MK2

Region 2 - PAL

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 6.55 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

MK2 (3 Films de Robert Bresson)

MK2 (3 Films de Robert Bresson)

Artificial Eye

2.0 Dolby Digital French

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Interview with Robert Bresson (6:27)
• The Models of Pickpocket (52:14)
• - Pierre Leymarie (13:27)
• - Marika Green (12:27)
• - Martin Lassalle (26:10)
• Auteur de Pickpocket (12:57) - Jean-Pierre Améris, Marika Green, Paul Vecchiali
• Kassagi (11:34)
• Trailer (2:32)

DVD Release Date: March 23rd, 2005
Keep Case

Chapters 17

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Interview with Robert Bresson (6:27) - Cinépanorama (1960)
• The Models of Pickpocket (52:14)
• - Pierre Leymarie (13:27)
• - Marika Green (12:27)
• - Martin Lassalle (26:10)
• Auteur de Pickpocket (12:57) - Jean-Pierre Améris, Marika Green, Paul Vecchiali
• Kassagi (11:34) - of
• Trailer (2:32)
 

Chapters 17

The complaint with the Criterion will be their own framing of Bresson's image. There appears to be haphazard and inconsistent cropping of the image mostly on the top and right edge. For years I have stated that this MUST be an occurrence of the Criterion digitization/restoration process but I have no conclusive evidence to support my theory. It happens on virtually all Criterion DVDs that we compare - it is probably a combination of zooming and slight pan + scanning. Whether you are overly offended by this matting is a personal decision.

The Criterion removable subtitles are slightly superior - a little more detailed in a few spots and a less intrusive (smaller), yet still have a perfectly visible font. 

The extras; a few of the extras on the other release are duplicated on the Criterion - The Models of Pickpocket, the Bresson Interview, a trailer and the Kassagi performance. In addition to that the Criterion has a 15 minute Paul Schrader introduction (excellent!!!), a Q&A on Pickpocket, liner notes and the James Quant commentary that I felt was rather stuffed - he was talking very fast. It was great information, for the most part, but he really seemed rushed.

Bottom line: So if this were a foot race Criterion have come from behind with the later release and passed both of their competitors. If you can live with the often very minor cropping of the image then the Criterion is definitely the definitive release of this masterpiece film. 

****

It appears as though both editions are exact. The Artificial Eye is a licensed port of the MK2 and has the same degree of sharpness, original audio, subtitle options, extra features and the same menus, except the AE are in English.

The only real difference (albeit minute) that we could find are that in the subtitles, where the Mk2 appears a few frames later than on Artificial Eye. Note the difference between them in Image #1. Both before Michel points and after his finger is out of the image, the Artificial Eye has no subtitles on in that specific scene.

The extras are the same and begins with an interview of Bresson from French TV (Cinépanorama 1960) where Bressons answers questions towards his techniques and the film itself. Following this comes three interviews with the three main actors, recorded in 2003, then a Q&A from 2000 with Ameris, Green and director Paul Vecchiali, and finally a demonstration of pickpocketing by Kassagi from the TV-show "La Piste aux Ètoiles" from 1962. Simply superb additional material.

 - Henrik Sylow