ALAIN ROBBE-GRILLET: SIX FILMS 1963-1974 (Blu-ray Box Set) Perhaps best known as the writer of Alain Resnais' classic cine-conundrum Last Year of Marienbad, Alain Robbe-Grillet was also the director a number of stylish, controversial and erotic films which starred such icons of French cinema as Jean-Louis Trinignant (Haneke's Amour, Bertolucci's The Conformist), Marie-France Pisier (Truffaut's Stolen Kisses and Bed and Board) and Isabelle Huppert (Claire Denis' White Material, Haneke's Amour).Impossible to see for decades, these enigmatic, sexually-charged films have now been collected together for the very first time, and are made available here in beautifully remastered High Definition presentations, with extra features including video introductions by Catherine Robbe-Grillet, filmed interviews with Alain Robbe-Grillet by Frederic Taddei, and newly-recorded, exclusive feature-length commentaries by cult cinema authority Tim Lucas.This Blu-ray box set includes: The Immortal One (1963), Trans-Europ Express (1967), The Man Who Lies (1968), Eden and After (1970), N. Rolls the Dice (1971) and Successive Slidings Into Pleasure (1974).Special features* All six films presented in High DefinitionVideo introductions by Catherine Robbe-GrilletFilmed interviews with Alain Robbe-Grillet by Frederic TaddeiExclusive, full-length audio commentaries by Tim Lucas Illustrated booklet with extended essay by David Taylor, and full film credits* subject to change
A**E
Fascinating and essential viewing of film's by one of France's most important writers
There is no questioning the importance of Alain Robbe-Grillet in 20th century French and international literary history. That having been said, the experience of viewing Robbe-Grillet's films is rather different from the experience of reading his novels. Sex comes to the fore in several of his films, particularly in Successive Slidings of Pleasure and Eden and after, but also in the others. His films are erotic in a intellectual, ritualistic way, which for some people will make them less sexy. (This was not the case with me.) I have always found The Man Who Lies less successful and involving than the others, but I guess it all comes down to personal taste.It is inevitable that one would wish to compare Robbe-Grillet's films with those made by other novelists, Marguerite Duras and Susan Sontag being prime examples. In the case of none of them would one say, "He or she should have devoted his or her life to cinema." However that does not make their films any the less intriguing. On the other hand, it could not be said that the films they made were mere diversions or ego exercises outside of the main body of their work. Duet for Cannibals (Sontag) and Destroy She Said (Duras) are very good films by any measure. And in the case of Robbe-Grillet the same can be said for The Immortal One and several of the others.All of the above having been said, if your frame of reference is Hollywood, TV, or most recent European films (with a few exceptions -- e.g., the films of Bruno Dumont), Robbe-Grillet's films are probably not for you.
A**E
another way to tell stories
I was given the tip that Robbe Grillet apart from writing novels , did his own films...& got hooked. The whole story started with "Last Year in Marienbad" , a MUST SEE & a MUST READ so far. Book was written after the film ( I only know the french version). I celebrate there is a universum beyond mainstream. Enjoy
S**D
Incredible collection, so happy to finally have these films after so many years in obscurity
The video quality is great and packaging quality is good. These have been lost gems for so long, so glad to have in my collection
P**K
I don't get it
I don't get it some people may love this mishmash but none of it makes any sense , and this is from someone who LOVES Franco, Rollin, and all that crazy European stuff but this dude doesn't make any sense whatsoever.
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