“Jules and Jim” is a well-made masterpiece that practically overflows with energy. This is all the more remarkable when you consider the conditions under which it was made. Its creation was a triumph by one of my heroes, the great director Francois Truffaut.
“Jules and Jim” takes place in the years before and after World War I. The title characters are an Austrian and a Frenchman who become best friends in Paris. They form a complex love triangle with the beautiful and mercurial Catherine, who has an unalterable effect on their lives.
I love how alive “Jules and Jim” still feels. The fluid camerawork has a speed to it that most contemporary films do not dare to match. There’s extensive and entertaining narration that would later serve as an inspiration for the narration in “Goodfellas.”
The film’s technical achievements are even more remarkable in light of the limited resources the filmmakers had at the time. A crew of only 15 made “Jules and Jim.” At many points, Jeanne Moreau, who plays Catherine, had to use her Rolls-Royce to move around props. Newsreel footage was used to suggest a scope the filmmakers could not afford.
But one of the lessons of film history is money can only do so much. Talented professionals can work wonders on a low budget. The film’s few rough edges, such as the way a camera bobs up and down during a foot race, are charming. The endlessly dazzling array of visual tricks never ceases to bring a smile to your face.
These unique visuals do not detract from the performances. Oskar Werner is increasingly poignant as Jules. Moreau makes Catherine, who could have easily been a stereotypical character, into one of the most complex and intriguing women I have ever seen in a movie.
The score of “Jules and Jim” by Georges Delerue is one of my favorites. It matches all of the different tones of this film from the exuberant early scenes to the haunting later ones. It makes the lives of these characters hummable.
“Jules and Jim” was the third film of Truffaut’s. He had been a film critic who went on to make excellent films. As an aspiring filmmaker, I find the way Truffaut’s career evolved to be inspiring.
I love how Truffaut’s movies show his warm regard for humanity. In a more conventional film, Jules would get mad when Jim’s relationship with Catherine starts to become romantic. In this film, however, Jules is willing to accept this because it makes his friends happy.
All of Truffaut’s films, even the ones I don’t like, have a special spark you can’t find in any other film. “Jules and Jim” takes that spark of humanity and innovation and blows it into a fire. It continues to warm those who seek it out.
