Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r


 

Directed by Agnes Varda
France 1976

 

A classic documentary from Agnes Varda available for the first time in the US, Daguerreotypes is a wonderfully intimate portrait of the small shops and shopkeepers on a short stretch of the Rue Daguerre, a picturesque street that has been the filmmaker's home for more than 50 years. As in her films The Beaches of Agnes and The Gleaners and I, Varda opens up a fantastic world in microcosm; a picture of a city and a way of life that no longer exist.

Poster

Theatrical Release: September 14th, 1976

Reviews       More Reviews       DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Cinema Guild - Region 1 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover

   

CLICK to order from:

Distribution Cinema Guild - Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime 1:18:30
Video 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 6.16 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s   

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

Audio French (Dolby Digital 2.0) 
Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Cinema Guild

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:

• "Rue Daguerre in 2005" (21 minutes)
• "Bread, Painting & Accordion"(8 minutes)
• "Fete de la Musique rue Daguerre 2005" (3 minutes)
• "Daguerreotypes: Photographic Objects" (6 minutes)
• Bonus Short: "T'as de beaux escaliers, tu sais" available on the Cinevardaphoto DVD
• Essay by film critic Haden Guest

DVD Release Date: August 30th, 2011

Keep Case
Chapters: 10

 

Comments:

Varda's quaint and imminently likeable pastiche of French life is one of life's great 'smiles' reminding all of the simple pleasures on social interaction and gentle care for your neighbors on the veritable mudball realizing cultural eccentricities are ultimately embraceable.

Cinema Guild appear to have pictureboxed (see our full description of 'pictureboxing' in our Kind Hearts and Coronets review) the transfer. NOTE: This is indicated by the black border circumventing the edges. 

It looks great with lots of textured grain that SD usually has trouble exporting but the dual-layered, progressive image is rich and impressive in Daguerreotypes. Colors are surprisingly apparent without visible boosting. French language dialogue is occasionally scattered as participants go about their daily life-chores and there are optional English subtitles on the region 1, NTSC, DVD.    

Extras are quite extensive with a re-visitation, 30-years hence, of the 'street' entitled "Rue Daguerre in 2005" running 21-minutes. There are more video featurettes including "Bread, Painting & Accordion" lasting 8-minutes, "Fete de la Musique rue Daguerre 2005" for three and the interesting piece  "Daguerreotypes: Photographic Objects" for a too brief 6-minutes. Include in the package is a revealing essay by film critic Haden Guest.

What a nice surprise seeing this. It seems to revel in its own simplicity leaving us with a charming reflection. In the middle of my viewing I felt that I could (and maybe should) watch stuff like this on a daily basis - improving my attitude and disposition. Thank you Agnes! 

Gary W. Tooze

 


DVD Menus


 


Screen Captures

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


DVD Box Cover

   

CLICK to order from:

Distribution Cinema Guild - Region 1 - NTSC



 

Hit Counter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

 CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Thank You!