'Zero For Conduct' & 'L'Atalante'

Zero for Conduct and L'Atalante were both directed by Jean Vigo.

The latter is considered one of the greatest films of all time and both are direct influences on the French New Wave that came to pass in the 1950s. I've got to admit, L'Atalante seemed remarkably fresh as if it were actually not made in 1934, but instead in 1964.

Vigo is an interesting character. He is the son of a prominent militant anarchist in Spain. Thus, much of Vigo's early days saw him on the run with his parents. His father was murdered in prison in 1917. Afterwards, Vigo was sent to a boarding school under an assumed name. Much of his experiences there resulted in Zero for Conduct, a 400 Blows and If ... before either were even a remote idea.

Vigo never witnessed his influence nor was he able to make any more films. He died in 1934, the same year L'Atalante was released, due to tuberculosis. He was only 29 years old.