Killing a man in defense of an idea is not defending an idea; it is killing a man.
Jean-Luc GodardRead
Film is truth 24 times a second, and every cut is a lie.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that film captures reality in fleeting moments but can manipulate that reality through editing.
Jean-Luc Godard's quote emphasizes the dual nature of cinema; it captures the truth of life in real-time frames, yet the act of editing β or cutting β distorts that truth, presenting a curated narrative. It highlights the paradox of film as both a reflection of reality and a craft of storytelling that can alter perceptions, revealing the complexities of how we consume visual media.
Themes
FilmTruthLieCinemaEditingReality
In practice
Example use cases
During a film studies lecture discussing the nature of cinematic truth.
More from Jean-Luc Godard
All quotes βI don't think you should feel about a film. You should feel about a woman, not a movie. You can't kiss a movie.
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Sometime reality is too complex. Stories give it form.
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More or less, I am always saying, 'Give me more. Let's do what has not been done.'
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Objects exist and if one pays more attention to them than to people, it is precisely because they exist more than the people. Dead objects are still alive. Living people are often already dead.
Jean-Luc GodardRead
Cinema is not a series of abstract ideas, but rather the phrasing of moments.
Jean-Luc GodardRead
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