Director Jean-Luc Godard dies aged 91

Film director Jean-Luc Godard died on Tuesday aged 91, newspaper Liberation has reported.

The legendary Franco-Swiss movie-maker was one of the world’s most acclaimed directors, known for French New Wave films Breathless and Contempt, which inspired a generation of directors including Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese.

His cause of death has not been revealed yet. 

Film director Jean-Luc Godard died on Tuesday aged 91, newspaper Liberation has reported

Godard’s movies broke with the established conventions of French cinema in 1960 and helped kickstart a new way of filmmaking, complete with handheld camera work, jump cuts and existential dialogue. 

Quentin Tarantino, director of Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs in the 1990s, is often cited as one of a more recent generation of boundary-bending tradition that Godard and his Paris Left Bank cohorts initiated.

Tarantino was such a fan of Godard, he even named his production company after one of his films, A Band Apart. 

Talent: Godard’s movies broke with the established conventions of French cinema in 1960 and helped kickstart a new way of filmmaking

Acclaimed filmmaker: Godard on the set of his 1963 movie Le Mépris with Brigitte Bardot 

Born in Paris in 1930, Godard grew up and went to school in Nyon, on the banks of Lake Geneva. 

He returned to Paris after finishing school in 1949 where he soon became part of the post-war New Wave scene.

He began his career in movies by writing for film magazines before releasing his first feature, Breathless, in 1960, which immediately caught the attention of critics.

Duo: Godard was married to actress Anna Karina from 1961-1965, a period in which he enjoyed some of his most memorable screen collaborations

Godard went on to make back to back seminal movies throughout the 1960s, including Le Petit Soldat, a controversial feature that suggested the French government condoned torture, which was banned until 1963.

Godard was married twice, to actresses Anna Karina and Anne Wiazemsky, both of whom starred in several of his films. 

It was during his four year marriage to Karina from 1961-1965, that Godard enjoyed some of his most memorable screen collaborations, including in Vivre sa vie (1962), Bande à part (1964) and Pierrot le Fou (1965). 

Successful partnership: He was married to Anne Wiazemsky from 1967 to 1979, with the actress starring in his movies La Chinoise (1967) and One Plus One (1968)

He was married to Wiazemsky from 1967 to 1979, with the actress starring in his movies La Chinoise (1967) and One Plus One (1968).

Godard met Swiss filmmaker Anne-Marie Miéville in 1970 with the two becoming collaborators before beginning a romantic relationship which continued until his death. 

He also worked with the Rolling Stones on the film Sympathy for the Devil in 1968. 

Godard had continued success in later life. His 2001 film In Praise of Love was selected for the Cannes film festival.

His 2014 film Goodbye to Language saw him pick up the jury prize at Cannes, and 2018’s Image Book, was awarded a ‘special Palme d’Or’ at the prestigious film festival.

The filmmaker was awarded an Academy Honorary Award in 2010 but did not attend the ceremony.

Godard had continued success in later life. Pictured receiving an honary César Award in 1998