A remarkable piece of cinematic history has been rescued from obscurity. The debut film of legendary French New Wave director Jean-Luc Godard, the documentary short Opération Béton (Operation Concrete), has undergone a stunning 4K restoration and is set for its grand premiere.
The painstaking restoration was a collaborative effort between the prestigious Locarno Film Festival and the Swiss National Film Archive. This project brings to light a work that had been largely unseen and unavailable for decades, offering film scholars and enthusiasts an unprecedented look at the nascent talent of one of cinema's most influential figures.
From Construction Sites to Cinema Screens
Godard, then just 24 years old, shot the 20-minute documentary in 1954. The film offers a stark, almost poetic look at the construction of the Grande Dixence Dam in the Swiss Alps. It was a commercial project, financed by the construction company itself, and served as Godard's first foray into filmmaking—a full six years before he would revolutionise cinema with Breathless.
The restoration process was a complex endeavour. The team worked from the best surviving elements, a 35mm print preserved by the Swiss National Film Archive. The original negative is believed to be lost. Using state-of-the-art digital technology, experts have meticulously removed scratches, dirt, and damage, stabilised the image, and enhanced the audio to present the film as close to its original glory as possible.
A Glimpse into Godard's Formative Style
While a commercial commission, Opération Béton contains early traces of the stylistic and thematic concerns that would define Godard's later masterpieces. The film moves beyond a simple industrial reportage, focusing on the human labour behind the massive engineering feat and the almost abstract, geometric patterns of the construction site.
This restoration allows audiences to re-evaluate the starting point of Godard's career, providing crucial context for his evolution from a young critic writing for Cahiers du Cinéma into a fearless and innovative filmmaker.
World Premiere at Locarno
The newly restored Opération Béton will have its world premiere at the 2025 Locarno Film Festival in its Histoire(s) du cinéma section. This prestigious screening will place Godard's first work alongside other historical cinematic treasures, affirming its importance within the global film canon.
Following its festival debut, the restoration is expected to be made available for screenings at cinematheques and film institutes worldwide, ensuring that this vital piece of film history is preserved and celebrated for future generations.
