Jacques Rivette

[backstreetsbackalright]

Pretty sure the subs were part of the print. But I really couldn't say for sure.

[jguitar]

did the print at the NWfilmforum have subtitles projected onto the screen? When it was shown in Vancouver volunteers had to move the subtitles along like a slideshow through a projector. Apparently the BFI (or something like that) made the subtitles for their recent screening and then when Vancouver showed it we rented the subtitles from them. Unfortunately there were many times when no dialogue was translated and non-french speakers were left wondering what to make of these gaps in the 13 or so hours (our projector can't run at 25 frames per second so it took even longer than it should).

Benm--you're referring to Out 1: Noli me tangere (i.e., the longer one), which does not have subtitles, necessitating the seperate projection you describe. Out 1: Spectre is the "short" version which I believe is subtitled.

[benm]

sorry, my bad, I though the film forum was showing noli me tangere.

[franco]

I guess I get to hear all the snapping this Sunday. Benm and jguitar you should come too, although it's playing at a venue whose chairs won't let you sit on them for more than 1 hour.

[justeleblanc]

I guess I get to hear all the snapping this Sunday. Benm and jguitar you should come too, although it's playing at a venue whose chairs won't let you sit on them for more than 1 hour.

bring a cushion! =P -- and the snapping is only in the 13 hour version, the print I saw of SPECTRE was with a decent soundtrack (and soft titled).

[franco]

I still feel like a dork for having choosen to do my homework instead of seeing Noli me Tangere last year. Guess the opening 20 minutes really freaked me out (although not as much as the opening 5 minutes of Into Great Silence). This time my mind is more at ease, my heart more at peace, and my homework more ignorable. A cushion may be a good idea.

[cinemartin]

I think it's easy to get your thoughts swallowed up by the legend of Out 1. I think it's entirely possible for these films to be released on dvd. I have a bootleg of both Out 1's sitting on my shelf right now. A brand new 35mm print of Spectre was made. Why would someone make a new 35 print of a 4 1/2 hour 16 mm picture? That's an expensive thing to do just for kicks. These films have a limited fan base, but surely not more than some of the films I see being released on dvd. Let's face it, these are some of the most talked about films around. Everybody is intrigued by a phantom film. It's true, Out 1 is long; it is also the most rewarding cinematic experience of my life. As pessimist thinking optimistically, I have to think that counts for something.

[planetjake]

cinemartin, feel like pming me?

[sevenarts]

I admit I am somewhat glad that Rivette postponed this project, so we could see Emmanuelle Béart in one of her most adorable roles. Nevertheless, I can hardly place the whole blackmail thing into context. So the story initially involved Goddesses of suns and moons? (Mr. Ehrenstein I read your post on the first page but I appreciate your reiteration).

Totally agreed re: Beart. She's incredible (and incredibly beautiful) in this film. Her very last line makes me smile every time I watch the film -- such a perfect ending. I like this even more than her more intense performance in La Belle Noiseuse. The original film would have continued the goddesses and jewels theme from Duelle and Noirot, so I'm sure things changed significantly in the 20+ year gap. The only thing that seems to have been retained is the idea of a human/supernatural couple and the whole mystical theme in general. I can't imagine anything much better than the finished film, though, which was the first Rivette I saw and remains my favorite.

[franco]

Whew, just saw Spectre tonight. I almost thought I was going to drop dead on these lousy chairs. Initially I could remember nothing but Juliet Berto (since I got myself aroused just by looking at her), but the film has started to grow on me. I like the multi-threaded narrative, although it feels less memorable than the extended sequences in Noli me Tangere (my half hour of exposure actually meant more than I expected). Surprisingly, I look forward to seeing Spectre again, hopefully on TV, as I suspect most of my displeasure results from not knowing what's going on (like my first time watching Miami Vice).

Well Sevenarts, like you, my favorite still remains Histoire de Marie et Julien so far, although I have gone through hardly a quarter of Rivette's body of work.

So Camille's part in Va Savoir was originally meant for Emmanuelle Béart? I wonder how it would have turned out, even though I really like Jeanne Balibar's dynamic facial expressions and body gestures.

[marty]

Has anyone seen Jacques Rivette's new fil, Don't Touch the Axe? He is one of my favourite directors. His previous film, Story of Marie & Julien, was my favourite film of 2004 and is an under-rated masterpiece.

Don't Touch the Axe has only been released in France at this stage with Artificial Eye just recently picking the film up for the UK. To date, no US distributor has acquired the film but there has been some interest.

So anyone in France who has seen the film, please do tell.

[Numéro 2]

Has anyone seen Jacques Rivette's new fil, Don't Touch the Axe?

I saw this film at the Berlin Film Festival a few months ago. It was one of the absolute highlights! It's an adaptation of part of the "History of the Thirteen" (which Rivette also used as the basis for Out 1) by Balzac.

But more than an adaptation of the narrative it's – as Rivettes also said at the Berlinale – an attempt to adapt Balzac's style of writing to the cinema. I must say I was blown away by the result.

[colinr0380]

Has anyone seen Jacques Rivette's new fil, Don't Touch the Axe?

Filmbrain mentioned it on his blog a little while ago, coupled with Jirí Menzel's I Served The King Of England.

[David Ehrenstein]

Has anyone seen Jacques Rivette's new fil, Don't Touch the Axe?

Max Ophuls once planned to make a film of this Balzac nouvelle as a comeback vehicle for Garbo, but the project fell through. The Garbo screen tests that have resurfaced recently (and are available I believe on DVD) are for this Ophuls film.

[kinjitsu]

New website dedicated to Rivette.

[David Ehrenstein]

My two cents on Duelle.

[franco]

Thanks for sharing your insight and research, David. Someone on Senses of Cinema should link that article to Rivette's page.

Is the Editions Montparnasse DVD of Céline going out of print? The status on dvdfr.com says "Retiré". Perhaps I should grab the DVD for the interviews and short analysis, as I really doubt the New Yorker (when it comes out) will include these extras.

[Anonymous]

Great article on Duelle (which is my favorite Rivette and certainly one of the very greatest movies ever made). You should write more often for Senses of Cinema, David. Your excellent writing skills should be made more public.

[David Ehrenstein]

(blush)

[Michael]

Is there a DVD of Duelle out?

[Michael Kerpan]

Is there a DVD of Duelle out?

Unsubbed -- yes (as part of a set -- which also includes Noroit).

[Michael]

Is Duelle talky? Do I need to know French to follow it?

[Michael Kerpan]

Like much of Rivette, Duelle has stretches of talkiness -- and portions with little dialog. My guess is that this film is not "comprehensible" (in the normal sense) even if you understand French. FWIW, there's some English in Noroit -- recited bits of "The Revenger's Tragedy". "Merry Go Round" (not yet on DVD) has even more English -- some even used as dialog.

[Michael]

Thanks Michael. Still very tempted to order Duelle. You know, some films, like Irreversible, can get away without understanding the language. I love the look of Duelle from some of the pictures I've seen from it.

[Michael Kerpan]

The only problem with getting the Duelle/Noroit set -- FNAC.s postage charge is quite steep (if one is ordering only a single item). No one else (online) seems to be handling this set.