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Wow, first post in over three years. I'm honored! =D>

Rewatched "A Nos Amours" last night. Just an incredible Cassavetes-like cinematic experience (minus the shaky cam) with Maurice Pialat in complete control of the cinematic medium both in front and behind the camera. Chapters 8 and 18 (Suzanne's cozy talk with her father and the "surprise" family dinner) are now officially part of my short list of best movie scenes I've ever been privileged to have witnessed. More of Pialat's movies on R1 DVD Criterion, please!

What a startling film! That Pialat treated the characters as he did, by neither forgiving them or admonishing them, is impressive. I have the sense that many directors would have been satisfied in letting the characters fall into either side. But it seems that Pialat understood that life is murky, full of grey areas. Each character felt real, not a caricature of some typical film archetype.

There were several times where I flinched when watching this. The violence is unrestrained, both physically and verbally. Where in one scene two characters will be fighting, in the following scene both characters will be on seemingly friendly terms. Pialat captured the nuances of human interaction fairly well.

The only thing that bugged me were the incestuous overtones. I was reminded in that sense of Louis Malle. Is that a particular French trait? Actually, upon thinking about it, certain aspects of this film reminded me of Malle. I'll have to watch the film again to confirm if this is truly the case (I'm not a fan of Malle).

The film left such an impression that particular feelings the film elicted rise from the surface from time to time and hit me.

So I decided to watch The Human Eye, the documentary accompanying the film. It definitely gave me a new perspective on the film with regard to Pialat's aims with A nos amours. The documentary also made me appreciate the film more, along with awakening within me a desire to see more of Pialat's films.

Definitely one of Criterion's more underappreciated releases.

Dr. Geek wrote:Definitely one of Criterion's more underappreciated releases.

I don't know what took me so long to get around to this one, since I've loved what Pialat I have seen, and I absolutely adore Sandrine Bonnaire. I have to agree completely that this release seems a bit underappreciated.

On another note, I don't really buy the Cassavettes comparison. Pialat has the grit and the spontanaeity, and it certainly feels very genuine. But there's a lyrical tone to this film that makes it completely different. Or maybe its just a case of a director having a much better handle on his material -- but this film seems effortless where a Cassavettes film often feels amateurish.

Tonight at Arte (French/German TV) from 8:15pm on in HD.
Afterwards a new french 52 min documentary/making of from 2011 about the film by David Thompson.

Was wondering, where Arte has got the master, as this film was not part of the announcements of HD-remasters in 2013 by Gaumont.

Lets see, if the colours look like the CC release!

Mozart wrote:Lets see, if the colours look like the CC release!

You're thinking of L'Enfance Nue - the Criterion and MOC A Nos Amours are identical.