Wild Reeds Blu-ray - Élodie Bouchez / Gaël Morel

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

(aka "Les roseaux sauvages" or "Wild Reeds" or "The Wild Reeds")

Directed by André Téchiné
France 1994

Set against the backdrop of the last days of the French-Algerian war and amidst the lush landscapes of Southern France, Wild Reeds is a coming-of-age saga looking at the sexual awakening of four teenagers. The quartet discover sensual delights while grappling with inner-conflict and political differences. Sensitive François (Gaël Morel) and feminist-communist Maïté (Élodie Bouchez) are in a somewhat stunted relationship, bonding over a mutual love for movies and rock'n'roll. However when François meets Serge (Stéphane Rideau), a handsome muscular youth from the local farming community, he comes to acknowledge his latent homosexuality, while Maïté is seduced by Henri (Frédéric Gorny), a teenage exile whose political stance is in complete opposition to hers. A powerful take on adolescent sexuality and social turmoil, André Téchiné's Wild Reeds is a poignant, moving, and life affirming expression of teenage angst and triumph.

***

If Wild Reeds was just another coming-of-age story, it wouldn't be worth more than a cursory glance. However, Andre Techine's semi-autobiographical look back at his final year in boarding school possesses more depth and realism than many similar films. Nostalgia does not tint this narrative with its warm sepia tones. Essentially a character study of the four corners of a romantic quadrangle, Wild Reeds examines adolescence from the point-of-view of those who feel themselves to be "outsiders", and shows that while the political and social climate may affect a person's development, other factors -- such as friendship and love -- are often more dominant.

Excerpt from James Berardinell'is Reelreview located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: June 1st, 1994

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Review: Altered Innocence - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Altered Innocence - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:54:28.125
Video	1.66:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 24,697,618,198 bytes Feature: 22,943,410,176 bytes Video Bitrate: 23.19 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	DTS-HD Master Audio French 2084 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2084 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Altered Innocence 1.66:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 24,697,618,198 bytes Feature: 22,943,410,176 bytes Video Bitrate: 23.19 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • "Discord, Bloom and Light: The Poetic Pulse of André Téchiné’s Wild Reeds" - A Video Essay by Daniel Kremer (17:29) • New Interview with Actor Stéphane Rideau (24:00) • Restoration Trailer (1:53) • Double-sided Poster with an Essay by Caden Mark Gardner Blu-ray Release Date: April, 2023 Transparent Blu-ray Case inside slipcase Chapters 8

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Altered Innocence Blu-ray (May 2023): Altered Innocence have transferred André Téchiné's Wild Reeds to Blu-ray. Wild Reeds was part of Lionsgate's "André Téchiné Collection" DVD set from 2008 that we reviewed HERE. The new 1080P is a solid step above the SD with over 5X the bitrate, generally showing more information in the 1.66:1 frame, tighter lines, more balanced color and marginally brighter. It is on a single-layered disc but the HD presentation is consistent and clean without blemishes if looking, like the DVD, inherently soft and flat throughout.

NOTE: We have added 46 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Altered Innocence use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (24-bit) in the original French language. Wild Reeds has no aggressive moments but has a few scenes around a flowing river at Castelnaud-la-Chapelle capturing the outdoors and nature sounds adeptly in the lossless. The music of Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings, Johann Strauss, plus era music (1962) with The Beach Boys, Del Shannon, Chubby Checker, The Platters "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" etc. support the narrative. Altered Innocence offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Altered Innocence Blu-ray offers an excellent 18-minute video essay by Daniel Kremer entitled "Discord, Bloom and Light: The Poetic Pulse of André Téchiné’s Wild Reeds" where he talks about the Arthur Rimbaud poem "Song of the Highest Tower" that is mentioned in the first dozen minutes of the film and cinema that relates to the affair of Rimbaud and another French poet, Paul Verlaine among other observations of Wild Reeds. There is also a new 24-minute interview with actor Stéphane Rideau (French with English subtitles) recalling his involvement and how it transpired plus thee is a restoration trailer. The package includes a double-sided poster and an essay by Caden Mark Gardner.

André Téchiné's Wild Reeds was first conceived as part of a television mini-series by Téchiné - an accomplished post-New Wave French director - dealing with adolescence, but after completing the script, he opted to turn it into a feature-length theatrical production focusing on the sexual awakening of four teenagers in early 60's France. It is an intimate film based on his own experiences growing up and it became his greatest hit in France. It sensitively expresses the passage into adulthood and is an excellent choice to bring to Blu-ray by Altered Innocence. A beautiful films that is highly deserved of a 1080P release. We strongly recommend.