I can now see why this is revered as a masterpiece and the foundation for the French new wave. It feels like it was made in the 1950s but Jean Vigo made it in 1934, which seems astonishing to me, given the silent movie era had only really ended a few years prior. Some of the shots, lighting and sequences are mesmerizing. As are the performances for the time. 9.5/10

I had huge expectations considering its reputation as one of the greatest film of all time. I really don't get the hype.

Difficult to penetrate for me. It plays like a dream, with images that stick with me while not cohering into much of anything explicable. Could be worth rewatching, but I'm beginning to develop a firm conviction that 30s French cinema is just not for me. Shoutout to all the great cats in this one, though.

This movie represents the end of Jean Vigo's career and life, being merely his 4th movie and his one and only full-length one. A gentle, contemplative classic.