Le Petit Soldat Blu-ray

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Jean-Luc Godard
France 1963

Before his convention-shattering debut, Breathless, had even premiered, Jean-Luc Godard leapt into the making of his second feature, a thriller that would tackle the most controversial subject in France: the use of torture in the Algerian War. Despite his lack of political convictions, photojournalist Bruno Forestier (Michel Subor) is roped into a paramilitary group waging a shadow war in Geneva against the Algerian independence movement. Anna Karina (in her first collaboration with Godard, whose camera is visibly besotted with her) is beguiling as the mysterious woman with whom Forestier becomes infatuated. Banned for two and a half years by French censors for its depiction of brutal tactics on the part of the French government and the Algerian fighters alike, Le petit soldat finds the young Godard already retooling cinema as a vehicle for existential inquiry, political argument, and ephemeral portraiture—in other words, as a medium for delivering “truth twenty-four times per second.”

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This controversial spy-romance tale by Jean-Luc Godard was banned from release in France for three years because it refers to the use of torture on both the French and Algerian sides during the Algerian struggle for independence. The story focuses on Bruno Forestier (Michel Subor), a young, disillusioned man who becomes involved in politics, yet in spite of the fact that he stands up to torture and commits murder because of this involvement, he does not have deep political beliefs. Also featured is his lover Veronica Dreyer (Anna Karina, then-wife of director Jean-Luc Godard appearing in her first film) as a motivating factor in Bruno's behavior.

Excerpt from B+N located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: January 25th, 1963

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Review: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Also available on DVD from Criterion:
Distribution	Criterion Spine #1010 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:28:24.215
Video	1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 34,709,539,171 bytes Feature: 26,578,427,904 bytes Video Bitrate: 35.94 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	LPCM Audio French 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bits
Subtitles	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Criterion 1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 34,709,539,171 bytes Feature: 26,578,427,904 bytes Video Bitrate: 35.94 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Interview with director Jean-Luc Godard from 1965 (6:03) • Interview with actor Michel Subor from 1963 (13:43) • Audio interview with Godard from 1961 (29:28) • PLUS: An essay by critic Nicholas Elliott New cover by F. Ron Miller Blu-ray Release Date: January 21st, 2020 Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters 9

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (December 2019): Criterion have transferred Jean-Luc Godard's Le Petit Soldat to Blu-ray and DVD in a "High-definition digital restoration, approved by cinematographer Raoul Coutard". It is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. The 1080P image has some minor inconsistencies reflective of the source but it is clean showing appealing grain and although the contrast appears a bit dull. Overall the image is quite strong with texture being the most attractive atribute.

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original French language. The film's audio is consistent and the score by Maurice Leroux (Immoral Tales,The Red Balloon, White Mane) sounds predictably flat and audible without much depth. Criterion offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Criterion Blu-ray has video interviews (French language with optional English subtitles) with Godard from 1965, at a cafe, and Subor from 1963 - in a Boxing gym - as well as a 1/2 audio interview with Godard from 1961. Various aspects of the film are broached mostly engaging the political. There is a liner notes booklet with an essay by critic Nicholas Elliott.

Le Petit Soldat has 'torture' as a prevalent theme. Notably, as early as this, his second feature, Godard is balancing entrainment for art with the ambiguities of morality. It is a fascinating viewing - and has his gorgeous black and white French-ness that support many of his early features. I'm not always into Godard as I find his 'art for art's sake' can get tiresome but this was right up there with Vivre Sa Vie for myself. The Criterion Blu-ray is an easy recommendation to Godard devotees and world-cinema fans alike.