<human>:  Why did the French New Wave directors use so many close-ups?
<bot>: The French New Wave directors used close-ups to show the emotions of the characters. In the 1950s, when the French New Wave was created, the medium of film was much more intimate than it is today. The directors wanted to show the audience the characters' inner thoughts and feelings, and they believed that close-ups were the best way to do this.