Claire Denis on DVD

[Mise En Scene]

According to this blog, Strand is releasing Nenette et Boni in May.

[Gregory]

According to this blog, Strand is releasing Nenette et Boni in May.

Hrmm. I have only seen this on the New Yorker VHS -- a powerful film despite looking awful. I hoped that when it debuted on DVD with English subtitles it would look significantly better, but I suppose we shouldn't dare hope for something like a progressive transfer on this.

[reassurance]

That was my blog which mentioned the Strand disc of Nenette et Boni. I got that directly from Amazon.com. I know nothing of the transfer or of any special features, or if Strand has any plans for further Denis titles.

[accatone]

Arte TV stream Durch die Nacht mit: Claire Denise & Jeff Mills http://plus7.arte.tv/de/detailPage/1697 ... 24834.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think this will only be up there for a week.

[Oedipax]

Received the Strand Nenette et Boni today. Quality is not too hot. In fact, the transfer looks pretty much like the last copy I saw, which was VHS-sourced if I remember correctly, in terms of sharpness/contrast/color/etc. It's 16x9 and interlaced. DVD5. Only a trailer for the extras. Oh, and the subtitles are burned in.

Bleh. Has anyone seen the Cahiers du Cinema 2-disc set with No Fear, No Die? Are those 16x9 progressive transfers? I know they don't have English subtitles, but that's what PC subtitle programs are for. This is a pretty poor release for such a lovely film after such a long wait for a DVD.

[Mise En Scene]

Which DVD of 35 Shots of Rum do you folks recommend? The Drakes Avenue (Amazon UK) or Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (Amazon France)? Does the latter have English subtitles? I know the Drakes does.

[NABOB OF NOWHERE]

There are no subtitles of any sort on the french release

[Mise En Scene]

There are no subtitles of any sort on the french release

Thanks for the tip.

The UK disc is a lovely transfer, an ideal SD - I just wish they had looked at HD for the film.

Much appreciated. Will head over to Amazon after I log off.

[criterionsnob]

My local cinematheque projected 35 Rhums on DVD last night. I was so disappointed it wasn't a 35mm print. IMDB states 35mm prints exist. Can anybody tell me if this is true or have other theatres been screening this on DVD as well? Pretty disappointing as I thought it was an out-and-out masterpiece and their DVD projector was terrible.

[knives]

Yes, it's on 35mm most places. Or at least my theater had it as such.

[franco]

My local cinematheque projected 35 Rhums on DVD last night. I was so disappointed it wasn't a 35mm print. IMDB states 35mm prints exist. Can anybody tell me if this is true or have other theatres been screening this on DVD as well? Pretty disappointing as I thought it was an out-and-out masterpiece and their DVD projector was terrible.

Where are you in Canada? The Vancouver International Film Centre (home to VIFF) also projected it on DVD. I'd assume that it's a budget reason... or maybe rights. Our city also showed Police, Adjective in DigiBeta.

[criterionsnob]

Yup, Canada. The manager claimed that "more and more films are being shot and finished on digital and we may be forced to continue screening on DVD." What the fuck? She failed to mention the film I was talking about was in fact completed on 35mm. Total bullshit. I guess that's what I get for living in the middle of nowhere.

[whaleallright]

Not to mention that those films shot in digital are likely to have been shot in HD, not the SD of a DVD projection. DVDs were simply not designed for projection on a large screen. The smaller size and resolution of standard-definition televisions was taken into account when determining compression levels, etc.

Notoriously, house managers for cinemas can be obfuscatory when they're not defensive, even in the best of times. Many are now taking advantage of the confusions attending the "digital transition" to hoodwink customers (or maybe they've been hoodwinked themselves?). "Art cinemas" (such as they are nowadays) hardly seem to be an exception to this. Apparently even Film Forum has switched out 35mm for DVD without posting the information for patrons.

Pretty despicable, honestly, and probably not in the theaters' long-term interests: you'd think they'd want to make the advantages of seeing films in a cinema clear to customers, and not blur the distinction with home viewing....

[NilbogSavant]

Reminds me of a few years ago when I went to my local "arthouse theater" to see Army of Shadows. I expected it to be the 35mm print that Rialto was touring but it turned out to be a "digital download" (I only found out after asking afterward if it was the DVD) that looked far worse than the R2 DVD I had at home.

[vogler]

Does anyone know if this dvd of J'ai pas sommeil at amazon.fr is the Arte DVD. It says "Studio : Gie Sphe-Tf1" but I suppose that's probably a distributor or parent company or something like that. Also can anyone confirm that it's got English subs. I don't really need them personally, but I'll be watching it with someone who does and I don't want to have to translate the whole film as it plays.

[Ovader]

Does anyone know if this dvd of J'ai pas sommeil at amazon.fr is the Arte DVD. It says "Studio : Gie Sphe-Tf1" but I suppose that's probably a distributor or parent company or something like that. Also can anyone confirm that it's got English subs. I don't really need them personally, but I'll be watching it with someone who does and I don't want to have to translate the whole film as it plays.

Chalet lists English subs.

[Don Lope de Aguirre]

I own this DVD and can confirm that the film is subtitled in English. An incredible film...

[vogler]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to grab this DVD as soon as I can. I just wish the pound wasn't so worthless at the moment.

J'ai pas sommeil is the last of the currently available Claire Denis films I've yet to see. I only seriously got into her work a few months ago and I can't think of many other directors whose work has blown my mind in such an extraordinary way in such a short space of time (maybe Terayama, Oshima and Ruiz).

[Duncan Hopper]

Check out 'White Material' when it gets a release, it's one of her best for sure.

Any ideas who's picked it up for a UK release?

[zedz]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to grab this DVD as soon as I can. I just wish the pound wasn't so worthless at the moment.

J'ai pas sommeil is the last of the currently available Claire Denis films I've yet to see. I only seriously got into her work a few months ago and I can't think of many other directors whose work has blown my mind in such an extraordinary way in such a short space of time (maybe Terayama, Oshima and Ruiz).

It doesn't have subs, but if you're ordering French discs you might want to track down the Cahiers twofer with S'en fout la mort and Nenette et Boni. The former is a key film, and its prospects of an uncut UK release are practically nil (US may be a better bet, since it came out on VHS there), and I understand the quality of the Nenette transfer is superior to the recent US release.

[vogler]

I didn't know there was a French DVD of Nénette et Boni. Now I really wish I hadn't bought that crappy US DVD, but that's what ebay is for I suppose. Thanks for the recommendation. I'll be sure to grab that set when I've got a bit more cash.

I'm hoping New Wave Films will pick up White Material for a U.K. DVD release. They did a great job with 35 rhums.

[NABOB OF NOWHERE]

I'm hoping New Wave Films will pick up White Material for a U.K. DVD release. They did a great job with 35 rhums.

I think I remember seeing it as an Artificial Eye acquisition

[vogler]

I did a quick google search which confirmed you are right. Artificial Eye will do nicely too. Definitely looking forward to this one.

[NABOB OF NOWHERE]

Me too, did your search give you a UK release date I couldn't find it. In 2 weeks in France on general release.

[vogler]

Friday 2nd July 2010 according to this link.