Claude Chabrol

[lazarus]

Crazy to me that people hope that Radiance would be the one to release a similar set—do you actually *want* to pay double the price it would be on Arrow or Criterion?

I appreciate what they do but I’m still bummed I had to shell out so much for L’Amour Fou and Va Savoir+

[Maltic]

Crazy to me that people hope that Radiance would be the one to release a similar set—do you actually *want* to pay double the price it would be on Arrow or Criterion?

I appreciate what they do but I’m still bummed I had to shell out so much for L’Amour Fou and Va Savoir+

Are you in America?

I didn't consider Radiance to be more expensive than those two from where I'm sitting in the EU.

[tenia]

Criterion would be the more expensive label anyway.

[lazarus]

I’m not talking full retail price here. If you’re not waiting for Criterion flash sales or Barnes & Noble sales, you’re either a sucker or have too much disposable income to weigh in on value/fair pricing.

Yes, I’m based in America so Radiance Blu-rays cost at least $30 compared to the $20 you’d spend for Criterion. Regardless, other UK-based labels like Eureka, Arrow, Indicator aren’t priced as high even with the exchange rate. More importantly, they do frequent sales, which Radiance doesn’t appear to (as far as I’ve seen).

[Stefan]

Whoever wins the race will release one of the last hidden grails of the post-Nouvelle Vague in Blu-ray format with these Chabrol/Genovès films. We can count ourselves lucky to soon be able to see the result in all its desirable clarity.

[domino harvey]

Radiance would actually release them if they licensed them, so

[swo17]

Radiance's single-film Blu-rays retail for $39.99, just like Criterion, and B&N has had 50% off sales for them, just like Criterion

[criterionsnob]

One of the Radiance Dirty Arthouse zines had an article on Les Biches, so I'd guess they're on Fran's radar. Looking forward to seeing them whoever ends up releasing them.

[tenia]

Yes, I’m based in America so Radiance Blu-rays cost at least $30 compared to the $20 you’d spend for Criterion.

Well, yes, but that's because you're comparing domestic products vs imported ones, while I was thinking about comparing Radiance's UK releases vs Criterion UK ones.

[Stefan]

Leaving aside all economic considerations, we will soon be able to watch one of the most beautiful films in the world, “Le boucher,” in crystal-clear quality for the first time. The walk with Yanne and Audran through this small town after the wedding - what more could an aesthetic heart desire?

[Aunt Peg]

Well hopefully these will receive an English friendly release sooner rather than later. I'm not holding my breath though.....me, ever the pessimist.

I would love to see restorations and releases of:

Nada (1974) it is over 40 years since I saw this at a repertory cinema
Blood Relatives (1978) have a real soft spot for the film as it was the first Chabrol film I ever saw
Violette (1978)
The Blood of Others - TV film (1984) full nearly 3 hour version please - I've only ever seen the truncated 135 minute version

[davidkalat]

With respect to any impending US or English-friendly version of this French box set, I had reached out to Tamasa last month on that very issue. My next book, coming out 2026, is on Chabrol, and I wanted to get any insights I could about who was going to be doing the English-friendly version to see if I could contribute audio commentaries. Turns out there isn't a US partner yet, but they are still in discussions to find the right publisher. So, all we have right now is wild speculation, but I agree doing a US or UK edition of this box set is an obviously good idea and someone should do it.

Also agree on the merits of Blood of Others, Blood Relatives, Violette, and Nada. I'd add my own idiosyncratic love of Les Magiciens/Death Rite as an underappreciated gem. Tamasa is working on a volume 2 box for 2026, but I don't know what's on it. Frankly though I expect I'll buy it sight unseen.

[domino harvey]

Great news about your forthcoming Chabrol book! Will it touch on any of his TV work? Such a rich, untapped vein for Chabrol discussion thus far

[davidkalat]

Yes, I am talking about his TV work, thanks for asking. The mission of the book is to "eat the whole turkey," to explore the entirety of Chabrol's career without any preconceived notions. My filmography as it stands lists 61 individual works.

[andyli]

"Dawn of the Disc" is reporting an upcoming blu-ray of Violette Nozière... no further info given. Accounts like this usually don't give a damn about foreign-language films, especially when they are released outside of the US/UK market. I wonder where it caught wind of this.

[domino harvey]

Could see it coming from someone like Severin

[yoloswegmaster]

"Dawn of the Disc" is reporting an upcoming blu-ray of Violette Nozière... no further info given. Accounts like this usually don't give a damn about foreign-language films, especially when they are released outside of the US/UK market. I wonder where it caught wind of this.

They got it from the other forum, where it was explicitly stated that it was coming from Film Movement.

[Aunt Peg]

A restored Violette Noziere (1978) is coming to theatres from Film Movement soon which I hope means a Blu Ray release in the near future: https://filmmovement.com/violette-noziere

[andyli]

Of all the labels it has to be them, huh?

[Finch]

My thoughts exactly. For fuck's sake.

[davidkalat]

For what it's worth, Amazon Prime Video currently has Le Boucher available for rental or purchase in HD format (not 4K). It looks fabulous. As far as I can tell, though, it's the only one of the Genovese-era films currently available like that.

[domino harvey]

Not familiar with Michael Bartlett (I think he might just be an enthusiast) but I thought this career overview he made for YouTube was refreshingly informed and well-considered (for YT, but also just in general). I don’t agree with all of his conclusions but this is literally the first Nouvelle Vague related video I’ve ever seen created for YouTube where I didn’t have to stop because the creator says something that signals they don’t know what they’re taking about!

[domino harvey]

And here’s the US trailer for Le Boucher (complete with dub), which not only gives away the ending, it only bothers to show the ending!