(aka "Donna di vita")
directed by Jacques Demy
1961 France
Jacques Demy's first and in some ways best feature (1961, 90 min.), shot in exquisite black-and-white 'Scope by Raoul Coutard, is among the most neglected major works of the French New Wave. Abandoned by her sailor lover, a cabaret dancer (Anouk Aimee) brings up their son while awaiting his return and ultimately has to choose among three men. Chock-full of film references (to The Blue Angel, Breathless, Hollywood musicals, the work of Max Ophuls, among others) and lyrically shot in Nantes, the film is a camera stylo love letter, and Michel Legrand's lovely score provides ideal nostalgic accompaniment. In his third feature and biggest hit, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Demy settled on life's disappointments; here at least one major character gets exactly what she wants, and the effect is no less poignant. With Marc Michel, Jacques Harden, and Elina Labourdette (the young heroine in Robert Bresson's 1945 Les dames du Bois de Boulogne). In French with subtitles.
Excerpt from Jonathan Rosenbaum's Chicago Reader review HERE
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Theatrical Release: March 3rd, 1961 - France
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Review: Wellspring - Region 1 - NTSC
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| Distribution | Columbia Tri-Star Region 1 - NTSC | |
| Runtime | 1:27:15 | |
| Video |
2.35:1
Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.40 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
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| Bitrate: |
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| Audio | French (Dolby Digital 5.1 Stereo), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) | |
| Subtitles | English, None | |
| Features |
Release Information: Studio: Wellspring Media, Inc Aspect Ratio: DVD5 - single layer DVD Release Date:
December 9, 2003 |
Edition Details:
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| Comments: |
Not a pristine
job, but a commendable effort by Wellspring. The print used seems fairly
clean and free of blemishes. Contrast might be a shade boosted, actually
I'm pretty sure it is. Not the sharpest of lines but passable for a film
of this age. Sound seemed quite weak, but I'm sure that's the best they
could do. It has an option of boosting to 5.1 but nothing really comes
from the rear channels. Extras include almost 7 min. from "The World of
Jacques Demy", a trailer and some bios etc. Bettr than your average fare
from Wellspring. Demy fans will be very happy.
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of 
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Recommended Reading in French Cinema (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
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The Films in My Life |
French Cinema: A Student's Guide by Philip Powrie, Keith Reader |
Agnes Varda by Alison Smith | Godard on Godard : Critical Writings by Jean-Luc Godard |
Robert Bresson (Cinematheque Ontario Monographs, No.
2) by James Quandt |
The Art of Cinema by Jean Cocteau |
French New Wave
by Jean Douchet, Robert Bonnono, Cedric Anger, Robert Bononno |
French Cinema: From Its Beginnings to the Present by Remi Fournier Lanzoni |
Truffaut: A Biography by Antoine do Baecque and Serge Toubiana |
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| Distribution | Columbia Tri-Star Region 1 - NTSC | |
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