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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |

(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")
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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. ***
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.
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Posters
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Theatrical Release: August 26th, 1956
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews Robert-Bresson.com
Comparison:
New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL vs. Gaumont - Region FREE - Blu-ray
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1) New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT 2) Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE3) Gaumont - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT |
| DVD Box Cover |
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| Distribution | New Yorker - Region 1- NTSC | Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL | Gaumont - Region FREE - Blu-ray |
| Runtime | 1:36:09 | 1:36:36 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:40:29.666 |
| 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 |
Disc Size: 30,672,358,416 bytes Feature Size: 22,082,267,136 bytes Average Bitrate: 26.98 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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| Bitrate:
NY'er |
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| Bitrate:
AE |
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| Bitrate:
Blu-ray |
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| Audio | French (Dolby Digital Mono) | French (Dolby Digital Mono) |
DTS-HD Master Audio French 865 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 865 kbps /
16-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit) |
| Subtitles | English, None | English, None | English, French (SDH), None |
| Features |
Release Information: Edition Details: • Unrestored, unsubtitled trailer (3:07) •
'Easter Egg' trailers of Lancelot of the Lake, The Son, Taking Sides and
Stone Reader |
Release Information: Studio: Artificial Eye Aspect
Ratio: Edition Details: • Bresson Filmography (text screen) |
Release Information: Studio: Gaumont
Disc Size: 30,672,358,416 bytes Feature Size: 22,082,267,136 bytes Average Bitrate: 26.98 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P
Edition Details: • Bande-Annonce |
| Comments: |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION: Gaumont Region FREE Blu-ray - (November 2010) - Quite the dream come true to utter 'Bresson' and 'Blu-ray' consecutively. The incredible news is that this Gaumont Blu-ray is both region FREE and has optional English subtitles!Let's look at the image - While some scenes appear softer than I would appreciate - others are rich, detailed and even exhibit some depth. About the first 1/3 of the film's visuals are less compelling via 1080P resolution (yes, this is progressive - NOT interlaced - and at 24fps) but this improves as Bresson's masterpiece continues. There is softness reminiscent of DNR scrubbing. Contrast is not as prominent as I would have hoped but there is some nice textures and it has less artifacts. Weaknesses may be more a production limitation coming through accurately via the Blu-ray format. There doesn't appear to have been any pre-restoration. The transfer is on a dual-layered disc with a decent bitrate. I expect that many will approve of the superior image quality - although others may see it as subtle. But the improvement is none-the-less there. Hopefully the screen captures will give you a good idea. Another benefit is that this no longer has PAL speed-up (as on both DVDs) and is in its proper theatrical running time. Audio is DTS-HD Master in original mono at a modest 865 Kbps. The music and lengthy segments with no sound are key to this film's expression. It sounds clean consistent and very good although not especially dynamic. Mozart's Great Mass in C Minor is delivered impressively through the lossless transfer. As stated there are optional English and French (SDH) subtitles. They seem accurately translated but I'll have to devote more time to give a further impression. My Momitsu has verified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.
Extras include a 45-minute documentary by
Pierre-Henri Gibert entitled L'essence Des Formes - it is
in French with no subtitles but seems a good piece with input
from many expert sources. However, I still think the AE DVD's
The Road to Bresson is more in-depth and also a better
overview. There are also some previews ('Bande-Annonce') and
that is all. This remains one of my top 10 favorite films of all
time and I am thrilled to have it on
Blu-ray.
It's existence seemed like a rumor at times but I have it in my
hands and, for Bresson fans, can give a recommendation. I feel I
will watch this film at least twice a year for the rest of my
life and now I have it in the most authentic theatrical form for
digital home theater presentations.
**** ADDITION
- Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL - April 08': Pretty much the same as
the
Lancelot du La 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.
[...]
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 am
disappointed. |
Recommended Reading for Robert Bresson fans (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
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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 |
Check out more in "The Library"
DVD Menus
(New
Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL
RIGHT)
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Gaumont - Region FREE - Blu-ray
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Subtitle Sample
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1) New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE3) Gaumont - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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Screen Captures
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1) New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE3) Gaumont - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE3) Gaumont - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE3) Gaumont - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE3) Gaumont - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE3) Gaumont - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE3) Gaumont - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE3) Gaumont - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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Image: |
Blu-ray |
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Sound: |
Blu-ray |
| Extras: | Artificial Eye |
| DVD Box Cover |
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| Distribution | New Yorker - Region 1- NTSC | Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL | Gaumiont - Region FREE - Blu-ray |
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 |
Check out more in "The Library"
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Gary Tooze
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Thank You!