Chapter 15 The Complete Process of Godard's "History of Cinema"

In 1977, Henri Langlois, founder of the French National Film Archive, died.Henri Langlois had a great influence on the young Godard and Truffaut, among others.During his lifetime, he held lectures on film history for young students in Montreal, which was later inherited by Godard.He planned to give this lecture in ten parts, but it was interrupted after only seven parts.Godard later published a book related to this lecture, perhaps this is the original reason why he produced "The History of Film". In 1989, the first edition of "Film History 1A/1B" was completed on French TV (CANAL+).

In 1994, "Gaumont" and other companies provided sponsorship to complete the first edition of "Film History 2A/2B". The first edition of "The History of Cinema 3A/3B" was screened for the first time at the Locaruno Film Festival in 1995. In 1996, "Film History 4A" was played at the Toronto Film Festival. "Gaumont" continued to provide funding and began the conversion from digital to analog. In 1997, "Film History 3A/4A", converted to 35mm film, was shown at the Cannes Film Festival.Despite the staff's best technical efforts, Godard was still unsatisfied, and the digital-to-analog conversion encountered difficulties.Although Godard immediately invested in the re-editing and production of the entire film, in what form and when "History of Film" will be completed, it is still unknown.

In 1998, "Gallimar" Publishing House and "Gaumont" Company jointly launched the SET VHS video tape of "Film History" with a total of 4 episodes. From July to August in 1999, "CANAL+" opened to the whole of Europe, broadcasting one episode per week for the first time to show the whole film "History of Film", which aroused strong repercussions throughout Europe.In autumn, Germany's "ECM" company published a set of 4 volumes of Godard's "History of Film" in English, French and German, and a set of 5 "History of Film" soundtrack CDs are attached to the book. Once again set off the "film history" upsurge.

In July 2000, in Tokyo, Japan, Godard's "Cinema History" was screened in cinemas for the first time.