Le Gai Savoir

French New Wave pioneer Jean-Luc Godard evolved through the 1960s from playing with film conventions and genres, to deconstructing storytelling, to forgoing narrative completely in essay films that were devoted to his increasingly leftist ideas. Le Gai Savoir, which translates as "the joy of learning" or "the joy of knowing," is one of his first film essays—a mix of philosophical debate, cultural commentary, and political call to action. Shot completely in a black, featureless TV studio, the two performers (Jean-Pierre Léaud and Juliet Berto) are picked out of the darkness with a spotlight as they debate politics, language, and ideology over a series of meetings and come to the conclusion that language is a prison that must be broken down and recreated to serve the revolution. Their conversation is interspersed with film clips and stills, along with the whispering voice of Godard himself commenting on the soundtrack. It's both didactic and dynamic, cinematically austere and playful, and is an important step in the evolution of Godard's style and philosophy. That said, it will also have limited appeal for viewers other than hardcore cinephiles and film historians. Extras include audio commentary by film critic Adrian Martin, a short video by cinematographer Fabrice Aragno, and a booklet with essays. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)