Legendary Franco-Swiss filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard died today at the age of 91, inspiring many memes from corners of the internet deeply influenced by his work. Godard, one of the leading figures of the French New Wave, is not only foundational to modern moviemaking in the eyes of many, but also perceived as required viewing for essentially every online leftist.

Godard would have eagerly encouraged you to use his death as a pretext to dm slide an art hoe

— lauren (@NotABigJerk) September 13, 2022

Godard began his career as a critic for Cahiers du cinéma (which one could argue was the Know Your Meme of the French film community in the 1950s), publishing at a time when the art form was seen as unserious, underground and of little interest to theoreticians and historians. Godard then started as a director in the 1960s, making films like Breathless and Pierrot le fou, which pushed the medium of film and redefined what it could do.

The best way to express your appreciation for Godard's life is to assume a woman doesn't know who he was and start telling her about him

— Zack Budryk (@BudrykZack) September 13, 2022

he gave us plenty but above all he gave us beautiful women with bangs being perfect and melancholy pic.twitter.com/U2977vlAJe

— isa (@lifeisapeach_) September 13, 2022

Godard’s work is also of particular interest to online communists because it is animated by a complex and often darkly humorous preoccupation with capitalism, imperialism and injustice. Godard’s films arguably helped inspire political movements in the 1960s, both in France and abroad.

rest in power, Godard. this is my favourite still + subtitle combo ever. pic.twitter.com/1XI5LPEO5g

— Calum Barnes (@balumcarnes) September 13, 2022

A number of memers on Twitter joked about how they might take advantage of Godard’s death following the news spreading online.

Just heard about Godard. Hearing about it just reminded me of how Breathless I felt when I was with you. Treated you like Number Two when you were the one. If you don’t hold me in Contempt we should get some drinks this Week-End if you aren’t a Married Woman. Hope you good. pic.twitter.com/reUejDNwqa

— Heat (1994) 4K Enjoyer (@firagawalkwthme) September 13, 2022

Godard also was an engaged and insightful critic of media, particularly film. Conflicted over what he saw as Western art and media’s complicity in the 20th century’s most gruesome conflicts (particularly the wars in Algeria and Vietnam) he gave his opinion at length and in detail whenever anybody asked him, often while wearing sunglasses and smoking a cigarette.

Godard on mediahttps://t.co/zUPmvpRl0t pic.twitter.com/djFLdqnxBW

— james (@Doranish) September 13, 2022

Others associated the director’s death with other recent celebrity deaths, including the viral and highly memed death of Queen Elizabeth II.

jean-luc godard’s bereal today pic.twitter.com/uDJ4G7CWFq

— tennussy williams (@cIairebIoom) September 13, 2022

RIP Jean Luc Godard, one of the best directors ever, huge jerk his entire life, boldly spent the majority of his career fucking with festival audiences around the world. Truly he was Mr Cinema.

— Kai "TREPANATOR'S own Jean Rollin" Perrignon (@memoryendowment) September 13, 2022

I mean, Jean-Luc Godard was an important filmmaker but I think this is going a bit far https://t.co/xiXM46hNkJ

— Beav 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ (@__Beav) September 13, 2022

Many joked about Godard’s personality, which was famously difficult. He had a reputation as someone who was grouchy and socially awkward, occasionally behaving cruelly towards friends, lovers and fans. At the same time, he was romantically linked with some of France's most famous women.

agnès varda greeting jean-luc godard in the afterlife be like: pic.twitter.com/SElc783Hvb

— Niamh (@niamhparkerx) September 13, 2022

rip jean-luc godard you taught me it was ok to be an annoying loser guy pulling unbelievably beautiful women

— Chris Wade (@saywhatagain) September 13, 2022

say what you will about godard but the man consistently pulled some of the most beautiful women in france by being a weird guy who loved the movies. you have to respect it pic.twitter.com/6Vde5zV6uZ

— gg lily allen (@lumpen_princess) September 13, 2022

Many memes appreciated Godard’s famous sense of humor and his interactions with Hollywood, with which he famously had a love-hate relationship.

Jean-Luc Godard bestowing Clint Eastwood with an Honorary César award in 1998. “What a great pleasure, Mister Honkytonk Man,” said Godard. “Good luck. And good courage. And…be yourself.” pic.twitter.com/myWFBvBE5w

— john (@johnsemley3000) September 13, 2022

RIP Jean-Luc Godard, one of the most influential, iconoclastic film-makers of them all. It was ironic that he himself revered the Hollywood studio film-making system, as perhaps no other director inspired as many people to just pick up a camera and start shooting… pic.twitter.com/KFOnnQ1H6n

— edgarwright (@edgarwright) September 13, 2022

For the most part, Twitter was largely full of appreciation for Godard’s art and legacy, with many sharing favorite moments and shots from his films throughout the day.

Jean-Luc Godard.
(1930-2022)🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/jdlJBQbNd3

— Lost in Cinema (@thefilm_school) September 13, 2022

Deleuze in 1976 on Godard's greatest virtue: loneliness pic.twitter.com/KDlGPNHyoZ

— Jeffrey Kirkwood (@JeffreyKirkwood) September 13, 2022

Band of Outsiders (1964)
Dir: Jean-Luc Godard pic.twitter.com/rUPRjx0ViB

— Emir Han (@RealEmirHan) September 13, 2022