Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Discs:

Video:

Audio (both):

DTS-HD Master Audio French 1063 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1063 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio French 1826 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1826 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)

• New Interviews with Director Agnès Varda (JBPAV - 21:41, KFM - 25:54)
• Trailers (1:25 + 2:07)

• 16-page liner notes booklet with new essay by Sandy Flitterman-Lewis and text interview with Agnès Varda by Miranda July

Bitrates:

 

Kung-Fu Master!

 

 

Description: JANE B. PAR AGNES V.: “ I’ll look at you, but not at the camera. It could be a trap ”, whispers Jane Birkin shyly into Agnès Varda’s ear at the start of JANE B. PAR AGNES V. The director of CLEO FROM 5 TO 7 and VAGABOND once again paints a portrait of a woman, this time in a marvelously Expressionistic way. “ It’s like an imaginary bio-pic,” says Varda. Jane, of course, is the famed singer (“ Je t’aime … Moi non plus ”), actress (BLOW UP), fashion icon (the Hermes Birkin bag) and longtime muse to Serge Gainsbourg. As Varda implies, JANE B. PAR AGNÈS V. abandons the traditional bio-pic format, favoring instead a freewheeling mix of gorgeous and unexpected fantasy sequences.

In each, Jane inhabits a new character, playing a cat & mouse game with Varda as they explore the role of the Muse and the Artist, all the while showcasing the multifaceted nature of Birkin’s talent. “ I’d like to be filmed as if I were transparent, anonymous, like everyone else, ” says Birkin. But her wish to be a “ famous nobody ” is impossible to achieve; Birkin is simply too magnificent, too mesmerizing. Here, Varda’s signature mix of aesthetic innovation and generosity of emotion results in a surreal and captivating essay on Art, Fame, Love, Children and Staircases. For its first-ever U.S. theatrical release the film has been newly-restored from the original 35mm camera negative, overseen by director Varda herself.

KUNG FU MASTER!: A lovely, bittersweet companion to JANE B. PAR AGNÈS V. from director Agnes Varda and star/muse Jane Birkin, KUNG-FU MASTER has nothing to do with martial arts – the film’s title comes from an arcade video game played obsessively in the film by a teenaged boy, Julien. Birkin delivers one of her finest performances as a lonely 40-year old woman who finds herself shattering taboos by falling in love with the 14-year old Julien – but is it romance, or a desperate attempt to turn back time in the face of middle age?

KUNG-FU MASTER! is truly a family affair: Varda’s son with the late director Jacques Demy, Mathieu Demy, plays Julien – and Birkin appears here with her two real-life daughters: Charlotte Gainsbourg (from Lars von Trier’s MELANCHOLIA) and Lou Doillon, her child with well-known filmmaker Jacques Doillon. Briefly released in the late 1980s in the U.S. and long unavailable here, KUNG-FU MASTER! has been beautifully restored from the original 35mm camera negative. “ It’s a film in which all the younger actors are the children of the director and lead actress ”, says Varda. “ It was like a picnic, you know? ”

 

 

 

The Films:

Jane B. Par Agnès V.: Jane B. is London-born actress and recording star Jane Birkin. Agnes V. is Belgian filmmaker and "grandmother of the New Wave" Agnes Varda. Jane B. Par Agnes V is a cinematic recounting of Birkin's career, from her breakthrough appearance as one of the nude models in Blow-Up to her pinnacle as star of such films as La Femme de Ma Vie (1986). It is also the story of Birkin and Varda's close relationship, made stronger by their mutual admiration and their lifelong fascination with feminist themes. Viewers who prefer straightforward, objective documentaries rather than radicalized film techniques, may not appreciate Jane B. par Agnes V.

Excerpt from the NY Timese located HERE

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

Jane B. Par Agnès V. / Kung-Fu Master! come to a package of 2 Blu-rays from CineliciousPics and are from Cine Tamaris' 2014 2K restorations. Both are 1080P in the original 1.66:1 aspect ratio from the original 35mm camera negative, overseen by director Varda herself. This Blu-ray image is a solid replication of the original source and they look impressive. But there are a few inconsistencies in Jane B. but they are limited and far in-between. They are a shade thin, pleasing detail, vibrant colors, excellent grain textures and even some desirable depth. In short, with high bitrate transfers, the restorations look excellent.

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Jane B. Par Agnès V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kung-Fu Master!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both films offer DTS-HD Master mono or 2.0 channel tracks in original French (24-bit.) It is not surprising that there is not much in the way of effects but Kung-Fu Master! has a score by Joanna Bruzdowicz - who has done work in many Varda films including Vagabond and The Gleaners & I. Jane B. has snippets of The Doors, Monteverdi, The Yardbirds, Serge Gainsbourg, Cole Porter and others. It all sounds quite appealing with consistent and clear dialgue. There are optional English subtitles and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'A'-locked disc as confirmed by the back cover.

Extras :

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
I really enjoyed both Jane B. Par Agnès V. and Kung-Fu Master! - the latter the most (shades of Beau Pere) but found value in Jane B. as well. It's an interesting box celebrating these recent 2K restorations and, geneally, looking quite impressive. The CineliciousPics Blu-ray package gave me films I had not seen before and ones that evoked very different reactions. I actually feel like watching Blow-Up tonight - Birkin has an unusually strong relationship with the camera. This is a fabulous release. I was so surprised at how much I liked the presentations. Great job CineliciousPics! This is a keeper and is highly recommended!  

Gary Tooze

February 29th, 2016