Why Jean-Luc Godard Openly Loathed Quentin Tarantino’s Films
Tarantino once idolized Godard, but the feeling wasn’t mutual.
Quentin Tarantino has long admired the work of French New Wave director Jean-Luc Godard, often comparing the filmmaker’s influence on cinema to Bob Dylan’s impact on music.
Tarantino once said, “That’s one aspect of Godard that I found very liberating—movies commenting on themselves, movies and movie history. To me, Godard did to movies what Bob Dylan did to music: they both revolutionized their forms.”
Tarantino even paid homage to Godard by naming his production company after the 1964 film Bande à part, highlighting the deep respect he once had for the French director. However, Godard did not share the same admiration.
In a 2004 interview, he remarked, “I think his work is null. He chose the title of one of my worst films to name his production company. That doesn’t surprise me at all.”
Godard’s disdain for Tarantino didn’t stop there. He reportedly referred to the American director as a “faquin,” a French term roughly meaning a dishonest or lowly person, during an interview at Cannes.
Actress Molly Ringwald, who worked with Godard on 1987’s King Lear, recalled him criticizing Pulp Fiction, describing the Palme d’Or-winning film as “not authentic.”
Over time, Tarantino’s admiration for Godard also waned. In a later interview discussing his cinematic influences, he said, “I’m not really a big fan of Jean-Luc Godard anymore. I think Godard is kind of like Frank Frazetta. You get into him for a while and he’s like your hero for a little bit. You start drawing stuff like him and then you outgrow. I think that’s what Godard is, at least for me anyway, as a filmmaker.”
The tension between the two directors shows the complicated relationship between admiration and critique in cinema. Tarantino once saw Godard as a major inspiration, but Godard’s harsh opinions and critical stance toward modern filmmakers may have cooled that enthusiasm.
It’s interesting to imagine what might have happened if Godard had been more supportive. Perhaps one of the most influential directors of modern Hollywood would have continued to count Godard as one of his greatest inspirations.
Tarantino and Godard’s story reminds us that even legends in the film world can clash over artistic vision.
What do you think about this complicated relationship between Tarantino and Godard? Do you side with the American or the French director? Share your thoughts in the comments.
