Jules and Jim (1962)

For those first time viewers of Jules and Jim, may I offer these simple words. Finish the film. Occasionally with French New Wave there is a desire just to "test the waters", compare to the untouchable Breathless, or to assume that the characters are already defined within the first twenty minutes. Again, finish this film. Jules and Jim begins like any other film of this genre, a technique used decades after this release, used today, and will be used over-and-over by Hollywood in the not-to-distant-future. Two men fall for the same, unconventional woman. Simple. Jules and Jim are best friends, but when they meet Catherine (played unflinchingly by Jeanne Moreau), their world divides. While some will argue that the two become stronger friends via Catherine, as I watched it - I witnessed a strain on the emotions of friendship between these two distant comrades. Not to sound repetitive, but as you watch until the end - that final Truffaut moment - it strengthens this point entirely.

Following our friends troubles during the war and their attempt to attach to society after, we immediately feel sympathy for both. Like the third "stooge", we feel as if we are a part of this relationship. Personally, I could feel the emotion as Jules wrote during the war, I could see the struggle of comfortable love as our triangle becomes entwined, and the tension of Catherine (not by her character but by her actions towards Jules and Jim) kept me glued to the edge of the couch. You believe that you understand the love between each one, but it isn't until that final moment that the "gasp" can be let go and the truth, as dark as it may seem, is revealed. Oskar Werner as Jules was compassionate. He fell into the life he was handed, unsure of the stress and dedication he could take, Werner strongly adapted to Truffaut's film. He was the heart of this movie. Werner is the one that we, the average soul, can relate to. Jim, played by Henri Serre, is the polar opposite. An undying friend to Jules, he closely relates to that of Catherine, which makes us quietly root for him as their passion for each other grows. There is a scene where Jim is sick, but Catherine wants him to come. Truffaut uses the lag of letters being sent to build tension until each arrive, then - when the moment arrives - is just fizzles out. A fourth is added, and sympathy for Jules comes forward, Jim will obviously do something to win her back, and Catherine will be - well, just Catherine.

Catherine is the wild card of this film. What begins as just a free-spirited woman slowly transforms into (from a male perspective) this power hungry, emotionally insecure, wish-washy woman. The feelings toward Catherine go from compassion, excitement, anger, confusion, and finally jaw-dropping wonder. When Catherine tells Jim that she has been unfaithful because of something he wrote in his letter, thus making their actions equal, then we see the type of woman that Catherine has become. We also see the type of pain she can cause to everyone around her as Jim stays up all night after this comment. The fact that we, as an audience, don't even know if the child is Jules weighs on the back of your mind throughout this film. Catherine is the dark cloud in this friendship, and I cannot tell if Truffaut is speaking about women in general, or about an instance from his life. Either way, as we loom closer towards the ending, Catherine becomes unraveled, and the crushing nature of this relationship is revealed.

Found in my "Defining Moments in Movies" book, this nearly wraps up this letter. I have one more film which I am semi-excited about viewing and will see how it matches to other Dogma 95 productions that I have seen. I think the greatest film from this selection has been Jules and Jim, it was the unexpected film. Nervous about having another Breathless encounter (a film I didn't love, but perhaps a rewatch is needed), this blew me out of the water. Needless to say, I am now a big Jules and Jim fan, and have a stronger appreciation for the Werner - Truffaut blend (my only other experience was Fahrenheit 451, which was mediocre at best). This film is getting a green mark with blue stars. I cannot wait to watch it again as well as gift to friends and family. This is a movie that I can appreciate over and over again!