My Life to Live

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My Life to Live

1963

1h 25m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

36 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In director Jean-Luc Godard's landmark drama, Nana (Anna Karina), a young Parisian woman who works in a record shop, finds herself disillusioned by poverty and a crumbling marriage. Hoping to become an actress and break into films, Nana is once again disappointed when nothing comes of her dreams, and soon she turns to a bleak life of prostitution. When she meets a man (Peter Kassovitz) who truly cares for her, Nana's hope returns -- but Raoul (Sady Rebbot), her pimp, may have the final word.

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Critics Consensus

Anna Karina's arresting performance provides a humanizing anchor to Jean-Luc Godard's stylistically explosive portrait of a prostitute.

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Richard Brody

The New Yorker

01/02/2023

A series of poised, artful long takes, which highlight Karina’s vulnerable, tremulous performance and serve up the copious text as if in a picture frame.

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Steven Rea

Philadelphia Inquirer

11/13/2008

3.5/4

Godard frames and edits his shots, moves the camera, uses music, and deploys his actors in ways that still seem radical -- even as several generations of directors since have cribbed and stolen from him.

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Variety Staff

Variety

08/11/2008

Godard mixes titles, unusual use of sound, and long scenes of dialog. He is brilliantly served by his wife, Anna Karina, in this film. Karina gives the girl a ring of truth and depth.

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Carson Timar

ClapperCast

Mar 11

Vivre Sa Vie shows just how magical cinema can be. Godard crafts a playful and emotional look at a woman finding her path in Paris with tragic results.

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Susan Sontag

Moviegoer

05/02/2024

Vivre Sa Vie seems to me a perfect film. That is, it sets out to do something that is both noble and intricate, and wholly succeeds in doing it.

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

08/24/2022

4/5

Anna Karina is a mesmerizing expression of energy, wonder, and reality. Surround her with intoxicating style, layers of cultural references, and a grounded story and you have “My Life to Live”

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Jean-Luc Godard

Director

Anna Karina

Nana Kleinfrankenheim

Sady Rebbot

Raoul

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Synopsis

In director Jean-Luc Godard's landmark drama, Nana (Anna Karina), a young Parisian woman who works in a record shop, finds herself disillusioned by poverty and a crumbling marriage. Hoping to become an actress and break into films, Nana is once again disappointed when nothing comes of her dreams, and soon she turns to a bleak life of prostitution. When she meets a man (Peter Kassovitz) who truly cares for her, Nana's hope returns -- but Raoul (Sady Rebbot), her pimp, may have the final word.

Director: Jean-Luc Godard
Producer: Pierre Braunberger
Screenwriter: Marcel Sacotte, Jean-Luc Godard
Production Co: Les Films de la Pléiade [fr]
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 23, 1963, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 15, 2020
Runtime: 1h 25m
Sound Mix: Mono