Bilitis (1977) coming from Fun City Editions on February 22

[whiteberry]

Cult favorite Patti D’Arbanville (Andy Warhol’s Flesh, Big Wednesday and Rancho Deluxe) essays the title role in Bilitis, the directorial debut of photographer David Hamilton. Based on the erotic nineteenth century poetry of Pierre Louÿs, the film’s script was co-written by filmmaker and novelist Catherine Breillat (A Real Young Girl and Fat Girl). Spending the summer in the French countryside with elegant and beautiful family friend Barbara (Mona Kristensen), young Bilitis comes of age and learns valuable—if sometimes painful—lessons about intimacy, romance and love. D’Arbanville, who had been part of Warhol’s Factory and was the inspiration for some of Cat Stevens’ most beloved songs, effectively plays the sheltered young woman who becomes steadily wiser as the story progresses. The film is considerably elevated by the sumptuous score by famed French composer Francis Lai (Love Story and A Man and a Woman), which became a worldwide best-selling record. Hamilton’s trademark soft focus photographic style is faithfully rendered on film by the cinematography of Bernard Daillencourt (Walerian Borowczyk’s Immoral Tales, La Marge and The Beast). Bilitis has been richly restored in 4K, from the original camera negative, for this first-ever North American Blu-ray edition.

Directed by: David Hamilton
Starring: Patti D'Arbanville, Mona Kristensen, Bernard Giraudeau
1977 / 95 min / 1.66:1 / French & English Mono

Additional info:
• Region Free Blu-ray
• 4K restoration from its 35mm original camera negative
• Video interview with camera operator Noël Very
• Newly recorded audio commentary by film historians Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson
• Booklet with a new essay by Samm Deighan
• English subtitles

https://vinegarsyndrome.com/collecti...-city-editions

Theme by Francis Lai:

Bilitis - YouTube

The soundtrack:
https://www.discogs.com/master/64921...ginale-Du-Film

[Gacivory]

Been interested in this because of the, Catherine Breillat, writing credit.

[dkelly26666]

I couldn't have ordered this any faster.

Been waiting forever for it. Remember it fondly from many moons ago.

That soundtrack is one of the best I've ever heard.

Francis Lai - Melissa - YouTube

[Monkey Ballz]

Wow, this is really disappointing. FCE is perhaps the most interesting label right now, but this film (and all of Hamilton's films) is just flaccid (ironically,) adolescent, snoozy, indulgent junk.

His stuff is like Adrian Lyne, but without the propulsive genre plot elements... so, beautiful people, beautifully shot, but boring and shallow as hell, like a Penthouse centerfold or a 1970s greeting card. I actually like "empty" films (certain Antonioni, Resnais, Robbe-Grillet, Metzger, etc.) but this is not a good example.

Louys was an interesting writer, too (and a favorite of Robert E. Howard, oddly) but this reduces the source to little more than soft-core piffle.

Still, I wouldn't discourage anyone from looking at this. The photography is lovely, and it definitely evokes a lost era.

[themp3000]

I won’t lie, I have curiosity for it but I can’t justify spending at the sub discounted price or even a standard edition price. I want to keep going with collecting and supporting this label but this one is a very tall order.

[jkoffman]

Originally Posted by Monkey Ballz

Wow, this is really disappointing. FCE is perhaps the most interesting label right now, but this film (and all of Hamilton's films) is just flaccid (ironically,) adolescent, snoozy, indulgent junk.

His stuff is like Adrian Lyne, but without the propulsive genre plot elements... so, beautiful people, beautifully shot, but boring and shallow as hell, like a Penthouse centerfold or a 1970s greeting card. I actually like "empty" films (certain Antonioni, Resnais, Robbe-Grillet, Metzger, etc.) but this is not a good example.

Louys was an interesting writer, too (and a favorite of Robert E. Howard, oddly) but this reduces the source to little more than soft-core piffle.

Still, I wouldn't discourage anyone from looking at this. The photography is lovely, and it definitely evokes a lost era.

Yeah, having never seen this, it sounds like the first FCE that doesn't interest me. I guess it was inevitable, but I love their stuff so much that I bought their t-shirt too.

[Bradsdadg]

I was actually really surprised by Bilitis being the next title. I wasn't too thrilled with Morvern Callar last time around~but this one is more interesting to me. Just goes to show that maybe not every title is going to hit with everyone, but the work and care they put into them is worthy of me continuing my complete collection

[iamnoone]

I bought it immediately just because of the cover art, which recreates a Media VHS release of that era. I think the movie actually came out via Media Video way back, so this may be that actual cover.

[jah13]

I don't recall if it's the exact cover but the template is one that MEDA / Media used back then. We also riffed on old Warner Home Video and Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment packaging for the reversible sleeve.

Originally Posted by iamnoone

I bought it immediately just because of the cover art, which recreates a Media VHS release of that era. I think the movie actually came out via Media Video way back, so this may be that actual cover.

[Rzzzz]

Originally Posted by Monkey Ballz

Wow, this is really disappointing. FCE is perhaps the most interesting label right now, but this film (and all of Hamilton's films) is just flaccid (ironically,) adolescent, snoozy, indulgent junk.

His stuff is like Adrian Lyne, but without the propulsive genre plot elements... so, beautiful people, beautifully shot, but boring and shallow as hell, like a Penthouse centerfold or a 1970s greeting card. I actually like "empty" films (certain Antonioni, Resnais, Robbe-Grillet, Metzger, etc.) but this is not a good example.

Louys was an interesting writer, too (and a favorite of Robert E. Howard, oddly) but this reduces the source to little more than soft-core piffle.

Still, I wouldn't discourage anyone from looking at this. The photography is lovely, and it definitely evokes a lost era.

I saw this when it came out at the old Balboa theater in Newport Beach even though I was only 16 (though I was with a couple of 18 year old friends). We were like, "How in the hell could this guy make a film with hot chicks making out so damn boring?" . Yeah, I agree with you 100%....

[grahams76]

Top of this thread says the film is being released on January 25th, which must be an error. Or did it come out a week ago?

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by grahams76

Top of this thread says the film is being released on January 25th, which must be an error. Or did it come out a week ago?

Mistype. The link to the Vinegar Shndrome website in the first post shows a Feb. 22 release date.

[whiteberry]

That's the date website originally said. I guess it's been fixed.

[edmonddantes]

Originally Posted by Monkey Ballz

Wow, this is really disappointing. FCE is perhaps the most interesting label right now, but this film (and all of Hamilton's films) is just flaccid (ironically,) adolescent, snoozy, indulgent junk.

His stuff is like Adrian Lyne, but without the propulsive genre plot elements... so, beautiful people, beautifully shot, but boring and shallow as hell, like a Penthouse centerfold or a 1970s greeting card. I actually like "empty" films (certain Antonioni, Resnais, Robbe-Grillet, Metzger, etc.) but this is not a good example.

Louys was an interesting writer, too (and a favorite of Robert E. Howard, oddly) but this reduces the source to little more than soft-core piffle.

Still, I wouldn't discourage anyone from looking at this. The photography is lovely, and it definitely evokes a lost era.

I subscribe every word of this post.

A certain brand of french eroticism (I know hamilton is a brit) can have the most beautiful women in sexual situations and yet make it the most boring and un-erotic stuff ever shoot. Emmanuelle, though a bit better, its another example.

But this one was a proper snoozefest.

Erotic movies is actually a subgenre or genre that requires actual skill as a filmmaker because you have to make the viewer engage and believe the "action" on display, and thats not as easy as it sounds. Jess franco made like a hundred erotic movies with gorgeous half naked women and not one is remotely erotic , sexy or interesting. In fact Id say that some of the ost boring experiences as a movie viewer I've ever had were with the exploitation and softcore subgenre.

[Member-222782]

I may pick this up just for the slipcover. Looks like an old Laserdisc. Love it. The film itself sounds kinda interesting but not really my cup of tea.

[jkoffman]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

I may pick this up just for the slipcover. Looks like an old Laserdisc. Love it. The film itself sounds kinda interesting but not really my cup of tea.

In that case, I'll sell you my slipcover for $20.

[HillSprinter]

I guess the natural female form isn’t erotic enough for some people.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

I may pick this up just for the slipcover. Looks like an old Laserdisc. Love it.

I am trying really hard to resist this for exactly that reason. I am curious to see what will happen with the UK BD for one thing, but since that's going to be a retail release, it won't have the kind of artwork the FCE BD does. However, I was also very naughty from November-January and I need to curb my spending for the time being. I put this and two other partner releases in my cart, but I couldn't being myself to pull the trigger, because I really can't afford the expense.

I've never seen the film, but I strongly suspect I'll find much to appreciate in it.

[jah13]

The disc is not region-locked, if that’s a question.

I’m not sure the UK disc has the new interview with the film’s camera operator. It’s in French and we had it subtitled in English.

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

I am trying really hard to resist this for exactly that reason. I am curious to see what will happen with the UK BD for one thing, but since that's going to be a retail release, it won't have the kind of artwork the FCE BD does. However, I was also very naughty from November-January and I need to curb my spending for the time being. I put this and two other partner releases in my cart, but I couldn't being myself to pull the trigger, because I really can't afford the expense.

I've never seen the film, but I strongly suspect I'll find much to appreciate in it.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by jah13

The disc is not region-locked, if that’s a question.

I’m not sure the UK disc has the new interview with the film’s camera operator. It’s in French and we had it subtitled in English.

Please, I don't need any additional encouragement to buy this.