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LAtalante DVD Review

From Ivana Redwine,
Your Guide to DVD.
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Guide Rating - rating

The Bottom Line

“L’Atalante” is a cinepoem that is infused with an evocative mood of lyrical, bittersweet romance, and I think it is one of the greatest movies ever made.
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Pros
  • Masterpiece of world cinema
  • Poetic and lyrical
  • Enchanting sequences of images and music
Cons
  • Not plot-driven (could be a pro)
  • Subtle and elliptical (could be a pro)
  • DVD provides no scholarly commentary track

Description

  • DVD containing restored version (2001) of French-language film “L’Atalante” (1934)
  • Movie is number 15 in “Sight & Sound” 2002 Critics' Poll ranking of all-time greatest films
  • DVD provides 20-minute featurette that is an appreciation by two film scholars
  • DVD contains production stills, behind-the-scenes photos, and poster gallery
  • Good picture quality
  • Good sound quality

Guide Review - “L’Atalante” DVD Review

"L’Atalante" is a cinepoem that is infused with an evocative mood of lyrical, bittersweet romance, and I think it is one of the greatest movies ever made. In the film, an attractive young woman marries a man who operates a river barge, where the newlyweds live with a salty first mate, a klutzy cabin boy, and a bunch of cats. Although barge life is tedious, the young marrieds are in love, and the bride seems to be adapting. But when the strong-willed wife and the controlling husband get into a hassle over her enjoying Paris, he abandons her. Every time I see the film, I find the motif of looking for one’s true love underwater deeply moving. Jean Vigo brings everything to a kind of cinematic life that still looks innovative today.
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