Godard's controversial political ideas make him a problematic figure

While no one can doubt that Jean Luc Godard has been an influential figure in French cinema, particularly during the 1950s and 60s, he is also infamous for holding a controversial stance on various political issues. The knowledge of him possibly being an anti-Semite came to light with the 1978 lecture in Montreal where he divulged details of his family rooting for a German victory in World War II. He went on to say that while his grandfather was “ferociously not even anti-Zionist, but anti-Jew… I am anti-Zionist.”^[1] Godard’s sentiments towards Jews and Hollywood are particularly evident in his later films where he combines his resentment towards both through his obsession over the Holocaust. The 1993 release of the acclaimed film "Schindler’s List" directed by Steven Spielberg provided him with, according to him, was the perfect example of a phony film. He went so far as to even calling Spielberg, and by extension Hollywood, incapable of creating a film true to its reality, believing 'Schindler’s List' to be nothing more than an “orchestra, to make a stereophonic sound from a simple story.”^[2] For Godard, the portrayal of the Holocaust in mainstream media is extremely one-sided, showcasing simply the plight of the Jews. Instead, he believes that another facet of history could be brought to light if the life of a concentration guard was to be made available for the world to see. He displayed his deep-rooted sympathy for Germany on every occasion possible, making him a controversial figure.

[P1] He took controversial stances on political issues.