It amazes me how, even in France, one cannot buy a DVD of this incredible and powerful masterpiece. This is a major work of art, with a dazzling editing, full of meaning and innovation. In short: full tilt filmmaking artistry in action... How come?
While you can't see this important film, hundreds of worthless junk hit the shelves, each month!
Luke Joplin
Luke, I think "Night and Fog", "Hiroshima mon amour", "Last Year at Marienbad", "Muriel" and "La guerre est finie" are genuine works of art, especially "Marienbad"; however, "Stavisky" (for me) is not nearly as good as Bertolucci's "Conformist" and the few later Resnais films I have seen do nothing for me. It may be unfashionable in our times to say that artists have their great periods and their slumps, which usually occur after they have built up such a following that criticising them is like attacking a sacred cow.
ANYWAY, MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS: Granted that people's opinions differ greatly, but would you say that "Je t'aime, je t'aime" is more like the period up to "La guerre est finie" or that starting with "Stavisky"? I am asking because I would really like to see it, but as you know, it is unavailable for rental and one must spend a lot to purchase it if one wants to view it.
I would say that it is much more like the period prior to "La guerre est finie", more so than the aforementioned film is itself. It has been called a precursor to Twelve Monkeys and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and those comparisons are quite accurate in my opinion. It's a truly wonderful film, and I saw it on a crappy vhs dupe of a less than perfect 16mm print. However, I am ever thankful I saw it at all.
shareYes, I have seen it since I posted that first comment. My copy, too, was pretty awful. I completely agree that it is a major film, the last of his great early features. ("Stavisky" started a new phase, I would say.)
shareAnd I'm very sorry for not answering you in time, but I haven't been warned of your post. Anyway, I'm glad you managed to see it, and shared my opinion. The sad thing is that almost one year went by and there's no sign of a DVD edition yet...
Regards.
Luke Joplin
It was released three days ago by Édition Montparnasse (no english subtitles though):
http://www.commeaucinema.com/film=je-t-aime-je-t-aime,9746.html
Cheers,
Simon
Very good news, indeed! Thanks!
Luke Joplin
Kino Lorber have just announced on their Facebook page that they releasing this film in both formats on November 10.
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