What innovation did the French New Wave contribute to narrative techniques?

The French New Wave was a cinematic movement that emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s, characterized by its experimental approach to filmmaking and narrative structure. A significant contribution of the French New Wave to narrative techniques is its use of non-linear storytelling approaches. This technique allowed filmmakers to break away from traditional narrative forms and explore more fragmented, associative ways of telling stories.

Filmmakers like Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut utilized techniques such as jump cuts, flashbacks, and non-chronological sequences. This innovative style encouraged a more subjective experience for the audience, prompting them to engage with the film on a deeper level, as they worked to piece together the narrative and understand character motivations in a less conventional manner.

By challenging the conventional linearity of storytelling, the French New Wave opened the door for future filmmakers to experiment with structure and narrative forms, ultimately influencing many cinematic styles that followed.