The Jacques Rivette Collection

[knives]

Maybe this has been dealt with, but I'm curious why there's two Blus for Noroit and Duelle, but only a solitary DVD?

[TMDaines]

If you care about having optimum picture quality, you'd be watching it on Blu-ray. Not much point having an extra DVD to offer only marginally improved picture quality (if any), which is dwarfed by the Blu-ray.

[knives]

Which is not an answer to my question.

Anyway, as to the films, I've just finished with the third episode which pretty much dealt with all of my problems of the first episode. Rohmer's amazing cameo seems to have revealed all of the cards so I don't know how the film will be able to sustain five more, but even with Rivette's goal being clear there still manages to be a giddy sense of intrigue that almost doubles up on its childish sense of mystery due to how straightforward the tricks are becoming. The biggest surprise of the episode though is the transformation of the Prometheus scenes from genuinely bad to compelling and then once we've left the stage touching. I think so far Extraordinary Stories is a better take on this sort of thing, but Rivette is coming very close.

[TMDaines]

Which is not an answer to my question.

It's exactly that. The only thing an extra DVD would serve is to provide a marginally improved SD presentation of the films, one that may be negligible. Why bother when you already have optimal Blu-ray discs there? If optimal presentation is your concern then watch the Blu-rays. The DVDs are there for utility where people cannot or won't use Blu-rays.

Fewer discs means less packaging, weight and other fixed costs.

[MichaelB]

The original plan was to put Duelle and Noroît onto a single BD, but in the event the producer was so impressed with the restorations that he lobbied for an additional disc.

But, as you say, there was no great argument in favour of adding a second DVD, because if you're that bothered about picture quality you'd undoubtedly be Blu-ray compatible.

[David M.]

Maybe this has been dealt with, but I'm curious why there's two Blus for Noroit and Duelle, but only a solitary DVD?

When I first saw the project spec, I wasn't aware of the amount of high frequency content (nicely resolved grain) in these films. I tried to get them onto one BD but it broke my heart compromising them that way.

So, I asked to shuffle the discs around a little and to have two BDs and one DVD instead of the opposite.

There are two reasons for that: one, downscaling to NTSC by its nature removes a lot of the high frequency content. So, it was actually easier to squeeze them onto one DVD than it was to squeeze them onto one BD (without restoring to heavy detail reducing filters). And, people who want the best picture quality have BD players, so it made more sense in my mind, and also the minds of everyone else involved, to put the necessary compromise on the version that was going to be compromised by 1990s resolution anyway.

[pzadvance]

Maybe this has been dealt with, but I'm curious why there's two Blus for Noroit and Duelle, but only a solitary DVD?

When I first saw the project spec, I wasn't aware of the amount of high frequency content (nicely resolved grain) in these films. I tried to get them onto one BD but it broke my heart compromising them that way.

So, I asked to shuffle the discs around a little and to have two BDs and one DVD instead of the opposite.

There are two reasons for that: one, downscaling to NTSC by its nature removes a lot of the high frequency content. So, it was actually easier to squeeze them onto one DVD than it was to squeeze them onto one BD (without restoring to heavy detail reducing filters). And, people who want the best picture quality have BD players, so it made more sense in my mind, and also the minds of everyone else involved, to put the necessary compromise on the version that was going to be compromised by 1990s resolution anyway.

Well kudos and a hearty thank you for making this decision, as the two transfers look absolutely fantastic on their separate BDs.

[zedz]

Thanks David. Noroit especially looks gorgeous, so much so that I watched it again a couple of days ago.

[knives]

Cool to know and thanks.

[Oedipax]

Just putting the word out - OUT 1 will be screening over two weekend days (February 20 & 21) in Atlanta at Emory University as part of the Emory Cinémathèque program.

It's part of a lengthier Nouvelle Vague retro (including films by Godard, Truffaut, Rohmer, Chabrol, Rivette, Resnais & Varda, including Breathless and The Soft Skin on 35mm and the rest on DCP/bluray).

The screenings are all free/unticketed and open to the public.

[jsteffe]

Just putting the word out - OUT 1 will be screening over two weekend days (February 20 & 21) in Atlanta at Emory University as part of the Emory Cinémathèque program.

It's part of a lengthier Nouvelle Vague retro (including films by Godard, Truffaut, Rohmer, Chabrol, Rivette, Resnais & Varda, including Breathless and The Soft Skin on 35mm and the rest on DCP/bluray).

The screenings are all free/unticketed and open to the public.

Thanks for putting the word out! I just finished writing up the program notes for the OUT 1 screening.

[Satori]

the Out 1 making-of is exemplary. One of the most mysterious films ever made is laid bare with lucid explanations of process and intent from those responsible. I had little impression of Rivette as a person or personality before opening this set, now, with the interviews included herein, I have a very vivid portrait of him - which of course makes his death all the sadder.

I finally had a chance to watch this full-length documentary on Out 1, and just wanted to reiterate zedz's comments here. It really is an amazing collection of interviews which added a great deal to my appreciation of the film.

It's also uncanny how much it feels like a posthumous film, even through it was finished and released before Rivette's death. There are some particularly striking moments taken from a 1990 interview with Rivette himself: at one point he talks about revisiting Out 1 for the first time after 20 years and how strange and powerful it was to see the actors on film who had since passed away. Several of the interviews with the cast and crew discussed death and the kind of frozen immortality provided by film. The documentary ends up being a beautiful tribute to Rivette after his passing, even if it wasn't quite intended as such.

[jsteffe]

I'd like add to all the accolades about the Mysteries of Paris making-of documentary. The interviews are fascinating and truly illuminating, and the documentary as a whole gives you a remarkably clear picture of the film. Exemplary, indeed. I'll wager that it's the special feature of the year.

[charal]

Just out of interest: how many of The Thirteen have been fictionalised by Rivette?

I can only find the following:
1. Emilie (Ogier)
2. Etienne (Doniol-Valcroze)
3. Georges (Lili's boyfriend) not seen
4. Igor (Emilie's husband) not seen
5. Lili (Moretti)
6. Lucie (Fabian)
7. Marie (Karaghuez) probable since she passes the note to Colin.
8. Pierre (author of some letters) not seen
9. Sarah (Lafonte)
10. Thomas (Lonsdale)
11. Warok (Bouise)

[rrenault]

Is it possible Rohmer's character, Le Balzacien, was a member of The Thirteen as well, since he was a bit apprehensive when asked about it.

[Petty Bourgeoisie]

I doubt it. The reason being, there was no intersection between his character and any of the other 13. He only had contact with Colin (not a member) and nobody else.

Also, it's impossible to determine if Georges (Lili's boyfriend) was. Personally, I doubt it because the only other people to mention Georges was Lili and the very attractive brunette who was the music director in Lili's group (Elaine, I believe her name was?).

I did notice that whenever Pierre was being discussed, flashes of a mundane intersection would interrupt. During those scenes my eyes were drawn to the building on a hilltop overlooking the intersection. I wondered if that building is where Pierre resides.

My final Out 1 observance for the night is that Sarah scares me.

[Petty Bourgeoisie]

It's also uncanny how much it feels like a posthumous film, even through it was finished and released before Rivette's death. There are some particularly striking moments taken from a 1990 interview with Rivette himself: at one point he talks about revisiting Out 1 for the first time after 20 years and how strange and powerful it was to see the actors on film who had since passed away. Several of the interviews with the cast and crew discussed death and the kind of frozen immortality provided by film. The documentary ends up being a beautiful tribute to Rivette after his passing, even if it wasn't quite intended as such.

Well, one more observance for tonight. The 1990 interview ended with Mr. Rivette saying "And fade out! Or cross fade if you believe in the afterlife". I'm not overly sentimental but that got to me.

[charal]

Look for the ad for the first Dylan bootleg GREAT WHITE WONDER in Emilie's shop window.

[Orlac]

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[neal]

Oops - http://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p ... ount=21900" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks a lot. Unless Arrow have a time machine, they're now going to have to take this OOP.

[domino harvey]

I work in video store four years and no one ever ask for long frenchie movie, now Brit label comes in and suddenly people no want their Igor and the Blood Hounds Blu-rays but rather give money to actors pretending to be actors for twenty hours. But that's how others labels go now in this market, enjoy at the cost of small labels who no speak paris.

[zedz]

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Fortunately, I don't intend to ever watch Out 1 frame by frame.

[Orlac]

I work in video store four years and no one ever ask for long frenchie movie, now Brit label comes in and suddenly people no want their Igor and the Blood Hounds Blu-rays but rather give money to actors pretending to be actors for twenty hours. But that's how others labels go now in this market, enjoy at the cost of small labels who no speak paris.

Priceless!

[hearthesilence]

I have to say, the best thing about Out 1 that justifies the 12+ hour running time is the big revelation in episode 8….

Spoiler

…that Pierre is the one behind the messages to Colin.

The way it's revealed is so goddamn funny...

Spoiler

right down to the way it cuts away before they're even done talking

…the fact that it's the culmination of a mystery pieced out over 12 hours makes it all the more hysterical.

[Orlac]

I work in video store four years and no one ever ask for long frenchie movie, now Brit label comes in and suddenly people no want their Igor and the Blood Hounds Blu-rays but rather give money to actors pretending to be actors for twenty hours. But that's how others labels go now in this market, enjoy at the cost of small labels who no speak paris.

Where's that from?