An unreleased video published by Paul GriwasDirector and nephew of Jean Luc Godard, shows what can be considered the last record of the uncle’s life. The filmmaker died earlier this month at the age of 91 by assisted suicide. The images, just over 40 seconds long, were published on the platform. vimeo This Sunday the 25th
In the video recorded by the Godardthe director appears at home smoking a cigar while looking at the camera. A few seconds later he gets up from his chair and ends the recording. In the title of the publication, the nephew wrote “Oh! Revoir”, meaning “reunion”, freely translated into French; a pun on the term “Au revoir”, the “bye” in this language.
SwissFrench filmmaker Jean Luc Godard died by assisted suicide on September 13, the French newspaper Liberation reported based on family information. “He wasn’t sick, he was just exhausted. He had made the decision to end it. It was his choice and Godard felt it was important to be known,” said a close friend.
Even without suffering from any disease, he decided to leave life with the help of a professional. Assisted suicide is legal in countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Spain, Canada and some states in the United States. But it can only be applied to fatal and incurable diseases that cause unbearable suffering for the patient. In Switzerland, where Godard died, these conditions are not necessarily a requirement. There, the interpretation of “unbearable suffering” is broader.
Known for a radical and politically active filmography, Godard is known for film classics such as ” molested (À bout de souffle), which brought him onto the world stage in 1960. This film, which marked his theatrical debut, revolutionized popular cinema and soon established Godard as one of the most vital and provocative directors in the world. He rewrote the rules for camera, sound and storytelling.