Film classic Out of Breath”: manuscript auctioned for 600,000 euros!

Film classic Out of Breath”: manuscript auctioned for 600,000 euros!

An important piece of film history will soon go under the hammer! Jean-Luc Godard's original screenplay for the legendary film “Out of Breath” (French title “À bout de souffle”) will be auctioned online between June 4th and 18th, 2025. This is a manuscript from the collection of the producer Georges de Beauregard, which is estimated at an impressive 400,000 to 600,000 euros vienna.at reported. The film, which was released in 1960, is considered one of the milestones of the Nouvelle Vague and is characterized by its unconventional narrative style. Godard often eschewed full scripts, with many dialogues only being finalized shortly before filming.

“Out of Breath” itself tells the gripping story of petty criminal Michel, played by Jean-Paul Belmondo, who is on the run from the police in Paris. The screenplay is based on a manuscript by François Truffaut, rewritten by Godard, and follows Michel's desperate attempt to get closer to his beloved Patricia, played by Jean Seberg. The innovative storytelling and creative cinematography, such as the use of handheld cameras and natural lighting, made the film revolutionary when it was shot on location in Paris in 1960. Loud Wikipedia The film was awarded the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 1960 Berlinale and is now considered an indispensable part of cinema.

A masterpiece of cinematic art

Godard broke traditional cinematic rules and contrasted the story of a loser with the invincible heroes of classic film noir. His work is notable not only for its dramatic plot, but also for its profound questions about freedom and human existence. Michel and Patricia have a dialogue that reflects the existentialism of the time. The two characters, a small-time gangster and an American journalism student, represent the cultural tensions and challenges that were present in society at the time.

The legacy of this film shines silver in the light of the upcoming auction. Collectors and film enthusiasts have the unique opportunity to acquire a piece of this film tradition and thus become part of the long-lasting fascination for “Breathless”.