of bubbly pizzazz. Shot on location in the City of Lights, "Breathless" is an energetic fusion of high art and pop culture that's not to be missed.