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

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (November 2020): Criterion have transferred Robert Bresson's Mouchette to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "New 4K digital restoration". There are some significant difference from the 2014 Blu-ray released by Artificial Eye. The Criterion exposes the UK 1080P' framing, ratio anomalies and harsher compression. Mostly the Criterion contrast shows a darker image but this can vary from scene to scene. In summation, the Criterion, on a dual-layered disc, has a higher (max'ed out) bitrate and the image is more stable, cleaner and grain textures more consistent. There is even some depth exported - it looks excellent on my system.  

NOTE: We have added 55 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original French language. There are almost no effects and only brief music credited to  Jean Wiener (Au Hasard Balthazar,, The Lower Depths -1936, Touchez Pas au Grisbi) and in the opening (and closing) Claudio Monteverdi's Magnificat performed by Les Chanteurs de St. Eustache. Criterion offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A / B' Blu-ray, offered in both regions.

The Criterion Blu-ray offers no new extras from their 2007 DVD. This still includes the excellent commentary by Tony Rayns that probes the film deeply looking at links of sex and death in the Mouchette. It is one of his best commentaries, imo. We also get Au hasard Bresson a half-hour documentary about the director, including behind-the-scenes footage of Robert Bresson directing Mouchette. “Traveling,” is a 7 1/2 minutes segment from the cine-magazine TV series Cinéma, featuring on-set interviews with Bresson and actors Nadine Nortier and Jean-Claude Guilbert. We are also privy to the original theatrical trailer, cut by none other than Jean-Luc Godard - at 1:30. Also repeated are the liner notes with an essay by Robert Polito entitled Girl, Interrupted.

Robert Bresson's Mouchette is an absolute masterpiece. It becomes more devastatingly pure with age. A film, and commentary, I can revisit for the rest of my life. The Criterion Blu-ray has our highest recommendation.

Gary Tooze

ADDITION: Artificial Eye - Region 'B' Blu-ray - March 2014 - This new 1080P transfer of Bresson's brilliant Mouchette looks reasonably solid. It certainly advances over the R2 DVD and seems to have the purer contrast as the Criterion SD. It's a bit brighter, adds some depth and has less in the way of compression artifacts. It is single-layered with a high bitrate in the original 1.66:1 aspect ratio. There are still a couple of scenes - about 3/4's in - that have full vertical scratches. They are very faint and only last a couple of minutes. There is also some minor flickering but overall it looked quite good in-motion on my system. The higher resolution adds the more noticeable depth, and layered contrast supporting improved detail. There is also some consistent and pleasing texture. This looks very beautiful at times.

The linear PCM 2.0 channel used in original French at 2304 kbps adds depth to the film's important soundstage with rustling trees and shrubs, the Fair's amusement rides, children in the playground, church bells, and Mouchette humming. I'd definitely say this augmented the presentation beyond the simple Dolby of the DVDs. Unfortunately, the Artificial Eye has non-removable English subtitles for those detracted by this. It is, predictably, region 'B'-locked.

AE add Zum Beispiel Bresson aka Au hasard Bresson directed by Theodor Kotulla in 1967. It is the same 30-minute documentary as found on the Criterion DVD about the director, including behind-the-scenes footage of Robert Bresson directing Mouchette. It has German audio, and burned-in English subtitles.

I'm glad I own this Blu-ray, as I have no idea if Criterion will be releasing Mouchette in 1080P anytime soon.

***

ADDITION: Criterion - January 07' - The Criterion is magnificent. Improved in every single area upon the Nouveaux PAL edition. Sharper image, better contrast (blacks and whites), more information in the frame, extras, subtitles (they are optional on the Criterion) etc. etc. For the image differences you can see clearly from the below screen captures. Audio, although still mono on the Criterion, does seem more dynamic and consistent to my ear on the newer NTSC version.

Rayns' commentary is wonderful - as professional, prepared, and adept as any of his others. As the film is relatively short he is moving at quite a clip to get in all the information he is able to share. So far I feel this is easily the best commentary of 2007! I am sure it will be recognized at our next year end poll.

The Criterion also includes some featurettes - Au hasard Bresson is a a half-hour documentary about the director, including behind-the-scenes footage of Robert Bresson directing Mouchette. “Traveling,” is a 7 1/2 minutes segment from the cine-magazine TV series Cinéma, featuring on-set interviews with Bresson and actors Nadine Nortier and Jean-Claude Guilbert. We are also privy to the original theatrical trailer, cut by none other than Jean-Luc Godard - at 1:30. Finally there are 4 pages of liner notes with an essay by Robert Polito entitled Girl, Interrupted.

Debatably one of the most important pieces of film work made in the 20th century, Mouchette is essential cinema and will be added to our listing HERE. Criterion have given us another example of why they are the best DVD production company in the world -important films packaged at the highest available standard.

***

On the Nouveaux (written in 2004):   After a long, excruciating wait we finally have Mouchette on DVD in a decent transfer. As in the case of the simultaneously released Au hasard Balthazar, this DVD is based on a newly restored print, and the end result is very pleasing: again we have a well-balanced contrast (a tad softer than Balthazar, with some very slight chroma that is virtually unnoticeable when the film is projected at normal speed) and no trace of dust/scratches. The audio is nice and crisp. The subtitles are very good, but switching them "OFF" doesn't actually remove them. A wonderful DVD of a wonderful film. Highly recommended!