Belle De Jour 50th Anniversary [DVD]

A great blu ray, it does seem quite grainy and maybe film buffs like this as it’s a reminder of the physical film. I think you get used it and the quality does seem very good but it was a bit of a shock originally,

'Belle De Jour' (1967) directed by Luis Bunuel, is a classic film in world cinema, and this 50th anniversary edition offers you the opportunity to view the film in such luscious and vibrant colours that look just as fresh today as when they were shot. Bunuel being the Spanish surrealist who made the iconic 'Un Chien Andalou' (1929) with the infamous close-up of any eye ball being sliced by a razor blade.'Belle De Jour' however, does not show anything explicit as that but, is a cleverly made, intelligent and thought provoking piece of cinema, and stars the beautiful Catherine Deneuve at the age of 23. She plays the character of Severine, a well to do beautiful wife to Pierre her surgeon husband of one year. Pierre is played by the handsome Jean Sorel a French actor who reminds me of a young Robert Wagner albeit, Severine, even though she confesses her love for Pierre, realizes that there is a physical, sexual disconnect between themselves.Thrown into the mix is Pierre's friend Henri Husson, (played by the highly respected Michel Piccoli) who as the film unfolds seems to have a mischievous agenda, and one that has a direct impact on Severine.The film opens up with Severine and Pierre enjoying a coach ride through the rich colourful countryside, They're having a conversation when suddenly Pierre calls a halt and instructs the coachmen to drag his wife into the woods, where she is to be punished. She is tied to an over hanging branch, her dress ripped open and is whipped by the coachmen, after which Pierre signals to one of the older coachmen to have his way with his wife. The film then cuts to the couple having what appears to be a normal conversation in their bedroom. What have we just viewed? Is this a kinky game that both husband and wife are into? Is this something that is in Pierre's sexual fantasies? We learn that the opening scene was something that Severine was thinking about, and already signalling that she has a subconscious liking for being humiliated and dominated in a masochistic way.Later on Severine is having a talk with her friend in a taxi journey and the conversation turns to Parisian brothels.A close acquaintance is mentioned as working at such a brothel."Henrietta of all people! Imagine. A woman like us going with anybody! In those places, one has no choice. Young and old, ugly and handsome.... Even with someone you love its not always pleasant. With strangers it must be horrible."The taxi driver hearing the conversation interjects by confirming that such establishments do exist and as a taxi driver it is up to him to know these things to be able to take his passengers to, if asked.Severine later bumps into Henri Husson who infers to her about the double life led by Henrietta and reveals a known brothel address to her (One that he must have visited himself. This plays on Severine's curiosity as she is fascinated to see for herself the brothel and the possibility of enjoying afternoon sex by becoming a prostitute, which may fulfill her physical sexual needs.Severine is taken on by the brothel madam and is introduced to different clients with specific fetish requirements.Later on she is introduced to a French gangster played by Pierre Clementi and seems to enjoy his attention, and his crude way but this brief relationship ultimately will have a devastating affect on her marriage.The 50th anniversary edition from Studiocanal comes in 2 discs. The quality of the recording is excellent. Disc 1 also has a commentary by Professor Peter W. Evans (a highly regarded expert of Luis Bunuel films). It comes in three languages, French, English and German. When you select English, this gives you a dubbed version. However, if you prefer the original French language with English subtitles, you can opt for this. Disc 2 gives you more insight to the director, the film script and to the deeper subject of the desired masochistic tendencies of Severine as depicted in her various fantasy day dreams. You also get half a dozen film postcards of various scenes from the film.This is an important film in cinema history and if you enjoy film and you want a copy of this then I would highly recommend you obtain this particular release.

This is not the film that you want to see twice. After couple of minutes of watching, I did realise, that I have seen the film (long time ago). Some old French and Italian films are very watchable, but this is not one of them.

I love Catherine Devenue as an actress, and the whole movie has a quiet theme to it which is a thing I love in movies especially vintage movies. Full of amazing actors, characters, outfits, and places:) I recommend for Coquette lovers, vintage , old Hollywood fans , and fashion fans!

Nice edition of a classic and good service from seller

ok

I first saw this film in around 1972, as an 18 year old, and it instantly became my favourite film, along with 'Persona'. (I later moved on to Bresson, Rohmer and others, as my viewing expanded.)When we came out of the cinema my friend asked me, "What did it mean? Was supposed to be real?", and I still tease him about it. I'm nor claiming to have completely understood it, but it exerted a power over me and, as a budding surrealist, I completely accepted the invisible shifts from ""reality" to dream, fantasy and different levels of consciousness. The ending is completely open and we will never know what was in the Japanese client's little box.It has a superb cast, from Deneuve, as the perfect, "ice maiden" dreamer, to Piccoli as the debauched cynic, Clementi , as the unstable punk and Page, as the Madam.It benefits enormously from the masterful cinematography of Sacha Vierny when Bunuel usually chose to employ a simple bland look, like Magritte.Bunuel described it as "chaste eroticism", which perfectly sum it up, and it remains enormously entertaining fun from an quite unique and mischievous, subversive talent.Imagine the feathers he would have ruffled, if he had been allowed the perfect casting of Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn or Julie Andrews in the role?

Sixties sexploitation masquerading as subversive arthouse cinema. Never really understood why this silly Bunuel film is so highly rated. Maybe it's because millions of sleazy men like to see Catherine Deneuve being roughed up and rolling around in her underwear.

won't play on machines formatted for Region 1. found out too late and can't return unless you pay for international shipping, which cost more than the original DVD. Rip off.