Search - Vagabond [Criterion Collection] on DVD

Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Profanity, Substance Abuse, Sexual Situations Movie Release: 1985 DVD Release: 05/16/2000 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Special Collection Audio Tracks: French Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 45 mins Studio: Criterion Members Wishing: 18 Genres: Drama, Road Movie, Feminist Film

Vagabond, directed by Agnes Varda is the dark disturbing story of a female drifter named Mona (Sandrine Bonnaire). The film opens as Mona's frozen body is found in a drainage ditch and proceeds to tell her story in a series of flashbacks and semi-documentary style "interviews" with the people who have known Mona during the last few weeks of her life. Mona is a distant, independent and not-very-likeable woman who goes from place to place, living where she can and with anyone who will take her in. Mona's true nature remains a puzzle, both to those who thought they knew her, and to the audience. As the movie progresses it becomes clear that no one knew the true Mona and she, because of her aloofness and essential coldness, provided a canvas for those she met to write upon. Who Mona really was, and what she thought remains ambiguous. Sandrine Bonnaire is excellent as Mona, making an unappealing and cold character interesting and intriguing. Director Agnes Varda began her career as a still photographer. This beginning is evident in her elegant framing of the film. She has an instinctive awareness of and a photographer's eye for visual detail which makes the film cold, bleak, and aridly beautiful. Internationally acclaimed, Vagabond is Varda's most successful film. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide

Sandrine Bonnaire - Mona
Macha Meril - Madame Landier
Stéphane Freiss - Jean-Pierre
Laurence Cortadellas - Eliane
Yolande Moreau - Yolande
Marthe Jarnias - Tante Lydie

The Criterion Collection produced and released this DVD edition of Agnès Varda's drama. Vagabond has been transferred to disc in letterboxed format in its widescreen aspect ratio of 1.66:1 and the audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital Mono. The original French soundtrack has been preserved, with optional subtitles in French. In an unusual move for Criterion, no bonus materials have been included, but the high quality of the transfer (approved by director Varda) will certainly satisfy those interested in this film. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide