Muriel, or the Time of Return (1963)

[MifuneFan]

https://www.criterion.com/films/2863...time-of-return

• New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
• Excerpt from the 1980 documentary Une approche d’Alain Resnais, révolutionnaire discret
• Excerpt from a 1969 interview with actor Delphine Seyrig
• Interview with composer Hans Werner Henze from 1963
• New interview with film scholar François Thomas, author of L’atelier d’Alain Resnais
• Trailer
• New English subtitle translation
• PLUS: An essay by film scholar James Quandt
  
  New cover by Eric Skillman

[javi92]

I'm surprised at the amount of Resnais they've put out in such a short time. Certainly welcome, though.

[Scottie]

Now available to pre-order on Amazon.

[pro-bassoonist]

PACKAGING PHOTOS

Our review will be up soon.











Pro-B

[david hare]

I don't have this yet but the Beaver and other caps (allowing for issues with software capture) look horribly yellow. Who did the 4K restoration? Was it Eclair yet again? I have strong memories of an original theatrical release print and the absence of true white and yellow bias is not part of those memories. DP Sacha Vierny a Resnais regular and the director himself would never have resorted to anything as crude as color biasing the Eastman color timing in release prints for cheap mood "effects". 60s French Eastman was crystal clear and this displayed pitch blacks, clean whites and a strong dynamic range. The Criterion encode looks horrible.

[Ray Jackson]

I love Hiroshima Mon Amour...but this one seems like a different animal.

Not sure it's my type.

[joie]

I have it and will watch it later. I am sure that it will be much more watchable than the US DVD, which was squished horizontally to 1.66:1, which made the faces unnaturally thin.

From "About the Transfer:"

Transfer supervisors: Florence Dauman, Isabelle Raindre/Argos Films
Colorist: Bruno Patin/Eclair | Groupe Ymagis
Disc mastering: Radius60, Los Angeles

[castor]

I watched this today. Its an excellent film-dense, nicely puzzling and disorienting. The restoration looks good to me-better than the caps on Beaver would lead you to believe, and not as dark. I'm already looking forward to seeing it again soon.

[dig311dug]

criterion resnais box-set potential?

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by dig311dug

criterion resnais box-set potential?

It would have already been announced, which is impossible due to LYaM being OOP.

[Ray Jackson]

I thought about this as a blind buy.

But someone described it as being even less accessible than Last Year At Marienbad.

...is that even possible?

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by dig311dug

criterion resnais box-set potential?

That would be nice.

I actually got rid of my Marienbad earlier this year. Wouldn't mind if that came back in print in the form of a box set. Perhaps they could finish off his 60's films and put them in a single set (Je T'Aime, Je T'Aime - I read is doing the festival circuit, so may be it was restored recently as well?)

https://www.austinfilm.org/arthouse/je-taime-je-taime

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by iScottie

It would have already been announced, which is impossible due to LYaM being OOP.

I believe the individual release of Tati's Playtime went OOP for the exact reason as Last Year at Marienbad (as part of the Studio Canal rights that were lost). That didn't stop it from being in the Complete Tati box set later.

It seems Criterion still licenses stuff from StudioCanal regularly routinely. So it's not like it's a lost cause, unless there is a particular reason it's a lost cause (i.e. Lionsgate is blocking a particular film or has some plans of their own).

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I thought about this as a blind buy.

But someone described it as being even less accessible than Last Year At Marienbad.

...is that even possible?

I watched it a few days ago. I thought it was okay, but I wasn't too impressed.

I'm going to rewatch it in conjunction with the other two films, though, so I'll see if my opinion changes before I sell my copy.

[PowellPressburger]

I loved Last Year at Marienbad. I didn't like Muriel as much, but I did like it. At first all I can say is I felt confused as to what was going on at all. I kind of almost wish even that wasn't explained haha it would have made for a very fragmented crazy film.

I was trying to watch Paris Belongs to Us a day later and only made it through and hour of that movie. It isn't bad but I did kind of a little about it on that films thread. I will try to finish it this weekend.

[llj]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

I was trying to watch Paris Belongs to Us a day later and only made it through and hour of that movie. It isn't bad but I did kind of a little about it on that films thread. I will try to finish it this weekend.

I should really rent this film again. First time I saw this was at my local rep theatre, and I must admit it was one of the few times in my life I almost fell asleep watching a movie in a theatre. I was struck by the confidence of its direction and silky black and white visuals, but I must confess I struggled to watch these characters stand around talking about political conspiracies and "stuff-they-were-gonna-do-but-haven't-got-around-to-doing-it" for 140 minutes. It honestly felt like 190 minutes at times. Still, I recognize it as an extremely well crafted film from a great talent who later made other films I actually really LIKE, so maybe I can accept it better in a more controlled viewing setting.

Last Year at Marienbad is a film I greatly admire, though if I have no desire to watch it more than a few times in my life. It's a beautiful puzzle to talk about, but like a rubix cube it can irritate you sometimes.

[easydreamer]

Originally Posted by AgentOrange

That would be nice.

I actually got rid of my Marienbad earlier this year. Wouldn't mind if that came back in print in the form of a box set. Perhaps they could finish off his 60's films and put them in a single set (Je T'Aime, Je T'Aime - I read is doing the festival circuit, so may be it was restored recently as well?)

https://www.austinfilm.org/arthouse/je-taime-je-taime

Je t'aime je t'aime is out on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, so the Criterion release is not possible...

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by easydreamer

Je t'aime je t'aime is out on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, so the Criterion release is not possible...

Interesting. I should have looked that up.

Yeah, that release would make it's inclusion in a Criterion box unlikely. Not impossible, but not likely anytime soon.

[Losey]

Two stars review? Well that’s hilarious.