Robert Bresson on DVD

[arsaib4]

For the first time (ever), Robert Bresson's Au hasard, Balthazar and Mouchette are being released on dvd with subtitles. Both films were available in Japan and in the case of Mouchette in Italy recently.

Nouveaux Pictures who also released the films previously in the U.K on vhs (Pal), are now putting them out on dvd. This should be a reason enough for people to invest in a multi-system dvd player.

The films will be released on Nov 22nd in the U.K. Special Features for each release include anamorphic widescreen presentation (16:9), Robert Bresson filmography, picture gallery and chapter index. Both films are fully remastered from newly restored prints.


http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~tstronds/robert-bresson.com/Media/DVD/mouchette.jpg

http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~tstronds/robert-bresson.com/Media/DVD/hasard.jpg

[wpqx]

The rumor that these two films would be released in December by Criterion has proven false, unfortunately. I have Mouchette on VHS, and have seen Balthazar, but still was looking forward to the royal Criterion treatment. Keep my fingers crossed and I won't hold my breath.

I also had to rejoice because TCM played the Trial of Joan of Arc Friday night, hurrah hurrah.

[arsaib4]

Yeah, Criterion is busy doing À ma soeur! and yet another version of M, like there aren't enough already.

I also caught 'Joan of Arc' on TCM, never get tired of seeing this film.

[gratefultiger]

The sooner this master's films are on DVD the better, i hope criterion does the job in the future,especially my favourite,"diary of a country priest",as i only have it on VHS. tho picking a bresson fave is like pulling teeth.

[arsaib4]

Diary of a Country Priest is available from Criterion. Many more of his films are scheduled for next summer from MK2 (France) and indications are that they'll include english subtitles. No doubt, Bresson was one of the greatest that ever lived.

Films from MK2:

Les Anges du péché
(1943)

L'Argent
(1983)

Four Nights of a Dreamer
(1971)

Pickpocket
(1959)

Trial of Joan of Arc
(1962)

[arsaib4]

French distributor MK2 has just announced some info regarding the first boxset of Bresson's films they plan to release.

Three films that are part of the set are Le Procès de Jeanne d'Arc, L'Argent and Pickpocket . The films are scheduled for March 16th and will have English subtitles.

Will post more details when they become available.

[arsaib4]

All 3 films (Le Procès de Jeanne d'Arc, L'Argent and Pickpocket) will be subtitled not only in English, but also in German, Italian, and Spanish.

Le Procès de Jeanne d'Arc will include a theatrical trailer, foreword by French journalist P. Azoury (20 mins), interview with Robert Bresson and Mario Beunat (5 mins), interview with Jean Guitton (5 mins), and an audio speech by André Malraux (20 mins). L'Argent will include the Cannes press conference (41 mins), and a sequence in which Truffaut speaks about Robert Bresson (2 mins). Pickpocket will include Babette Mangolte's Les Modèles de Pickpocket (52 mins), the French TV program Cinepanorama (7 mins), and Robert Bresson's speech at IDHEC (2 mins). All extras will be subtitled.

March 16th is the release date.

http://www.alapage.com/get_img.php?cgi=disque_l&num_ref=v857122r.jpg

[wpqx]

that's all fine and dandy but where would someone from the US go about ordering that?

oh and that link comes up in some strange gibberish

[arsaib4]

Originally posted by wpqx
that's all fine and dandy but where would someone from the US go about ordering that? oh and that link comes up in some strange gibberish

I was just waiting for more retailers to add the item to their site that's why I didn't add a proper link . The one above is just an image which opens up fine on my browser.

So far the best price that I can see is at amazon.fr (http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00074C8HC/qid=1108443535/ref=pd_ka_2/402-5719912-8801709) (obviously I'm only counting the sites who ship internationally). I think you'll also find that it is the easiest to navigate for a non-French speaking person since the layout is very similar to the the other amazon sites. Also If you have an account at amazon then you can use the same Id/pwd at all their locations.

This HELP (http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/603060/ref%3Dw%5Fhd%5Fa%5Fhd%5F2%5F13/402-5719912-8801709) section should do it but if you're still having trouble let me know.

[wpqx]

I'll be on the look out then, and if that works, hell I might be ordering a whole bunch of films. Right now money is very tight, so no new DVD's for a while.

[arsaib4]

As you can probably see, the price listed at amazon (49.99 Eur/ $ 65) is very reasonable considering that it's a 5 disc/3 film set with a whole bunch of extras. A single U.S. or a U.K. DVD would've been anywhere from $25 - $30. But, since you're willing to wait, both New Yorker and Artificial-Eye are about to make us happy especially if someone is targeting one particular title.

[wpqx]

let's just hope that whoever releases them does as much work on supplimental features. New Yorker left a little to be desired with their releases last year.

Not that it has anything to do with anything, but I heard that Fredrick Wiseman has been in negotiations to finally get his films released.

[arsaib4]

A person working closely with New Yorker has said that there will be a few extra features included; probably they'll simply use the ones from the MK2 set. Obviously L'Argent is the one we can look forward to from New Yorker.

Now, if Wiseman's films came out then that would certainly be a miracle. Any idea who he's working with?

[wpqx]

It's purely heresay right now, nothing confirmed, I believe whoever gets them, is going to get the whole lot of his films though. I don't want to talk like I actually know what is going on though, and start some untrue rumor and have everyone running after me with chainsaws. I did here that Killer of Sheep is going to be released this summer, but I believe I heard the same thing last year.

btw I know that Killer of Sheep has nothing to do with Wiseman or Bresson, so dave your breath.

As for Wiseman I hope I can at least get High School out of the deal.

[arsaib4]

Killer of Sheep will be released by Milestone but nothing official is available at their website so who the hell knows.

Wiseman's films can be rented on 16mm/VHS but the prices are very high and the policies are very strict. I consider Public Housing a masterpiece and wouldn't mind at all if it were available.

[wpqx]

Well here's the Wiseman update. I have found a store that carries quite a few of his films including High School, Titicut Follies, Hospital, Law and Order, Meat, and Near Death.

The name of the store is Odd Obsession

http://www.oddobsession.com

They are based out of Chicago, so I'm not sure if they do mail order rentals, and I don't know what they have for sale, but I do know that I'm gonna drive down there, and clean out their collection.

[arsaib4]

Thanks for the link. I'm not sure how established the store is but their website certainly looks new; hopefully it'll expand soon. Yeah, check it out if you can and let me know if you end up buying anything or even if you copy any of the rentals.

[arsaib4]

Everything with the set is official now as MK2 is finally offering detailed info on their site (http://boutique.mk2.com/boutique/fiche_video.aspx?find=bresson&id_pdt=510&mId=1235463&find_rayon=&page=0). They've set the price at nearly Eur 60.00 so amazon.fr has also adjusted their site.

[arsaib4]

As wpqx mentioned in the Criterion thread, Au Hasard Balthazar (http://www.criterionco.com/asp/release.asp?id=297&section=feature) will be released shortly.

More good news as New Yorker is ready to release L'Argent. It will be available on May 24th. (The film is also part of the 3 film MK2-subtitled-set talked about earlier - although it's not available separately.) Audio commentary will be provided by none other than Kent Jones, who has also written a fine book on the film.

[arsaib4]

MovieMail in the U.K. is offering all Bresson DVD's for GBP 12.99, for now.

This offer includes L'Argent (also released by New Yorker - see above) and PickPocket (2 DVD-set), both recently released by the wonderful Artificial-Eye label.

Here (http://www.moviemail-online.co.uk/scripts/specials.pl?offer=193) it is.