Goodbye to Language 3D – Review by Frank L.

Directed by Jean-Luc Godard
Writer: Jean-Luc Godard
Stars: Héloïse Godet, Kamel Abdeli, Richard Chevallier

One of the brief statements made in this machine gun fire of images is “I will barely say a word, I am looking for poverty in language”. The male says that the greatest inventions are “zero” and “infinity” while the female retorts with “sex” and “death”. The seventy minutes is crammed with many such statements but there is not any time to reflect on any particular statement as brevity is the name of the time period before the next brief, thought provoking comment sallies forth. Meanwhile the rapid 3D visions have your eyes involved in a sprint of images as they flash by faster than Usain Bolt.

They are just sufficient in length to be aware that Godard has at the age of 84 taken on the challenge of 3D with the enthusiasm of a teenager. Although it seems to be a contradiction in terms as the images change so rapidly Godard presents a succession of almost still life images with all the skill of a Vermeer, a Picasso or a Matisse or whoever you think is a master.

Like abstract art this film is not to be explained, it is to be experienced. Sit back, place the 3D glasses on the bridge of your nose and trust Godard. It is what happens in your brain that is important.