French New Wave/Drama + Tragic Melancholy + A fragmented portrait of a soul for sale. A woman's face, filmed like a landscape, dissolves into the grain of 1960s Paris, caught between the silence of thought and the noise of the streets.

Vivre Sa Vie

Vivre sa vie: film en douze tableaux

"The many faces of a woman trying to find herself."

20 September 1962 France 84 min 7.7 (683)

Director: Jean-Luc Godard

Cast: Anna Karina, Sady Rebbot, André S. Labarthe, Guylaine Schlumberger, Gérard Hoffmann

Drama Existential Responsibility vs. Determinism The Commodification of the Body Language and Communication Cinema as Reality and Reflection

Budget: $64,000

Box Office: $24,517

Vivre Sa Vie — Movie Quotes

Memorable Quotes

The more one talks, the less the words mean.

— Nana

Context

During her conversation with the philosopher in the cafe, struggling to articulate her feelings.

Meaning

Expresses the film's central skepticism about language and the difficulty of authentic communication.

I think we are always responsible for our actions. We're free. I raise my hand, I'm responsible. I turn my head, I'm responsible... I forget that I'm responsible, but I am.

— Nana

Context

Spoken to her friend Yvette in a cafe, declaring that her situation is a result of her own choices.

Meaning

A defining existentialist manifesto. Nana asserts her agency even as she slides into a life of exploitation.

Birds are birds, plates are plates, men are men, life is life.

— Nana

Context

Part of her dialogue exploring the nature of reality and sincerity.

Meaning

A tautology representing a desire for simple, concrete truth in a confusing world.

Explore More About This Movie

Dive deeper into specific aspects of the movie with our detailed analysis pages

Ending Explained

Characters & Cast

Similar Movies

View Full Movie Analysis