A Man Escaped Robert Bresson

(aka 'Un condamné à mort s'est échappé ou Le vent souffle où il veut' "A Man Escaped" or "Le Vent souffle où il veut" or "The Wind Bloweth Where It Listeth")

France 1956

Based on the true story of Resistance fighter André Devigny, who was imprisoned and sentenced to death by the Nazis during the Second World War, the film reconstructs his actual cell at Montluc, the fortress in Lyons which would later house the war criminal Klaus Barbie, and follows his meticulous plans for escape.

Bresson totally involves the viewer in this compelling and thrilling tale of courage and faith, which
is all the more authentic for its use of non-professional actors and the director's sparse style.
The film's stunning denouement, to the accompaniment of Mozart's sublime Mass in C Minor, is
spiritually moving and succeeds in taking the story onto a different plane. (From the AE website HERE)

***

There’s a strong sense of emotional duality that I feel when viewing Robert Bresson’s A Man Escaped. There’s an intense and suspenseful tautness floating in the air, yet at the same time there’s a calming and comforting peacefulness. This is exactly how the film concludes—with the inner struggle of one sensation verging on eclipsing the other. During the entire story’s meticulous development we’re slowly ensnared in a resolute depiction of one man. We become integrated with his intelligent and persistent manner, with his struggles and his hopes, and eventually, his escape attempt. The conclusion of A Man Escaped leaves me breathless. I feel that I have physically become Andre Devigny and this moment is a consciously defining one in my existence. As the credits roll I can finally exhale. out of

Gary W. Tooze

Posters

Theatrical Release: August 26th, 1956

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DVD Comparison:

New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL

(New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL RIGHT)

DVD Box Cover
Distribution	New Yorker - Region 1- NTSC	Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	1:36:09	1:36:36 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.67 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.7 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.
Bitrate: NY'er
Bitrate: AE
Audio	French (Dolby Digital Mono)	French (Dolby Digital Mono)
Subtitles	English, None	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: New Yorker Video Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Unrestored, unsubtitled trailer (3:07) • 'Easter Egg' trailers of Lancelot of the Lake, The Son, Taking Sides and Stone Reader DVD Release Date: May 25th, 2004 Keep Case Chapters: 20	Release Information: Studio: Artificial Eye Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Featurette: The Road to Bresson (54:02) • Bresson Filmography (text screen) DVD Release Date: April 28th, 2008 Transparent Keep Case Chapters: 10

Comments:

ADDITION - Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL - April 08': Pretty much the same as the Lancelot du Lac comparison in that the new PAL disc towers above the region 1 NY'er in terms of image because of the vast number of deficiencies in the NTSC transfer. These include being sourced from an unconverted PAL source (as the times indicate) - it hence has 'ghosting' and 'combing' (interlaced) - is hazier, artefcats - has more damage (speckles and dirt) and is cropped on the left and top edges. Strangely damage marks are quite different with the NY'er exhibiting them more frequently and noticeably. The AE is dual-layered and it really is no contest for which is superior.

Both offer original audio and optional English subtitles with the AE having, what appears to be, a slightly more detailed translation.

Extras go the way of the UK disc as well. The NY'er offers only a trailer and the AE has a wonderful documentary entitled 'The Road to Bresson'. For many this will be well worth the price of the DVD alone. Almost an hour long this Dutch production from 1984 and it is one of the better I have seen on the director.

From IMdb HERE: "....is one of the best documentaries I've ever seen about film or film-making. This should be seen in film schools and on public television, because it is such an insightful and informative learning tool of one of cinema's most uncompromising, yet elusive figures. [...]

This is two films at once- it is a record of the filmmakers trying to land Bresson for an interview, all while explaining to us what is so unique about his movies. If you've never seen a foot of film directed by the man, you leave this documentary knowing his work intimately... it is that good."

I am thrilled with this AE DVD - one of my favorite films looking fabulous and having an enjoyable educational supplement feature. STRONGLY recommended!

***

ON THE NY'er: There is some dirt and speckles visible. It seems as though this is a typical NY'er unconverted PAL transfer with ghosting and combing. Overall the image is quite weak but we have nothing to compare it to yet. There are no Extras (aside from an un-subtitled trailer) on this single layered disc. Bottom line: Imperfect visually - I look forward to comparing to the Artificial Eye release when it comes out later this year. This was my personal most anticipated release of the year, and I somewhat disappointed. More comments to follow after repeated viewings.

Gary W. Tooze

Recommended Reading for Robert Bresson fans (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)


Robert Bresson: A Spiritual Style in Film by Joseph Cunneen	Robert Bresson (French Film Directors) by Keith Reader	Robert Bresson by Philippe Arnaud, Alain Bergala	Transcendental Style in Film: Ozu, Bresson, Dreyer (Da Capo Paperback) by Paul Schrader	Notes on the Cinematographer by Robert Bresson	Robert Bresson (Cinematheque Ontario Monographs, No. 2) by James Quandt	Proces de Jeanne d'Arc by Robert Bresson	L'Argent (Bfi Modern Classics) by Kent Jones

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(New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL RIGHT)