Also available from Gaumont in a Region FREE Blu-ray with English subtitles and the same interviews, but not the commentary:

Optimum

Region 2 - PAL

Region 0 - NTSC

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.60 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

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

DTS-HD Master Audio French 1942 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1942 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1876 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1876 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)

LPCM Audio French 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Commentary:

LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Introduction by Colin McCabe (7:35)
• Godard Trailer show

DVD Release Date: May 16, 2005
Keep Case

Chapters 8

Chapters 14

ADDITION: Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray April 18': Arrow's Blu-ray transfer is very similar to Kino's - dual-layered, a max'ed out bitrate from the same Gaumont restoration/source. Colors may vacillate a smidgeon looking marginally deeper and richer while framing, texture, contrast and detail are at the same high level.

Arrow use a linear PCM transfer for the audio - it is likewise 24-bit. I couldn't differentiate much when listening to Pierre Degeyter 's International (on the radio) and Claude Channes performing Mao Mao, or the film's dialogue which is consistent and audible. The Arrow has optional English subtitles on their Region 'B'-locked Blu-ray.

Many of the same extras including the Quandt commentary and the interviews with actor Michel Semeniako, assistant director Charles L. Bitsch and second assistant director Jean-Claude Sussfeld. Same 19-minute video piece with author Denitza Bantcheva discussing La Chinoise and its politics. Arrow add a 10:00 minute behind-the-scenes TV Report featuring footage with Godard and the cast and 2-minutes of The Venice Film Festival press conference featuring Godard and scenes from the production. There is a theatrical trailer but the package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matthew Griffin and the first-pressing purchasers get an illustrated collector's booklet containing vintage writing by and discussions with Jean-Luc Godard and beyond: passing through the landmark Struggling on Two Fronts interview; the Two Hours with Jean-Luc Godard journal; notes on Anne Wiazemsky s 2012 memoir-novel Une année studieuse [A Studious Year]; a tribute to Wiazemsky, Léaud, and Berto; vintage archival imagery; newly translated material; etc.

The Arrow may gain an advantage with the extras but both are excellent packages - and in the finally tally - almost duplicates. Absolutely recommended!

***

ADDITION: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray October 17': Kino's new Blu-ray transfer starts with the Gaumont logo and shows richer, deeper colors (the film's dominant reds) than the older DVDs, has more information in the frame - on all four sides - and looks beautiful in-motion. The new Kino 1080P is dual-layered with a max'ed out bitrate and contrast is superior to the SDs and there is depth. This looks very strong.

NOTE: It is still missing the final title card that Peter mentioned 9-years ago, so it is no longer available on this source print.

The audio, which has Pierre Degeyter 's International (on the radio) and Claudes Channes performing Mao Mao is transferred in a DTS-HD Master (24-bit) 2.0 channel - is exceptionally clean and clear with scattering and effects coming through as intended. There are optional English subtitles on the Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray disc.

Kino include an audio commentary by film historian James Quandt who is the Senior Programmer at TIFF Cinematheque, Toronto. It is professional and discusses themes, Godard and much more. Very worthwhile listening. There are over 2-hours worth of interviews with actor Michel Semeniako, assistant director Charles Bitsch, 2nd assistant director Jean-Claude Sussfeld, writer Denitza Bentcheve and, lastly, historian Antoine de Baqccque for 1/2 hour. These are an excellent addition and with the commentary vault this release to a must-own. There are trailers for La Chinoise, Film Socialism and Goodbye to Language. The package has a liner notes booklet with essays by Richard Hell and Amy Taubin.

One of the better releases of the entire year - essential for Godard fans and extremely valuable for world cinephiles. An amazing, stacked, Blu-ray package. Don't hesitate. 

***

NOTE: Koch Lorber's response about the issue of the missing intertitle in La chinoise...
"We have in fact had several inquiries about this missing title card at the every end of the film. While it evidently was included in the original theatrical of La Chinoise, no master since has included it. Evidently the controlling estate removed it from all subsequent master materials and we believe this was a creative choice not in our control." (Thanks kindly to Ronald for sending us this!)

ADDITION: Koch/Lorber - Region 0 - NTSC - May 08': The Koch / Lorber DVD is single-layered and interlaced (see combing sample below). It also appears to be missing the final intertitle (see Peter's comments below). So where the PAL Optimum eclipses in image quality (colors too seem more vibrant), the Koch Lorber has some decent extra features. Both have optional English subtitles although the Koch are gaudy yellow.

Both disc share the same 7.5 minute introduction by Colin McCabe, but the Koch/Lorber has more. There is a short (less than 3 minute) Godard Editing Table Interview (in French with Eng subs - as are all the rest of the Koch supplements). An even shorter Venice Film Festival Press Conference and finally a 7 minute interview with lead actress Anne Wiazemsky, who was also married to Godard for 12 years.

For die-hard fans of Godard the inclusion of the shortish supplements may be incentive enough to get the Koch (or even double dip), but the Optimum has the superior image if you are viewing on anything higher than a CRT. 

 - Gary Tooze

***

NOTE: FROM PETER HENNE: "You may want to alert readers of dvdbeaver.com that Optimum's DVD of Godard's "La Chinoise," already reviewed on your website, is missing an intertitle at the very end. After the final shot, there should be an intertitle which reads in capital letters FIN D'UN COMMENCEMENT. Translated that is "End of a beginning." It's simply not there on the DVD! I've checked three times.

For confirmation of this intertitle and where it occurs in the film, you may wish to consult James Roy MacBean, "Film and Revolution," Indiana University Press, 1975, p. 27, also James Monaco, "The New Wave: Truffaut, Godard, Chabrol, Rohmer, Rivette," Oxford University Press, 1976, p. 196. Both authors explicitly cite this intertitle as the closure to the film. Obviously, the film has different meanings without it, not to mention altering the context for the two features directed by Godard immediately following, "Weekend" and "Le Gai Savoir," which also close on intertitles. The DVD of "La Chinoise" is otherwise good but this absence is puzzling. You can hear the closing music over a blank, black screen, during the time that the intertitle should appear. The absence thus seems more like a removal--if the final seconds of the source print were simply lost, how could you still have the soundtrack?

When I saw the film projected in 1988, at the Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles, this intertitle was present." (Thanks Peter!)

***

The image is to begin with grainy, but it also displays compression artifacts like edge enhancements, colour banding and grouping of pixels.

Sadly only a brief introduction to the film by Colin McCabe, author of "Godard: A Portrait of the Artist at 70" is as extra. This is perhaps Godard's most political film from his first period, thus an audio commentary or a lengthy discussion of the film should have been added.

 - Henrik Sylow