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

Criterion bring Henri-Georges Clouzot's courtroom drama "La Vérité" to  Blu-ray on both sides of the Atlantic. It's on a dual-layered Blu-ray in 1080P with a very high bitrate. It is advertised as a 'New 4K digital restoration'. Grain textures are prominent. It is in the original 1.66:1 aspect ratio and looks very strong with no blemishes and balanced contrast with the consistent rich grain being the notable feature. Armand Thirard's (Clouzot's The Wages of Fear, Les Diabolique etc.) well conceived cinematography are exquisite in 1080P. 

The film is presented in its original French mono via a linear PCM (24-bit) audio transfer. There isn't much in the way of aggressive effects and no credited score although La Vérité has music; Stravinsky's L'oiseau de feu, some J.S. Bach, pieces written by Jean Bonal etc.. all playing with intent in the background. The audio quality is authentically flat and seems a strong representation of the original production. There are optional English subtitles on this Region 'A' (in North America) / 'B' (In Europe) Blu-ray.

Supplements include Le scandale Clouzot, a sixty-minute documentary from 2017 on director Henri-Georges Clouzot directed by Pierre-Henri Gilbert. It follows Clouzot's career as a screenwriter from the thirties - then he became a director in 1942, working for the Continental, a German firm, and produced "Le Corbeau" the following year. It traces how his career ran into difficulties after the Liberation and he was not allowed to work again until 1947. There is also a short interview from 1960 with Clouzot originally aired on French television on November 11, 1960. Lastly, is a 20-minute interview with actor Brigitte Bardot from the 1982 documentary Brigitte Bardot telle qu’elle where she discusses the challenges around the making of La vérité. The package has a liner notes booklet with an essay by film scholar Ginette Vincendeau.

This is excellent! Another Clouzot masterpiece comes to Blu-ray. The HD transfer is at Criterion's usual high level and the extras give it more value. This particular French courtroom drama has not been in the conversation for a long while and it is rarely screened. It offers Bardot's sex-appeal and a bevy of flashbacks tracing the events that lead-up to the trial. It's a penetrating look into the soul - and we very strongly recommend!

Gary Tooze