In the 1950s, France experienced significant social and economic changes following World War II. The country focused on rebuilding its economy, leading to the establishment of the European Economic Community in 1957, which aimed to promote economic cooperation among European nations. This period also saw the rise of the Trente Glorieuses, a time of rapid growth and modernization. Culturally, the 1950s in France was marked by a flourishing of the arts, including literature, cinema, and fashion. Influential figures like Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir emerged in the literary scene, while the New Wave cinema movement began to take shape, changing the landscape of filmmaking.