"Le Coup du Berger" is considered one of the earliest French New Wave films. It's a short from Jacques Rivette and like many other New Wave films is about a person who isn't necessarily to be liked or admired (much like Jean-Paul Belmondo in "Breathless").
When the story begins, an unfaithful wife is given a fur coat by her lover. Her concern is how to let the husband see the coat without arising his suspicions. All this is compared in the film to as a sort of chess game.
So is this worth watching? Well, for film historians, absolutely. After all, how can you know what the New Wave was or learn from it if you don't watch any of the films...and this is a seminal film from the movement. Now this is NOT the same as saying the film is necessarily enjoyable or brilliant...it's only mildly enjoyable and looks a bit like a cinematic film and a home movie combined stylistically. For the average person, far from being a must-see...but for film students and budding filmmakers, well worth your time...especially since at the end you get to see several influential New Wave directors playing extras.
When the story begins, an unfaithful wife is given a fur coat by her lover. Her concern is how to let the husband see the coat without arising his suspicions. All this is compared in the film to as a sort of chess game.
So is this worth watching? Well, for film historians, absolutely. After all, how can you know what the New Wave was or learn from it if you don't watch any of the films...and this is a seminal film from the movement. Now this is NOT the same as saying the film is necessarily enjoyable or brilliant...it's only mildly enjoyable and looks a bit like a cinematic film and a home movie combined stylistically. For the average person, far from being a must-see...but for film students and budding filmmakers, well worth your time...especially since at the end you get to see several influential New Wave directors playing extras.