L' Atalante

Earlier reviewers have complained about this DVD's quality, and I want to clear up the confusion. The way that New Yorker Films (not connected to The New Yorker magazine) has packaged this DVD is outstanding. They've specialized in more recent (i.e., post-1970) foreign films, so if this is what they can do with older films, I'd love to see them work on others. It's not quite Criterion-level quality, but considering the challenges, it's as impressive as many of Criterion's major accomplishments.

For a movie that was all but lost to us, they've has done wonders with the restoration. The aspect ratio is accurate, contrary to what one reviewer says below. Since L'Atalante was made before 1953, it CAN'T be shown in letterbox! Unfortunately, there's slight cropping at the left and top throughout the film, and it's especially notable during the opening titles. French directors of the 1930s regularly had their action overflow the frame, so it's difficult to say how much this cropping affects the rest of the film. There's also slight debris on the print, but that's unavoidable for a film of this age and history. There is also some confusion on the film's running time. The advertised 89 minutes only applies to VHS tapes. The actually film runs about 85 minutes, including the opening and closing titles. However, critics believe that this version (based on an early 1934 print and supplemented with better-quality outtakes) is as close to Vigo's intended vision as we'll ever get. He died before he could oversee a "final cut."

The extras are slim, but worthwhile. There's a filmography for Vigo and 2 galleries (one of posters and one of stills and behind-the-scene photos). Best of all is a short documentary about L'Atalante. It's called "The Making of..." but it's more of an appreciation than a history. It's a nice addition, but should be watched AFTER you see the movie. I'd have liked more detail on the restoration process, but what's here is fine.

If you like French films of the '30s (especially those of Renoir and Carne), then this DVD is a must-own. Anyone else who considers him/herself a student of cinema needs at least to rent it. Either way, rest assured that this is a fine transfer. My only reservation concerns the very slight cropping of the frame.

EDIT: Since I reviewed this DVD, Artificial Eye (a British video company) has released an excellent two-disc set called The Complete Jean Vigo, which includes this film and Vigo's four short films (including the amazing "Zero for Conduct"). Featuring 3 hours of extra content, it's well worth looking into if you have multiregional capability. The Complete Jean Vigo is only available in region 2 format.

Most of the well written reviews here talk knowledgeably about film matters about which I know nothing. What I do know is that this film is simply one of the most achingly beautiful, romantic movies I have ever seen. My husband and I first saw it 30 years ago, when we were dating. The quality was bad, obviously prerestoration, but we still just fell in love with the movie. There is a scene (and the other reviewers have spelled out the basic plot: village girl marries barge captain, they argue, separate, meet again) where the young man, missing his wife, swims under water and sees a fantasy of her -- well, that was so touching. And, yes, the scene where the couple thinks of one another is one of the most magical, love filled scenes in movie history. I have to comment, too, on the lovely quality of light in this film. [One odd point, has anyone else noticed how much the vaudeville entertainer, who flirts with Juliette, looks like Jim Carrey? We thought it just spooky since the movie was made 70 years ago!] So, this is a great valentine's day movie, for romance, or any day movie if you just love really welldone movies. We recently purchased the restored copy on DVD and were very pleased. The only thing I can think would improve it would be more extras.

In 1934, Jean Vigo came as close to actually creating a cinematic poem as anyone before or since. Jean Vigo was one of cinema's greatest tragedies, a boundless original talent that was just springing and had much more to offer. Who knows how many more masterpieces he would have filmed? In 1933 he made the imaginatively surreal `Zero for Conduct' and caused a lot of controversy and even caused it to be banned in some countries. But the film that followed; L'Atalante, would be his crowning masterpiece, a hauntingly beautiful and poetic film. Vigo tragically died of septicemia at 29 but not before leaving us this beautiful dream-like masterpiece. One of the screen's greatest romances and probably the best and most understanding film ever made about young love. Boris Kaufman's evocative cinematography captures some of the most hauntingly beautiful images ever filmed. Some of the scenes linger in the mind for quite a long time after the first viewing. The scene when the two young lovers are making imaginary love in separate locations and the sequence when Jean Dasté dives into the water to try and picture his beloved's face are intoxicatingly beautiful and unforgettable. Even the performances are timeless. Jean Dasté, who also starred in Vigo's `Zero for Conduct' is unforgettable as the young captain of L'Atalante who is hopelessly in love with Dita Parlo. Parlo delivers a truly timeless performance, she would star in Renoir's `Grand Illusion' just four years later. But it is Michel Simon's legendary performance as Jules that is truly unforgettable. Simply one of the most beautiful and deeply poetic films ever made and it still feels passionate and moving. From a scale of 1-10 I give this film a 10!