Search - Hiroshima Mon Amour [Criterion Collection] on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Not For Children Movie Release: 1959 DVD Release: 06/24/2003 Format: DVD - Black and White Edition: Dual Layered Audio Tracks: French Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 30 mins Studio: Criterion Members Wishing: 35 Genres: Drama, Romantic Drama, Psychological Drama

Alain Resnais's multi-award-winning Hiroshima, Mon Amour is neither an easy film to watch nor to synopsize, but it remains one of the high-water marks of the French "new wave" movement. Resnais and scenarist Marguerite Duras weave a complex story concerning a French actress's (Emmanuelle Riva) experiences in occupied France, juxtaposed with the horrendous ordeal of a Japanese architect (Eiji Okada) coping psychologically with the bombing of Hiroshima. These stories are offered in quick flashback vignettes, which permeate the contemporary story of the woman's relationship with the architect in contemporary Hiroshima. The characters are of the Then and the Now simultaneously, much like the famous watch that was dug out of the ruins of Hiroshima, its hands permanently affixed at 9:15. Resnais refuses to honor the traditional "unities" of film: we are never certain at any time whether we're watching the events of 1959 or of 1945. In truth, Hiroshima Mon Amour is not quite as inscrutable as certain critics would have us believe (the central theme of the importance of coming to grips with one's past comes through loud and clear), but it confused many filmgoers upon its first release, some of whom gave up the picture as a bad job and steered clear of all future Resnais efforts. Viewers are strongly encouraged to stay with this one from beginning to end; it won't be a smooth ride, but it will be an immensely rewarding one. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Emmanuelle Riva - She
Eiji Okada - He
Stella Dassas - The Mother
Bernard Fresson - The German Lover
Pierre Barbaud - The Father

Alain Resnais' meditation on love and desperation, framed by the story of two lovers who fall into a brief but emotionally draining affair in Hiroshima, has been given a typically sterling presentation in this DVD edition from The Criterion Collection. Hiroshima Mon Amour has quite simply never looked better on home video, and rarely this good since its initial release; Sacha Vierny and Michio Takahashi's cinematography is beautifully served with a luminous full-frame transfer that's richly detailed and free of blemishes. The Dolby Digital Monophonic soundtrack has also been lovingly restored and sounds rich and clean throughout. The dialogue is in French, and easily readable optional subtitles have been included. And Criterion has, as usual, loaded this disc with relevant bonus material. Author Peter Cowie contributes a literate commentary track on Resnais and Hiroshima Mon Amour, while another alternate audio track isolates the haunting score by Georges Delerue and Giovanni Fusco. Two vintage interviews with Resnais are included -- one from 1961, the other (audio only) from 1980 -- while leading lady Emmanuelle Riva is represented with an interview shot at the 1959 Cannes Film Festival, as well as a longer chat recorded in 2002 as she looked back on the making of the film and working with Resnais. And finally, several "annotations" on sequences from the film, written by scenarist Marguerite Duras, are read along with the scenes they illuminate. In short, a superb and lovingly assembled presentation of an important and influential work, and a great example of what Criterion does best. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide