Rare 'Breathless' Manuscript by Jean-Luc Godard to Be Auctioned

The only known manuscript of the French New Wave classic is set to be sold by Sotheby’s Paris in June, with an estimated value of €400,000–600,000.

The manuscript, discovered in the estate of producer Georges de Beauregard, includes 70 pages of handwritten notes, scene synopses, and dialogue from the 1960 film 'Breathless.'
This partial manuscript is notable due to Godard's avant-garde filmmaking style, which often involved improvising dialogue and destroying written records.
Key scenes described in the manuscript include the dramatic opening sequence and Jean Seberg's character selling newspapers on the Champs-Élysées.
The auction lot will also feature photographs and letters from Georges de Beauregard’s archive, offering further insights into the golden age of French cinema.
Bidding will take place online from June 4 to 18, 2025, as part of Sotheby’s Paris auction of books and manuscripts.