1181 Petite maman
- DarkImbecile
- Ask me about my visible cat breasts
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1181 Petite maman
Petite maman
Céline Sciamma's follow-up to Portrait of a Lady on Fire transcends time and space to weave a delicately emotional fable about grief, family, and connection across generations. In the wake of her grandmother's death, eight-year-old Nelly (Joséphine Sanz) accompanies her distraught mother (Nina Meurisse) to her childhood home. There, Nelly's encounter with another young girl (Gabrielle Sanz) brings mother and daughter together in a way neither could have ever imagined. Evoking childhood's perpetual state of wonder through luminous, richly textured images, Petite maman takes viewers on a journey inward for a quietly miraculous tale of emotional time travel.
DIRECTOR-APPROVED BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
• 4K digital master, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
• New conversation between director Céline Sciamma and filmmaker Joachim Trier
• My Life as a Zucchini (2016), an Oscar-nominated stop-motion animated film directed by Claude Barras and cowritten by Sciamma
• Trailers
• PLUS: An essay by author So Mayer
Céline Sciamma's follow-up to Portrait of a Lady on Fire transcends time and space to weave a delicately emotional fable about grief, family, and connection across generations. In the wake of her grandmother's death, eight-year-old Nelly (Joséphine Sanz) accompanies her distraught mother (Nina Meurisse) to her childhood home. There, Nelly's encounter with another young girl (Gabrielle Sanz) brings mother and daughter together in a way neither could have ever imagined. Evoking childhood's perpetual state of wonder through luminous, richly textured images, Petite maman takes viewers on a journey inward for a quietly miraculous tale of emotional time travel.
DIRECTOR-APPROVED BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
• 4K digital master, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
• New conversation between director Céline Sciamma and filmmaker Joachim Trier
• My Life as a Zucchini (2016), an Oscar-nominated stop-motion animated film directed by Claude Barras and cowritten by Sciamma
• Trailers
• PLUS: An essay by author So Mayer
- therewillbeblus
- Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 3:40 pm
Re: Céline Sciamma
For Petite Maman, Sciamma inverts the intimate quietude lining the lavish powerhouse of Portrait of a Lady on Fire into a smaller-scale production that is anything but slight. Posturing as a children's film, Sciamma eclipses Pixar's greatest efforts by conveying piercing adult themes of impermanence, loss, discovery, and ubiquitous value from experiences of true interpersonal connection, through unexpectedly designed methods that creep up on you without ever feeling disingenuous. Nobody should enter this film with any knowledge of its narrative, but suffice to say this is a masterpiece of cinema for all adults who cherish unique cinematic exhibitions of youth- the same population that often sensitively shares the merits of a child's eye worldview, seasoned with a mixture of longing and peaceful remembrance via nostalgia in the present. Like Portrait, I found myself breaking into a soft cry twice, though these instances were less expected and did not seem quite as deliberately-sketched to pull at heartstrings. In some ways, I was reminded of Hopkins' poem Spring and Fall, only this film is far more cathartic in its optimistic reframe towards the power of social reprieve from life's uncertainty isolating pain.DarkImbecile wrote: ↑Fri Sep 03, 2021 5:32 pmCeline Sciamma’s Petit Maman is a quiet, small story that still manages to be surprisingly dense with mystery and observations about mother-daughter relationships. The less said about its conceit the better, but suffice it to say that this follow-up to Portrait of a Lady on Fire doesn’t try to reach for that film’s resonant heights and instead veers off in an unexpected direction with the quiet assurance and deceptive depth made possible by Sciamma’s confident direction and writing.
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The final two scenes feature a certain opportunity taken, with Nelly finally able to tell her grandmother goodbye again (though significantly it's just as passive as her 'real' last goodbye at the start of the film, and not the more physical and engaging intervention acted-out with her mom, gesturing a shift in prioritization and movement into acceptance) followed by a subsequent scene where Nelly and her mother finally reconnect, cemented as her clear priority at this point. The contrast is so subtle yet immensely gratifying as a reminder for how magical wish-fulfillment and redirection of our desires onto the tangible in the present can coexist when they're cut from the same cloth.
- therewillbeblus
- Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 3:40 pm
Re: Céline Sciamma
I'm very curious about your own reasons for this order, though I agree
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primarily because, as I mentioned above, Sciamma's narrative moves to a magical fantasy like out of Suzy's Stories (that she would use as an aid to escape from her troubled home environment, like Nelly does here around her fear of her mother's abandonment following the loss of her grandmother- though I do believe this is 'real' within the internal logic of Sciamma's film), significantly one born from time-manipulations to the past; and then, in the end, Nelly transitions into a confidently-directed focus on the reality of the present between her and her mother. Similarly, Suzy and Sam both rise from their routine isolations to go on an actual adventure, in real time, together. The fantasies, memories, and fleeting treasures of these fantastical catharses are permanently meaningful, but they become enhanced in meaning when we apply their energy in action, in the here and now. That's how we keep creating and recreating meaning, while never truly losing what we once had.
- Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
Re: Petite maman (Céline Sciamma, 2021)
UK Blu-Ray on March 21 with Q&A and postcards
According to Zavvi, this is Region B locked. I have no idea what the encoding on MUBI's previous releases is like but hopefully this turns out to be a good option for non-French speakers since the French disc is not English-friendly (and Decal are handling the US disc which doesn't bode well given their shoddy encoding in the past). MUBI might actually warrant a boutique label thread of their own given they have several well-received and/or intriguing arthouse films in their catalogue.
According to Zavvi, this is Region B locked. I have no idea what the encoding on MUBI's previous releases is like but hopefully this turns out to be a good option for non-French speakers since the French disc is not English-friendly (and Decal are handling the US disc which doesn't bode well given their shoddy encoding in the past). MUBI might actually warrant a boutique label thread of their own given they have several well-received and/or intriguing arthouse films in their catalogue.
- therewillbeblus
- Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 3:40 pm
Re: Petite maman (Céline Sciamma, 2021)
As far as encodes go, their Ema blu looks fantastic, but unfortunately there’s only one supplement. Not sure how they fare as a boutique label in the extras dept on other releases
- colinr0380
- Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:30 pm
- Location: Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, UK
Re: Petite maman (Céline Sciamma, 2021)
If you want a list of their physical releases so far Finch I have been keeping a post updated on the catch-all Mubi thread for them. I'm updating as and when I can pick them up and confirm they exist so I have not listed Petite maman as yet.
Mubi seem like the modern day equivalent of Artificial Eye features-wise in that they only really include Q&As as supplements at the moment (Border, Beanpole, On Body and Soul, A Dog Called Money and Bacurau have no extras), at least up to Annette (though I have not picked up The Image Book, the 2018 Suspiria or First Cow due to having the US discs of those). In terms of region coding there are three of their releases that are all region A, B & C (Ema, Beanpole and Matthias & Maxime) but all the rest are region B locked. (EDIT: Since this post Azor and Great Freedom have been released and are also region free)
I'm just glad (as with Artificial Eye and New Wave back in the day) that a lot of these films are getting some sort of disc release, even if I would love another boutique label's level of supplements applied to them!
Whilst on the subject of Mubi releases, their other release of the month is going to be the Argentinian film Azor.
Mubi seem like the modern day equivalent of Artificial Eye features-wise in that they only really include Q&As as supplements at the moment (Border, Beanpole, On Body and Soul, A Dog Called Money and Bacurau have no extras), at least up to Annette (though I have not picked up The Image Book, the 2018 Suspiria or First Cow due to having the US discs of those). In terms of region coding there are three of their releases that are all region A, B & C (Ema, Beanpole and Matthias & Maxime) but all the rest are region B locked. (EDIT: Since this post Azor and Great Freedom have been released and are also region free)
I'm just glad (as with Artificial Eye and New Wave back in the day) that a lot of these films are getting some sort of disc release, even if I would love another boutique label's level of supplements applied to them!
Whilst on the subject of Mubi releases, their other release of the month is going to be the Argentinian film Azor.
Last edited by colinr0380 on Sat Jun 11, 2022 2:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
Re: Petite maman (Céline Sciamma, 2021)
Thanks for creating the MUBI thread, Colin! I've now received my copy of the UK BD from Zavvi. I've not watched the film yet but it is on a BD50, and it comes in a Scanavo case. Six postcards were also included (whatever).
- swo17
- Bloodthirsty Butcher
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- therewillbeblus
- Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 3:40 pm
Re: 1181 Petite maman
I feel much better about picking up the Mubi blu now- Criterion really underdelivered on this one
- yoloswegmaster
- Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2016 3:57 pm
Re: 1181 Petite maman
They should have just made this one of their lower-priced titles considering the runtime and lack of extras. Can't say that I'm surprised at the lack of extras though since the MUBI release looks to have only 1 extra, which is just a Q&A, and it doesn't look like Celine Sciamma prefers to have on-disc scholary content judging by the numerous releases of Portrait that don't contain it (haven't looked at the releases of her other titles so I could be wrong about this).
Last edited by yoloswegmaster on Wed Feb 15, 2023 2:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- therewillbeblus
- Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 3:40 pm
Re: 1181 Petite maman
I don’t think they do the lower priced discs anymore for single films (though they have been applying this principle to multi-film/“box” sets lately), and I imagine manufacturing costs understandably prevent that from being a possibility
- yoloswegmaster
- Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2016 3:57 pm
Re: 1181 Petite maman
The last time they did this was like 3 years ago for 'The Inland Sea', so maybe you're right. Then again, what was the last title they released that had a short runtime and only 1 extra? There is the possibility that they have to take into account the licensing costs, as I wouldn't be surprised if they were paying a lot to license from NEON.therewillbeblus wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 2:31 pmI don’t think they do the lower priced discs anymore for single films (though they have been applying this principle to multi-film/“box” sets lately), and I imagine manufacturing costs understandably prevent that from being a possibility
EDIT: I just remembered that Criterion have the rights to Water Lillies, so I think it's a bit of a missed opportunity by not including it.
- brundlefly
- Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2014 12:55 pm
Re: 1181 Petite maman
On one hand, this is a perfect little film and its intimacy isn't something that demands incredible amounts of explanation. Sciamma's talked about working with children before I think on the releases for Tomboy and Girlhood, and as she's willing to talk about her work I'm sure the Q&A will be a good listen.
But the treatment here does make it look slight, something it is not. Other than giving it a spine number and new artwork and pulling in another Criterion-approved director, this could have been a Lionsgate disc.
I'm assuming Water Lilies is getting some kind of restoration/tour and that "Pauline" will wind up on that disc. Criterion hasn't been pairing up releases a lot, lately. (Especially now that there are only 2-3 new titles/month.) Speaking of Trier, still waiting on Oslo, August 31st.
But the treatment here does make it look slight, something it is not. Other than giving it a spine number and new artwork and pulling in another Criterion-approved director, this could have been a Lionsgate disc.
I'm assuming Water Lilies is getting some kind of restoration/tour and that "Pauline" will wind up on that disc. Criterion hasn't been pairing up releases a lot, lately. (Especially now that there are only 2-3 new titles/month.) Speaking of Trier, still waiting on Oslo, August 31st.
- therewillbeblus
- Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 3:40 pm
Re: 1181 Petite maman
It certainly feels like a dis when released alongside the stacked Thelma and Louise, another film centered on the intimacy of a female dyad, even if that obviously wasn't the intention
- swo17
- Bloodthirsty Butcher
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am
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Re: 1181 Petite maman
I like this, it's petite. Maybe it'll come on one of those cute little mini-discs
- brundlefly
- Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2014 12:55 pm
Re: 1181 Petite maman
Haha yes! But also it is pair-of-apples and pair-of-oranges. One has a history and box office and a very pretty Brad Pitt and that one gets ***exposion*** A VERY RIDLEY SCOTT AMOUNT OF (mostly pre-produced) EXTRAS ***explosion.***therewillbeblus wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 3:23 pmIt certainly feels like a dis when released alongside the stacked Thelma and Louise, another film centered on the intimacy of a female dyad, even if that obviously wasn't the intention
The other gets a couple of girls wandering back and forth through the woods amount of extras.
- jbeall
- Joined: Sat Aug 12, 2006 9:22 am
- Location: Atlanta-ish
Re: 1181 Petite maman
Every Sciamma film I've watched has a scene that leaves me shaken. This time,
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"You didn't invent my sadness" is maybe the most beautiful absolution I've ever seen. It also helps explain the (perhaps) perfunctory "au revoir" Nelly exchanges with her grandmother.
- yoloswegmaster
- Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2016 3:57 pm
Re: 1181 Petite maman
My Life as a Zucchini has been added as an extra.
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- Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2019 10:56 pm
Re: 1181 Petite maman
Really surprising and excellent addition! Makes for a great double feature!
- CSM126
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 8:22 am
- Location: The Room
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Re: 1181 Petite maman
An interesting addition but at the same time… it’s already on blu ray is it not? I guess for those who want it but haven’t gotten around to buying it yet this might be a nice bonus.
Personally, I like Zucchini well enough but not enough to be enticed into buying it.
Personally, I like Zucchini well enough but not enough to be enticed into buying it.
- lzx
- Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2014 7:27 pm
Re: 1181 Petite maman
Second the praise for Zucchini: an absolutely fantastic film full of Sciamma’s personal signatures, even though she didn’t direct it. In fact, this set now contains IMHO her two best films - and the total runtime is still shorter than many of this year’s BP nominees!
- Michael Kerpan
- Spelling Bee Champeen
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Re: 1181 Petite maman
Zucchini is one of the only animated movies (of its sort) that I actually like a lot -- but I'm pretty sure I bought it long ago. Petite Maman was great even when watched in-flight (luckily I had brought my own headphones). I'll have to snag it when it is on maximal sale....
- What A Disgrace
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:34 pm
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Re: 1181 Petite maman
I'm glad this is coming as a supplement, because I probably wasn't going to see it outside of a release like this.
- therewillbeblus
- Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 3:40 pm
Re: 1181 Petite maman
It’s as good as the faith of this move by Criterion