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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
Robert Bresson’s masterful investigation of crime and redemption tells the story of the young, arrogant Michel (Martin LaSalle), who spends his days learning the art of picking pockets in the streets, subway cars, and train stations of Paris. As Michel grows bolder and more adept, so too grows his fear that his luck is about to run out. But despite the pleadings of his sick mother and the lovely Jeanne to return to the world of the honorable, he is consumed by his compulsion to steal. Tautly choreographed and stylistically rigorous, Pickpocket reveals Bresson at his enigmatic, virtuosic best. |
Posters
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Theatrical Release: December 1959
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC vs. MK2 (3 Films de Robert Bresson) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Big thanks to Gary Tooze and Henrik Sylow for the DVD Screen Caps!
Box Covers |
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![]() Coming to the Blu-ray in July 2002 from BFI: |
Distribution |
Criterion Collection - Spine # 314 Region 1 - NTSC |
MK2 Region 2 - PAL |
Artificial Eye Region 2 - PAL |
Criterion - Spine # 314 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:15:57 | 1:12:35 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:12:35 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:16:19.157 |
Video |
1.78:1
Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.84 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio |
1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio |
1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 47,393,316,388 bytesFeature: 22,450,145,280 bytesCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 34.91 Mbps |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate:
MK2 (3 Films de Robert Bresson)
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Bitrate:
MK2 (3 Films de Robert Bresson)
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Bitrate:
Artificial Eye
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Bitrate:
Blu-ray
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Audio | 2.0 Dolby Digital French | 2.0 Dolby Digital French |
2.0 Dolby Digital French |
LPCM Audio French 1152
kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps |
Subtitles | English, None | English, German, Spanish, Italian, None | English, German, Spanish, Italian, None | English, None |
Features |
Release
Information: Studio: Criterion Aspect
Ratio:
Edition
Details: Chapters 17 |
Release
Information: Studio: MK2 Aspect
Ratio:
Edition
Details: Chapters 17 |
Release
Information: Studio: Artificial Eye Aspect
Ratio:
Edition
Details:
DVD Release Date:
April 25, 2005 Chapters 17 |
Release
Information: Studio: Criterion Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 47,393,316,388 bytesFeature: 22,450,145,280 bytesCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 34.91 Mbps
Edition
Details: Chapters 17 |
Comments |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION - Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray June 2014: This new Criterion 1080P supports Pickpocket's textures through its higher resolution. It is slightly brighter than the SDs - has superior contrast - and we see the slightly cropped information Henrik mentioned in the DVD - retuned to the right edge of the Blu-ray. Detail improves - notable in the many close-ups of hands and the written text (see samples below.) The 2k restoration with max'ed out bitrate looks as good as I anticipated and extremely impressive in-motion. Audio is linear PCM mono and sounds clean although I occasionally notice what I believe to be slight sync issues. Most of the time it is not noticeable. There are optional English subtitles and the Blu-ray disc is, as you may have suspected, region 'A'-locked. Extras duplicate the 2005 DVD - the James Quandt commentary, intro by Paul Schrader, The Models of “Pickpocket,” 2003 documentary by Babette Mangolte, an interview with director Robert Bresson from a 1960 episode of the French television program Cinépanorama, a Q&A on Pickpocket from 2000, featuring actor Marika Green and filmmakers Paul Vecchiali and Jean-Pierre Améris and vintage footage of the sleight-of-hand artist and Pickpocket consultant Kassagi from a 1962 episode of the French television show La piste aux étoiles. There is also a trailer and the package contains a liner notes booklet with an essay by novelist and critic Gary Indiana. The Dual-format package has a DVD with the feature and all the supplements of the lone Blu-ray disc. Bresson on Blu-ray is an essential purchase, IMO. This provides a strong presentation of an immensely re-watchable film - I see something new each time I view it. The supplements are educational and fascinating. Our highest recommendation! ***
ADDITION: Criterion - October 05': At times we debate whether a Criterion image is actually sharper or simply has the appearance of being sharper by manipulation of contrast and saturation levels. In this particular case I actually do think it is sharper - contrast level adjustment can make black lines blacker and lighter shades lighter but it cannot really make hazier images more detailed. The Criterion is more detailed than both of MK2 and the Artificial Eye. The Criterion has some contrast fluctuation and has some visible film grain (or digital noise). The complaint with the Criterion will be their own framing of Bresson's image. There appears to be haphazard and inconsistent cropping of the image mostly on the top and right edge. For years I have stated that this MUST be an occurrence of the Criterion digitization/restoration process but I have no conclusive evidence to support my theory. It happens on virtually all Criterion DVDs that we compare - it is probably a combination of zooming and slight pan + scanning. Whether you are overly offended by this matting is a personal decision. The Criterion removable subtitles are slightly superior - a little more detailed in a few spots and a less intrusive (smaller), yet still have a perfectly visible font. The extras; a few of the extras on the other release are duplicated on the Criterion - The Models of Pickpocket, the Bresson Interview, a trailer and the Kassagi performance. In addition to that the Criterion has a 15 minute Paul Schrader introduction (excellent!!!), a Q&A on Pickpocket, liner notes and the James Quant commentary that I felt was rather stuffed - he was talking very fast. It was great information, for the most part, but he really seemed rushed. Bottom line: So if this were a foot race Criterion have come from behind with the later release and passed both of their competitors. If you can live with the often very minor cropping of the image then the Criterion is definitely the definitive release of this masterpiece film. ***
It appears as
though both editions are exact. The Artificial Eye
is a licensed port of the MK2 and has the same
degree of sharpness, original audio, subtitle
options, extra features and the same menus, except
the AE are in English. |
Recommended Reading for Robert Bresson fans (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
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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 |
Proces de Jeanne d'Arc by Robert Bresson |
L'Argent (Bfi Modern Classics) by Kent Jones |
Check out more in "The Library"
Menus
Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC
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(MK2 (3 Films de
Robert Bresson) - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs.
Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)
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Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Screen Captures
1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) MK2 (3 Films de Robert Bresson) - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND3) Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD 4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
English subtitle sample
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1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) MK2 (3 Films de Robert Bresson) - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND3) Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD 4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) MK2 (3 Films de Robert Bresson) - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND3) Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD 4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) MK2 (3 Films de Robert Bresson) - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND3) Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD 4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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More Blu-ray captures
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Report Card:
Image: |
Criterion Blu-ray |
Sound: |
Blu-ray |
Extras: | Criterion + Blu-ray |
Recommended Reading for Robert Bresson fans (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
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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 |
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 the Blu-ray in July 2002 from BFI: |
Distribution |
Criterion Collection - Spine # 314 Region 1 - NTSC |
MK2 Region 2 - PAL |
Artificial Eye Region 2 - PAL |
Criterion - Spine # 314 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray |