- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,424
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
The great French novelist, playwright and filmmaker Marcel Pagnol, created some superb works. The Baker's Wife is a favorite. Fanny, Marius, Cesar, The Well-digger's Daughter...
But as films, projected in America, they all shared a unique problem (aside from some early poor subtitle translations, which lost all humor).
I cannot count how many long discussions took place in kitchens.
With tables center bottom frame, covered with what I presume were red and white checked tablecloths.
And in those days before drop shadows for titles, and even more problematic, with 16mm high contrast dupes derived from prints, it was quite difficult to understand what was actually being discussed. Things looked like a black & white scrabble board, with letters missing.
All of those wonderful first generation Pagnol films are now thing of the past, and apparently in need of restoration. They have been for the past forty years.
Enter the next gen.
1986. A dozen years after the world lost the great Marcel.
Two films began the rebirth.
Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring, both directed by Claude Berri.
Both capture the spirit of the French countryside and of things essentially Pagnol.
While I'm thrilled to finally have these two films, I'd be more thrilled if they were beautiful.
Close, but no cigar.
While we have a countryside bathed in warm sunlight, we also have odd black levels, occasional questions of what is grain, and what is video noise and slight sharpening.
None of this is in one's face enough to damage the overall experience, but it's there.
A couple of wonderful films, brought to us by MGM via Shout Factory, which are both workmanlike Blu-rays without ever being special.
That point made, the wonder world of Pagnol still works, and stands the test of time. Stories unfold at the leisurely pace that only two films can offer.
233 minutes of Marcel Pagnol is a good thing.
Image - 3.5
Audio - 5
Pass / Fail - Pass
Recommended
RAH