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

ADDITION: Radiance Blu-ray (April 2025): Radiance has transferred Jacques Rivette's Va Savoir to Blu-ray. It is a "New 4K restorations of Va Savoir (the 154-minute theatrical cut) and Va Savoir+ (the 223-minute director’s original cut), presented on two discs". Back in 2004, we reviewed the green-ish Sony DVD of Va Savoir (the 154-minute theatrical cut), HERE. It pales in comparison to this new 1080P. The new HD presentation is brighter, more information in the frame and significantly sharper. We compared a few of the SD captures and the Blu-ray theatrical to the director's cut. The cinematography of Va Savoir, handled by frequent Rivette collaborator, William Lubtchansky (Regular Lovers, Love on the Ground, Shoah, La belle noiseuse, The Story of Marie and Julien,) is characterized by its simplicity and elegance, favoring long takes and fluid camera movements over rapid cuts or flashy techniques. Rivette’s preference for extended shots - often capturing entire conversations or scenes in a single frame - creates a theatrical immediacy, as if the audience is watching a live performance unfold. The camera tends to remain unobtrusive, positioned at eye level or slightly above, allowing the actors’ performances to take center stage. Lighting in Va Savoir is predominantly natural or soft, contributing to its airy, unforced atmosphere. The 1080P transfer in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio and is a brilliant video upgrade. Thanks, Radiance.   

NOTE: We have added 40 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Radiance uses a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original French (and some Italian) languages. Dialogue is the backbone of Va Savoir’s soundscape, reflecting Rivette’s emphasis on performance and interaction. The film is rich with conversation - witty exchanges, flirtatious banter, and philosophical musings - delivered in a naturalistic, often overlapping style that mimics real-life speech. Jeanne Balibar’s Camille speaks with a measured, slightly hesitant cadence, while Sergio Castellitto’s Ugo brings an animated, Italian-inflected energy, creating a dynamic contrast. The bilingual nature of the dialogue (French and Italian) adds texture, especially during the troupe’s rehearsals of Pirandello’s play, where language shifts underscore cultural and personal divides. Recorded with crisp clarity, the dialogue is foregrounded, often captured in long takes that preserve the rhythm of the actors’ performances. This focus on spoken word aligns with the film’s theatrical roots, making sound a primary vehicle for character development and narrative progression. Music in Va Savoir is sparse, used strategically rather than as a constant presence. The score, credited to Rivette and the production, consists of brief, incidental pieces - light piano or string motifs - that punctuate key emotional beats or transitions.  Ambient sound in Va Savoir is subtle but purposeful, grounding the film in its Parisian setting without overwhelming. The sound is clean and consistent, supporting the film extremely well via the lossless transfer. Radiance offers optional English subtitles on their two Region FREE Blu-rays.

The Radiance Blu-ray offers a 3/4 hour select-scene audio commentary by screenwriters Pascal Bonitzer (Love on the Ground, The Story of Marie and Julien, Last Summer) and Christine Laurent (The Duchess of Langeais.) This commentary features the film’s co-writers, offering insights into specific scenes. Bonitzer and Laurent, both seasoned collaborators with Rivette, discuss the script’s development, thematic intentions, and the interplay between the theatrical and personal narratives. Given its "select-scene" nature, it focuses on key moments rather than the full 154-minute theatrical cut, making it a concise yet valuable addition for understanding the creative process. Recorded in 2001 by Robert Fischer's Fiction Factory around the time of film’s original release, this 19-minute interview provides a direct window into Rivette’s perspective. Known for his reflective and intellectual approach, Rivette touches on his inspirations (e.g., Pirandello’s play), his improvisational directing style, and the film’s exploration of love and performance. As an archival piece, it’s a precious snapshot of the late director’s thoughts, preserved for fans and scholars. A shorter, 8-minute interview - also from 2001 -features Jeanne Balibar, who plays Camille, the film’s emotional center. Balibar, a frequent Rivette collaborator, reflects on her role as the conflicted actress, her chemistry with the ensemble, the dialogue, and the challenges of embodying a character caught between stage and reality. Though brief, it offers a personal angle on the film’s lead performance. Recorded in 2024, this 25-minute contemporary interview with critic Jonathan Romney (Short Orders: Writings on Film) provides a modern lens on Va Savoir. Romney, a respected film writer, likely analyzes the film’s place in Rivette’s oeuvre, its New Wave influences, and its enduring appeal. This longer piece bridges the gap between the film’s original context and its 2025 re-release, offering fresh critical insights. The package has a reversible sleeve (see below), featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Filippo Di Battista and a limited edition booklet with archival writing by Mary M. Wiles (Jacques Rivette Contemporary Film Directors,) a noted Rivette scholar. The commentary and interviews (totaling over 97 minutes of content) cater to cinephiles eager to unpack Rivette’s process, the actors’ experiences, and the film’s critical legacy. The physical bonuses - reversible sleeve and booklet - add tactile appeal for collectors, while the inclusion of both cuts ensures a comprehensive experience. For fans of Rivette or French cinema, this release balances archival depth with modern reflection, making it a robust celebration of Va Savoir’s artistry.

Jacques Rivette's Va Savoir unfolds as a sprawling yet intricately woven narrative, centered on a theater troupe performing Luigi Pirandello’s Come tu mi vuoi ("As You Desire Me") in Paris. The film’s structure mirrors the play’s themes of identity and perception, blurring the boundaries between the actors’ onstage roles and their offstage lives. Rivette employs a non-linear, episodic approach, allowing the story to meander through a series of encounters over a few days. The plot follows six main characters - Camille, Ugo, Pierre, Sonia, Dominique, and Arthur - whose romantic and personal entanglements form a complex web. This structure eschews traditional dramatic climaxes for a more organic flow, with resolutions emerging subtly rather than forcefully. At its core, Va Savoir explores the fluidity of identity, desire, and the performative nature of relationships. Va Savoir is a delicate tapestry of love, theater, and existential inquiry, woven with Rivette’s characteristic lightness and depth. Its narrative complexity and thematic richness invite multiple interpretations. Is it a comedy of manners, a meditation on art, or a study of human fragility? The Radiance Blu-ray release of Va Savoir shines in every aspect - image, audio, and extras - delivering a stellar package for fans and newcomers alike. The supplements make this a lovingly crafted, enriching experience that elevates the film’s legacy. Strongly recommended but Rivette fans hardly need my endorsement.

Gary Tooze