content warning: this story contains references to suicide and suicidal ideation. if you are in need of support for yourself, a friend or a family member, talk suicide canada, formerly the canadian suicide prevention service helpline, offers support and can be reached at 1-833-456-4566
toll free, 24/7. or, connect via text at 45645, from 4 p.m. to midnight est.
legendary filmmaker
jean-luc godard passed away tuesday at his home in rolle, switzerland through assisted suicide. he was 91.
godard’s edgy style has been credited with ushering in a new wave of cinema, pushing back against the entrenched method of classic, neat filmmaking in postwar france — and even hollywood. his movies favoured moving cameras, rough jump cuts,
effortlessly cool characters
and deep conversations.
godard had requested assisted suicide due to “multiple invalidating illnesses,” according to
the bbc
.
the cinema legend wanted to die with dignity, and “that was exactly what he did,” patrick jeanneret, godard’s legal adviser, told the new york times.
“he could not live like you and me, so he decided with a great lucidity, as he had all his life, to say, ‘now, it’s enough,’” said
jeanneret.
dignitaries and directors alike took to twitter to express sympathies.