Review of The Little Soldier

Stylistically it's quite innovative for it's time, which will be obvious when considering it's a work of the French New Wave. The fact that the outside noise was edited out in order for a greater deal of focus on the actual conversation worked really effectively, and really got me more interested in what the characters were saying. Although this worked well as a frame for what was being said the actual content of the writing just served more as a way for Godard to push his political philosophy rather than develop a story with political depth, which is a shame considering the the subject's potential. Had he shown us more scenes like the one in the bathtub where we can actually experience the reality of the conflict rather than have Bruno banter at us while invoking Lenin and Guitry it would have worked much more effectively in conveying its message. That being said the film wastes so much time reading out like The Godardist Manifesto (which although I agree with does get tiring) that eventually Bruno's conflict with the job tasked to him along with his strategic dilemma with Veronique is resolved within the timespan of a quick one minute narration, which I personally thought didn't give it the gravitas it needed. You'll probably like this if you want to see Godard's early development, but keep in mind it's more like a warm-up act for Pierrot le Fou than anything.