François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard. Parisian and Parisian. Critic and critic. Film buff and film buff. Revolutionary and revolutionary. New wave director and new wave director. Lover of beautiful women and lover of beautiful women. Admirer of Hitchcock and admirer of Lang. Underclass and upperclass. Personal and political. Psychological and philosophical. Smooth and frantic.

Truffaut did not grow to be old (he died at 52 of a brain tumor); Godard is still alive and only now is departing his 70s (he seems to have been in that decade forever). Truffaut became famous in 1959 with The 400 Blows; Godard in 1960 with Breathless. The 400 Blows exploded Cannes; Breathless gave the world two of the most mesmerizing faces in the history of moving pictures, Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg. Truffaut and Godard were in their mid 20s when the peak of their fame arrived, and they enjoyed very productive careers. Lord knows how many films Godard has made; as for Truffaut, he had shot over 20 features at the time of his death.

The documentary Two in the Wave must not be missed by anyone who admires this important period in world cinema, and also by those who want to get a good idea about this moment, this movement, and its leading figures. The film goes between the present (this part is unnecessary) and the past (this part is everything). Cinema not only saved Truffaut and Godard, it also made them a little nutty. Northwest Film Forum, Fri–Wed 7, 9 pm. recommended