Jean-Luc Godard Honored in Cannes

During the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, as Richard Linklater presents his official competition entry Nouvelle Vague -a tribute to Jean-Luc Godard retracing the making of Breathless in the filmmaker’s own style), Sotheby’s is proud to announce the upcoming auction of a truly exceptional piece: the only known manuscript of Breathless, handwritten by Jean-Luc Godard.

This rare document, from the collection of producer Georges de Beauregard, will be auctioned in June 2025. Comprising 72 handwritten pages, it includes excerpts from the screenplay, iconic dialogue, the trailer storyboard, and several related documents and photographs from the film’s production. It stands as a moving and historic testament to the artistic vision of one of the greatest filmmakers of the 20th century.

Breathless: a turning point in cinema history

Released in 1960, Breathless is a cornerstone of the French New Wave. Starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg, the film broke with convention through its free-spirited tone, innovative style, and unforgettable lines. Among them: the legendary scene on the Champs-Élysées with the phrase “Qu’est-ce que c’est dégueulasse,” delivered by Seberg in her American accent—a moment etched into the history of cinema.

The upcoming auction of this manuscript offers collectors and cinephiles a unique opportunity to acquire a genuine piece of Jean-Luc Godard’s cinematic legacy.

For more information about this exceptional sale:

Sotheby’s

www.sothebys.com

or contact the team at Côte d’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty:

info@cotedazur-sothebysrealty.com

+33 4 92 92 12 88