The Criterion Blu-ray supplements repeat most from the Four by Agnès Varda DVD supplements from 2008 including the 1/2 hour Remembrances 2005 documentary, the Gallery of paintings by Hans Baldung Grien, the brief excerpt from a 1993 French television with Madonna and Varda, the 2005, 9-minute, 'Cléo's Real Path Through Paris', the 1961 Les fiancés du pont Macdonald short film Varda, as well as L’opéra Mouffe (1958) and a theatrical trailer.

New from Criterion, on this disc entitled "Program Three - Around Paris" are the 13-minute 1984 short Les Dites Cariatides with a brief introduction from 2007 by Varda. It is a documentary of the caryatids in Paris accompanied by the poetry of Baudelaire and the music of Offenbach. Les Dites Cariatides Bis runs just over two minutes and is a 'super' short film to accompany the earlier documentary of the same name. A photoplay of various caryatids to be found in Paris. Also included are Varda's 1986 T'as de beaux escaliers, tu sais (You've Got Beautiful Stairs, You Know) running less than 4-mintes with a 25 second introduction. and the package has a booklet with a new essay by Adrian Martin and a written introduction by Agnès Varda.

"Cleo From 5 to 7" is absolutely brilliant with emotional layers and deep subtext incorporating a travelogue of 1960's Paris. It, along with Vagabond, are my favorite films by Agnès Varda.... and two of my favorite films of all time. I'll never forget how I cherished Criterion's first DVD release - bare-bones but I must have worn it out I watched it so often. Now we get a 2K restoration and 1080P resolution for home theater consumption. It remains the best time to be a film fan. We will try to review the entire 15-disc The Complete Films of Agnès Varda Blu-ray collection boxset. Cleo From 5 to 7 is an integral part and we are extremely pleased with it.

Gary W. Tooze

***

ADDITION: Curzon Artificial Eye - Region 'B'  Blu-ray - December 2017: Firstly, Curzon / Artificial Eye's 8 Blu-ray disc is on The Agnès Varda Collection set that includes La Pointe Courte, Cleo From 5 To 7, Le Bonheur, L'une Chante, L'autre Pas, Vagabond, Jacquot De Nantes, The Gleaners & and The Beaches Of Agnès.

The original, non-anamorphic, interlaced (out-of-print), 2000 Criterion DVD was in the, odd, 1.55:1 aspect ratio where the new UK Blu-ray is 1.66:1. Criterion did improve the transfer in their 2008 4 By Agnès Varda DVD boxset that was, at the time, 'director approved'. The 1080P is far superior and shows more information in the frame on all 4 edges of the frame. It has a high bitrate has a touch of gloss and  may be a shade brittle but looks solid in-motion - brighter, cleaner and more layered contrast. The Blu-ray gives a far superior presentation.

The audio is in linear PCM (24-bit) in the original French language with no demonstrative effects - but a few crowd scenes. The limited dialogue is clear and the Region 'B' Blu-ray has optional English subtitles (see samples below).

There are supplements starting with a new 3.5-minute introduction by Agnès Varda, a new 1/2 hour interview with Agnès Varda - recorded exclusively for this release where she plays with her cat and talks about her recollections of the film. Cariatides of Paris is Varda's 1985 documentary of the caryatids in Paris accompanied by the poetry of Baudelaire and the music of Offenbach. The remaining extras are found on the Criterion's Four by Agnès Varda. Memories and Anecdotes - a 36-minute a documentary on the making of the film, featuring interviews with Varda and actors Corinne Marchand and Antoine Bourseiller. There is a 2.5 minute excerpt from a 1993 French television program featuring Madonna and Varda talking about the film plus Cléo's Real Path Through Paris (2005); a 10-minute short film retracing, on a motorcycle, Cléo's steps through Paris. Fiancés on the Bridge is a 5-minute short film directed by Varda, featuring some of her new wave colleagues, with Varda explaining why the film was featured in Cléo. There is also a trailer.

Another favorite Varda film. We have beauty - of wandering the streets, life, people, Corinne Marchand, her outfits... and the overhang of the specter of death. Such a beautiful, simple, human film. Absolute masterpiece. The Blu-ray is so welcome - it's overdo to an English-friendly format. This is certainly another reason to own a region free player for 'A'-restricted audiences - and it continue to encourage a purchase of the entire The Agnès Varda Collection.