The River - Jean Renoir

(aka 'Le Fleuve')

France / India / USA 1951

Director Jean Renoir’s entrancing first color feature—shot entirely on location in India—is a visual tour de force. Based on the novel by Rumer Godden, the film eloquently contrasts the growing pains of three young women with the immutability of the holy Bengal River, around which their daily lives unfold. Enriched by Renoir’s subtle understanding and appreciation for India and its peoples, The River gracefully explores the fragile connections between transitory emotions and everlasting creation.

***

Jean Renoir's intoxicating first colour feature - shot entirely on location in India - is an adaptation of Rumer Godden's autobiographical coming-of-age tale of an adolescent girl living with her English family on the banks of the Ganges during the waning years of British colonial life.

Exquisitely shot in luminous Technicolor by Renoir's nephew Claude, The River is a visual tour de force and a glorious, meditative tribute to the sights and sounds of Indian culture.

Its central character (and the film's narrator) is fourteen-year-old Harriet (Patricia Walters), the eldest of five children. Harriet and her beautiful, slightly older friend Valerie (Adrienne Corri) experience the intensity of first love when Captain John (Thomas E. Breen) comes to stay with their neighbours, a mixed-race family with a daughter, Melanie (Radha), of similar age. Captain John, who has lost a leg in active service, captivates the three teenagers, each of whom develops romantic feelings towards this heroic and enigmatic young man.

Perhaps Renoir's most symbolic and spiritual film, displaying great humanity and refreshing simplicity, The River received tremendous international acclaim and remains one of his most popular films.

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Theatrical Release: September 10th, 1951

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DVD Comparison:

Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC vs. BFI (2-disc) Region 2- PAL

(Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT vs. BFI (2-disc) Region 2- PAL RIGHT)

DVD Box Cover
Distribution	Criterion - Spine # 276 - Region 0 - NTSC	BFI - Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	1:39:12	1:35:06 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.54 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 8.92 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Criterion
Bitrate: BFI
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles	English (hearing impaired), None	English (hearing impaired), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Criterion Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Introduction to the film by Jean Renoir • New video interview with director Martin Scorsese • 2000 audio interview with Ken McEldowney, producer of The River • Rumer Godden: An Indian Affair, a 1995 documentary produced for the BBC Bookmark series, following author Rumer Godden as she journeys back to her childhood home in India • Stills gallery featuring production photos and publicity stills • Original theatrical trailer • 15 page liner notes booklet with essays by film scholars Ian Christie and Alexander Sesonske DVD Release Date: March 1st, 2005 Keep Case Chapters: 17	Release Information: Studio: BFI Video Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Specially commissioned filmed introduction to The River by Indian filmmaker Kumar Shahani (15:48) • Seven rarely-seen short films set in India (1899-1945), preserved in the bfi National Film and Television Archive. Among them are two silent films showing the changes in jute production and two 1930s films photographed in Technicolor by British cinematographer Jack Cardiff • Fully illustrated 24-page booklet including film essay and Rumer Godden interview by David Thompson; director biography and notes on the seven short films DVD Release Date: July 31st, 2006 Transparent Keep Case Chapters: 15

Comments:

ADDITION: - BFI - Region 2- PAL - July 06' - I can't recall seeing two separate DVD productions of the same 50 year old film that looked so pristine. The BFI release gives absolutely nothing away to the sterling Criterion edition - in terms of image. If there are minor differences - the BFI is slightly brighter - giving a minutely sharper appearance (occasionally), and shows the Criterion to have some negligible cropping on the top and bottom edges. Colors appear duplicated. They both look immensely impressive - stunning - in a word.

NOTE: the BFI bitrate is substantially higher - possibly as the Criterion filled the feature disc with supplements. As I recall Criterion used the 'alchemist system' for transfer and hence there are very infrequent examples of combing possibly noticeable on high-end systems.

Audio and optional subtitles were very acceptable on both.

Extras: I really enjoyed the 7 short films set in India. Seeing the activity on the Ganges in 1899 was certainly a unique experience. Kumar Shahani's 15 minute insights were also great fodder for the feature experience. Although the BFI added a second disc (no doubt helping improve the image quality of the first disc) I still think the Criterions extras have more extensive (relevant) information - Renoir intro, Scorsese interview, Ken McEldowney (the producer) audio interview and the documentary about Rumar Godden. I have real trouble choosing one over the other and am glad I have both issues as they each have strong qualities regarding a film that was a very special viewing experience for me.

If I am to give a slight edge to BFI for the image, I, in-turn, will give the same degree of superiority for the Criterion extras. Truthfully though both these releases are two of the top DVDs I have seen in the past 5 years. Outstanding seems like an understatement.

One thing - I am not crazy about is the BFI cover.

In a not-so-totally-irrelevant suggestion - most are aware of Rumer Godden's Black Narcissus and Powell and Pressburger's untouchable filmic translation. But I'd like to mention another Rumer Godden narrative that was beautifully translated to film - Enchantment. It is very underrated cinema, which I strongly recommend if you are keen on her work.

***

Another beautiful DVD from Criterion. I felt I could have taken screen captures all day. This transfer is from the 2004 film restoration (and its states so at the beginning of the presentation). It is extremely sharp with outstanding colors - neither muted nor overly brilliant. Stellar contrast. The whole film reminded me of Jack Cardiff and Powell and Pressburger's work of the same period. Stunning is an appropriate word. The DVD is loaded with insightful and valuable extra features. Original English audio and unobtrusive subtitles for the hearing impaired. What a magnificent DVD to own. I see it becoming Feature of the Month. I am blown away again Criterion. out of