Firstly, a HUGE thanks to our Patreon supporters. Your generosity touches me deeply. These supporters have become the single biggest contributing factor to the survival of DVDBeaver. Your assistance has become essential. We are always trying to expand Patron benefits... you get access to the Silent Auctions and over 5000 unpublished screen captures (in lossless PNG format, if that has appeal for you) listed HERE. Please consider helping with $3 or more each month so we can continue to do our best in giving you timely, thorough reviews, calendar updates and detailed comparisons. Thank you so much. We aren't going to exist without another 100 or so patrons. |
Search DVDBeaver |
S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
NOTE: These digital editions of Mouchette are compared to the Criterion Blu-ray HERE
Robert Bresson plumbs great reservoirs of feeling with Mouchette, one of the most searing portraits of human desperation ever put on film. With a dying mother, an absent, alcoholic father, and a baby brother in need of care, the teenage Mouchette seeks solace and respite from her circumstances in the nature of the French countryside and daily routine. Bresson deploys his trademark minimalist style to heartbreaking effect in this essential work of French filmmaking, a hugely empathetic drama that elevates its trapped protagonist into one of the cinema’s most memorable tragic figures. *** Mouchette is one of Robert Bresson's greatest cinematic achievements, plumbing immense emotional depths in one of the most searing, heartbreaking portraits of human frailty ever committed to celluloid. Hemmed in by a dying mother, an alcoholic father and a baby brother in need of care, the adolescent Mouchette searches for sanctuary in nature and domestic chores. As the delicate intricacies of her life are played out a touching, tender and tragic portrait is painted, making her of one of cinema's most memorable tragic heroines. An essential piece of classic French filmmaking. |
Posters
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Theatrical Release: October 26th, 1967 - Sweden
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Nouveaux Pictures - Region 0 - PAL vs. Criterion - Region 1- NTSC vs. Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Big thanks to Trond Trondsen of Masters of Cinema for the DVD screen captures!
1) Nouveaux Pictures - Region 0 - PAL LEFT 2) Criterion - Region 1- NTSC MIDDLE 3) Artificial Eye - Region 'B'- Blu-ray RIGHT |
Box Covers |
|
|
![]() Coming to Blu-ray from Criterion in December 2020: and in the UK by Criterion: |
Distribution | Nouveaux Pictures - Region 0 - PAL | Criterion Collection - Spine # 363 Pictures - Region 1 - NTSC |
Artificial Eye Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:17:57 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:21:36 | 1:21:16.121 |
Video | 1.62:1
Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 7.34 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s |
1.66:1
Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 8.35 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size:23,811,667,416 bytes Feature: 20,573,030,400 bytes Video Bitrate: 29.91 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
|||
Bitrate: Nouveaux |
|
||
Bitrate: Criterion |
|
||
Bitrate: Blu-ray |
|
||
Audio | French (Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono) | French (Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono) | LPCM Audio French 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit |
Subtitles | English (non-removable) | English, none | English (non-removable) |
Features |
Release Information:
Edition Details: • Bresson Filmography
• Photo Gallery |
Release Information:
Edition Details:
• Audio commentary by renowned film scholar, critic, and
festival programmer Tony Rayns
DVD Release Date:
January 16th, 2007 |
Release Information: Studio: Artificial Eye Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size:23,811,667,416 bytes Feature: 20,573,030,400 bytes Video Bitrate: 29.91 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details:
• Zum
Beispiel Bresson (For Instance Bresson) (29:55)
Blu-ray
Release Date:
March 10th, 2014 Chapters 12 |
Comments: |
NOTE: These digital editions of Mouchette are compared to the Criterion Blu-ray HERE
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were obtained directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION: Artificial Eye - Region 'B' Blu-ray - March 2014 - This new 1080P transfer of Bresson's brilliant Mouchette looks reasonably solid. It certainly advances over the R2 DVD and seems to have the purer contrast as the Criterion SD. It's a bit brighter, adds some depth and has less in the way of compression artifacts. It is single-layered with a high bitrate in the original 1.66:1 aspect ratio. There are still a couple of scenes - about 3/4's in - that have full vertical scratches. They are very faint and only last a couple of minutes. There is also some minor flickering but overall it looked quite good in-motion on my system. The higher resolution adds the more noticeable depth, and layered contrast supporting improved detail. There is also some consistent and pleasing texture. This looks very beautiful at times. The linear PCM 2.0 channel used in original French at 2304 kbps adds depth to the film's important soundstage with rustling trees and shrubs, the Fair's amusement rides, children in the playground, church bells, and Mouchette humming. I'd definitely say this augmented the presentation beyond the simple Dolby of the DVDs. Unfortunately, the Artificial Eye has non-removable English subtitles for those detracted by this. It is, predictably, region 'B'-locked. AE add Zum Beispiel Bresson aka Au hasard Bresson directed by Theodor Kotulla in 1967. It is the same 30-minute documentary as found on the Criterion DVD about the director, including behind-the-scenes footage of Robert Bresson directing Mouchette. It has German audio, and burned-in English subtitles. I'm glad I own this Blu-ray, as I have no idea if Criterion will be releasing Mouchette in 1080P anytime soon. Personally, this is a keeper and a film I will continue to revisit for the rest of my life. *** ADDITION: Criterion - January 07' - The Criterion is magnificent. Improved in every single area upon the Nouveaux PAL edition. Sharper image, better contrast (blacks and whites), more information in the frame, extras, subtitles (they are optional on the Criterion) etc. etc. For the image differences you can see clearly from the below screen captures. Audio, although still mono on the Criterion, does seem more dynamic and consistent to my ear on the newer NTSC version. Rayns' commentary is wonderful - as professional, prepared, and adept as any of his others. As the film is relatively short he is moving at quite a clip to get in all the information he is able to share. So far I feel this is easily the best commentary of 2007! I am sure it will be recognized at our next year end poll. The Criterion also includes some featurettes - Au hasard Bresson is a a half-hour documentary about the director, including behind-the-scenes footage of Robert Bresson directing Mouchette. “Traveling,” is a 7 1/2 minutes segment from the cine-magazine TV series Cinéma, featuring on-set interviews with Bresson and actors Nadine Nortier and Jean-Claude Guilbert. We are also privy to the original theatrical trailer, cut by none other than Jean-Luc Godard - at 1:30. Finally there are 4 pages of liner notes with an essay by Robert Polito entitled Girl, Interrupted.
Debatably one of the most important pieces of film work made in the 20th
century, Mouchette is essential cinema and will be added to our listing
HERE.
Criterion have given us another example of why they are the best DVD production
company in the world -important films packaged at the highest available
standard.
Gary Tooze ***
On the Nouveaux (written in
2004):
After a long,
excruciating wait we finally have Mouchette on DVD in a decent transfer.
As in the case of the simultaneously released
Au
hasard Balthazar, this DVD is based on a newly restored
print, and the end result is very pleasing: again we have a
well-balanced contrast (a tad softer than
Balthazar,
with some very slight chroma that is virtually unnoticeable when the film
is projected at normal speed)
and no trace of dust/scratches. The audio is nice and crisp. The
subtitles are very good, but switching them "OFF" doesn't actually
remove them. A wonderful DVD of a wonderful film. Highly recommended! --Trond Trondsen, mastersofcinema.org |
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 |
Check out more in "The Library"
Menus
(Nouveaux
Pictures -
Region 0 - PAL
LEFT vs.
Criterion -
Region 1- NTSC
RIGHT)
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
![]() |
Artificial Eye - Region 'B'- Blu-ray
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Subtitle Sample
1) Nouveaux Pictures - Region 0 - PAL TOP 2) Criterion - Region 1- NTSC MIDDLE 3) Artificial Eye - Region 'B'- Blu-ray BOTTOM |
![]() |
|
Screen Captures
1) Nouveaux Pictures - Region 0 - PAL TOP 2) Criterion - Region 1- NTSC MIDDLE 3) Artificial Eye - Region 'B'- Blu-ray BOTTOM |
![]() |
|
![]() |
1) Nouveaux Pictures - Region 0 - PAL TOP 2) Criterion - Region 1- NTSC MIDDLE 3) Artificial Eye - Region 'B'- Blu-ray BOTTOM |
![]() |
|
![]() |
1) Nouveaux Pictures - Region 0 - PAL TOP
2) Criterion - Region 1- NTSC MIDDLE
3)
Artificial Eye - Region 'B'- Blu-ray
BOTTOM
![]() |
|
![]() |
1) Nouveaux Pictures - Region 0 - PAL TOP
2) Criterion - Region 1- NTSC MIDDLE
3)
Artificial Eye - Region 'B'- Blu-ray
BOTTOM
![]() |
|
![]() |
1) Nouveaux Pictures - Region 0 - PAL TOP 2) Criterion - Region 1- NTSC MIDDLE 3) Artificial Eye - Region 'B'- Blu-ray BOTTOM |
![]() |
|
![]() |
1) Nouveaux Pictures - Region 0 - PAL TOP
2) Criterion - Region 1- NTSC MIDDLE
3)
Artificial Eye - Region 'B'- Blu-ray
BOTTOM
![]() |
|
![]() |
1) Nouveaux Pictures - Region 0 - PAL TOP
2) Criterion - Region 1- NTSC MIDDLE
3)
Artificial Eye - Region 'B'- Blu-ray
BOTTOM
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
1) Nouveaux Pictures - Region 0 - PAL TOP
2) Criterion - Region 1- NTSC MIDDLE
3)
Artificial Eye - Region 'B'- Blu-ray
BOTTOM
![]() |
|
![]() |
1) Nouveaux Pictures - Region 0 - PAL TOP 2) Criterion - Region 1- NTSC MIDDLE 3) Artificial Eye - Region 'B'- Blu-ray BOTTOM |
![]() |
|
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 |
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"
Box Covers |
|
|
![]() Coming to Blu-ray from Criterion in December 2020: and in the UK by Criterion: |
Distribution | Nouveaux Pictures - Region 0 - PAL | Criterion Collection - Spine # 363 Pictures - Region 1 - NTSC |
Artificial Eye Region 'B' - Blu-ray |