Richard Linklater on Trump’s Film Tariff Threat: ‘That’s Not Going to Happen, Right? That Guy Changes His Mind Like 50 Times in One Day’

by

Richard Linklater expressed skepticism during a press conference at Cannes for his latest film, “Nouvelle Vague,” regarding Trump’s proposed tariff on foreign-made films, stating: “I don’t think that will actually occur, do you?

Linklater filmed “Nouvelle Vague,” a movie about the production of Jean-Luc Godard’s “Breathless” in France, and when questioned about Trump’s recent suggestion to impose a 100% tax on movies produced outside of the U.S., the director expressed skepticism about its feasibility.

Linklater commented, ‘I doubt the tariff issue is going to materialize; he’s known for changing his mind frequently throughout the day.’ He added, ‘Our country only has one significant export industry, so it would be rather foolish not to… Never mind, let’s move on from that topic.’

Speaking as a supporter of independent cinema, I’d say it’s intriguing to note that Richard Linklater believes the essence of true indie films, those made on a shoestring budget, has remained constant over the past six decades. He underlines that the cost hasn’t significantly changed because it’s always been about what resources one has at hand, so the landscape doesn’t shift much in this regard.

Zoey Deutch, portraying the lead character Jean Seberg in the movie “Breathless,” later commented that it would be delightful to produce more films in Los Angeles.

She expressed her admiration, ‘The history, studios, culture, and crews are all so captivating.’ Just wrapped up a film there, and it was as enchanting as Paris – steeped in history. I’d be thrilled if more films were produced in Los Angeles.

In the film “Nouvelle Vague,” Guillaume Marbeck takes on the role of Godard, while Aubry Dullin portrays the character of Jean-Paul Belmondo from “Breathless.” This is Richard Linklater’s initial production filmed in French.

The film titled “Nouvelle Vague” was showcased at Cannes on a Saturday evening to an ecstatic reception and positive feedback. In his review, EbMaster’s Owen Gleiberman labeled it as one of the standout films of the 2025 festival, stating: “Guillaume Marbeck delivers an exceptional performance as Jean-Luc Godard that is strikingly convincing. And the entire movie follows suit.

Read More

2025-05-18 13:16