When are we going to see this fantastic film on DVD? It has now been deleted from VHS and is getting very pricey on the second hand market. A film like this really should be on DVD!! I notice lots of other people making the same request on the net. Who can we harass to get it released on DVD?
The specifications listed on Amazon for the VHS release indicated Sony as the distributor, but who knows which company has the DVD rights to the film. Hopefully one day Criterion which released "Night and Fog" and "Hiroshima, Mon Amour" will get around to Renais' later films including "Life Is a Bed of Roses", "Smoking/No Smoking", "Stavisky" and this film
There is a DVD with French original and Spanish subtitles (including Spanish audio too). The DVD may be purchased in Span. You may also get it at www.elcorteingles.es
However, I would appreciate your explanation why you find this movie fantastic. It is rather difficult to watch and does not provide lot of fun.
Hi Kazic, This film is in English not in French. I think (correct me if I am wrong) it is Alain Resnais' only English speaking film. So I will still be waiting for a release of the original as opposed to the dubbed version.
I note your criticism of the film not being fun -this gets me on one of my hobbyhorses. Films are not just about 'entertainment' but they can also be works of art which give you insight into the human condition. For example, a recent film, Children of Men, wasn't even remotely fun - but what an experience!
Having said this there are quite a few things in Providence that I find amusing. For example, the dying writer is drinking white wine. At one point all the characters he is imagining are standing around inside and outside in the rain with glasses of white wine in their hands. I also like the subtle background effects - eg a beach scene which is actually a painted backdrop. The layout of an appartment changing between shots.
I don't find it difficult to watch in the least. In fact I find it totally absorbing. I have to say it has been my favourite film for many years now and still hasn't been dislodged from that pedestral!
As Norman Mailer said about this film it provides one of the best filmic insights into the creative process of writing. As a writer myself, I agree. I love the surrealistic, non naturalistic elements of the film and the contrast between the 'reality' and the 'fiction'. The acting is excellent and the soundtrack is wonderful. I also love films where people are talking about ideas, and films where the images and what people are talking about don't quite match up.
This is probably another one of those cases of a film that is an amazing experience for one viewer but which leaves another completely cold.
That's an odd move by old YouTuber, friend. I wish I had this magestic film on file so I could send it your way. I have a fair bit of stuff that I'll be happy to copy for you if you are interested. Life is short, but great movies work and live long - let us watch those movies!
As did the previous poster, I found this on the web as a torrent. As with many wonderful films that never made it from VHS to DVD, this may be the only way to see it at present. Another great film of which this is true is Wim Wenders' "Until the End of the World."
I, too, wish it were on DVD. I loved this film when it came out, but haven't seen it since. It is number one on my wish list of films which are missing from DVD. Number 2 -- a guilty pleasure -- would be the musical version of Goodbye Mr. Chips with Peter O'Toole. What a double bill from about the same time frame!
2013 and still nothing. There are still a ton of films which are unavailable on dvd in England including: Raise the Red Lantern Day for Night The Human Condition Trilogy Mishima The entire filmography of Hou Hsiao-Hsien A Brighter Summer's Day Time of the Gypsies Urga Kurusawa's Dreams Love Streams The Taste of Tea etc etc
A company by the name of Jupiter Films has resorted the film and it is available for sale from their Website but only to French customers.
It can be obtained at FNAC. Word of warning: shipping from FNAC is expensive.
It has only been released on DVD. Jupiter Films have never released anything on Blu Ray so that shouldn't come as a surprise.
Sooner or later it should turn up in the US and/or UK.
The disc is English friendly is so far as it can be watched without forced French subtitles. The credits are in French and the end credits include the names of the actors that dubbed the French language version. For example Gerard Depardieu dubbed Dirk Bogarde for the French language version. I can't remember what the credits where like when the film played in cinemas in the 1970s.
Something of interest. Towards the end of the film there is a tracking shot across the countryside. This shot only goes for 10 to 15 seconds and has clearly not restored. I'm glad that they didn't bother to resort this small part because it shows just what poor shape the negative of the film was in. It's very disturbing to think that I film of this calibre could be left to decay like this.
Anyway it was great to see Providence again after more then 34 years since I first saw it and it hasn't aged a bit.
There are two special features on the disc. One with Resnais (not English subtitles) and another with the art director & cinematographer (this one has English subtitles).
I live in the United States and ordered the DVD from Jupiter directly and they sent it-just came! I think the post was something like $10. They may have changed their policy although I did happen to see another disc on the site that said "to France only". Lucky me I have been wanting this film for years and years! I think it was like $40 altogether. To me it was worth it after waiting so long.