Band of Outsiders is a French New Wave film released in 1964 and directed by Jean-Luc Godard. The film is known for its iconic dance scene in a Parisian café where the three protagonists, Franz, Arthur, and Odile, perform the Madison dance while a jukebox plays in the background.
The film is a loose adaptation of the novel Fools' Gold by Dolores Hitchens and tells the story of the three young characters as they navigate their way through their mundane everyday lives and their desire for excitement and adventure. Franz and Arthur are obsessed with Hollywood films and idolize the characters in westerns and film noirs. They often act out scenes from movies and even quote lines from films such as The Big Sleep and The Asphalt Jungle.
Odile, a timid and naive girl, becomes their accomplice and is lured into their world of adventure. The trio becomes involved in a plot to rob a wealthy man's house, but their amateurish planning and misplaced trust in each other ultimately lead to a tragic end.
Godard uses the backdrop of Paris and its iconic landmarks such as the Louvre museum to showcase the characters' youthful energy and recklessness. The film is known for its jump cuts, non-linear narrative, and playful and witty dialogue that deconstructs typical film conventions.
Band of Outsiders is regarded as a classic of French New Wave cinema and an influential work that paved the way for a new era of independent filmmaking.