There is more to this film, in terms of its story, than a woman's descent into prostitution. To a large extent, it is the story of Godard's failing relationship with Karina. Or perhaps it presents Godard's overall view of the director's relationship to the actress, the artist's relationship to his subject.
Possible spoilers.
Aside from Nana, there are three characters crucial to the story: the photographer, the pimp, and the guy who reads excerpts from Poe. There are two particularly telling scenes: Nana's viewing of Joan of Arc and the subtle appearance of the Elizabeth Taylor photograph behind Nana as the Poe story is read to her.
First, the photographer. He offers Nana her last chance at an entrance into films. Soon after their meeting she falls into prostitution. He resembles the pimp in manner. Are films and prostitution the same? Rather, are the director and the pimp the same?
The real representation of the director is the guy who reads the Poe story. In fact, he represents Godard himself. This is the guy who buys Nana cigarettes, and when we see Nana consorting with him after all of her degrading experiences, it is like a breath of fresh air. He is going to glorify her and raise her to the status that she deserves. He is an artist and he portrays her ("This is our story," he says of the Poe story. "An artist portraying his love."). The Poe excerpt ends with the death of the artist's love, his subject. He drained the life from her and into the canvas. If this is their story, is the guy draining the life from Nana? Isn't that what the pimp has been doing? The pimp and the director are the same.
Nana sees Joan of Arc judged by men, and she ostensibly relates. As the Poe story is read, we see the photo of Elizabeth Taylor behind Nana. Godard is encouraging us to judge Nana (or Karina) in comparison to Elizabeth Taylor. She is being killed, just as Joan of Arc was, by this judgement. The director and the pimp are the same. Godard prostituted Karina, at least he thought so when he wrote this story. He drained the life from her and into his canvas, the screen, and presented her for our judgement. Our Nana doesn't realize that whether she had made into films or had fallen into prostitution, the end result would have been the same. La morte.
Possible spoilers.
Aside from Nana, there are three characters crucial to the story: the photographer, the pimp, and the guy who reads excerpts from Poe. There are two particularly telling scenes: Nana's viewing of Joan of Arc and the subtle appearance of the Elizabeth Taylor photograph behind Nana as the Poe story is read to her.
First, the photographer. He offers Nana her last chance at an entrance into films. Soon after their meeting she falls into prostitution. He resembles the pimp in manner. Are films and prostitution the same? Rather, are the director and the pimp the same?
The real representation of the director is the guy who reads the Poe story. In fact, he represents Godard himself. This is the guy who buys Nana cigarettes, and when we see Nana consorting with him after all of her degrading experiences, it is like a breath of fresh air. He is going to glorify her and raise her to the status that she deserves. He is an artist and he portrays her ("This is our story," he says of the Poe story. "An artist portraying his love."). The Poe excerpt ends with the death of the artist's love, his subject. He drained the life from her and into the canvas. If this is their story, is the guy draining the life from Nana? Isn't that what the pimp has been doing? The pimp and the director are the same.
Nana sees Joan of Arc judged by men, and she ostensibly relates. As the Poe story is read, we see the photo of Elizabeth Taylor behind Nana. Godard is encouraging us to judge Nana (or Karina) in comparison to Elizabeth Taylor. She is being killed, just as Joan of Arc was, by this judgement. The director and the pimp are the same. Godard prostituted Karina, at least he thought so when he wrote this story. He drained the life from her and into his canvas, the screen, and presented her for our judgement. Our Nana doesn't realize that whether she had made into films or had fallen into prostitution, the end result would have been the same. La morte.