186-188 Histoire(s) du cinéma and other works

[Finch]

Made over ten years at the end of cinema’s first century, Jean-Luc Godard’s roving, essayistic video project is a multilayered celebration of the art form’s achievements, as well as a raging condemnation of its failure to respond and engage with turbulent times. Melding together film clips, newsreel footage, painting, music, as well as Godard’s own narration in a transfixing collage, Histoire(s) du cinéma is a passionate cri de coeur by a cinema icon entering a galvanising late period, of which many other works are included in this release. Marked by searching introspection and bold experimentation, these film and video projects evince a creative spirit continuously engaged with the question of cinema’s place in the world, and the world’s place within cinema – not least in Godard’s moving final film, Scénarios (2024), making here its world Blu-ray premiere.

BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION BOX SET SPECIAL FEATURES

All 8 episodes of Histoire(s) du cinéma, viewable with two optional English subtitle tracks: a narration translation, and annotated subtitles by Felicity Chaplin identifying clips and images
Lettre à Freddy Buache - Godard's anti-film commissioned for the 500th anniversary of the Swiss city of Lausanne (1982)
Soft and Hard [Soft Conversation on Hard Subjects] - creative partners Godard and Miéville discuss their work while involved in everyday tasks around their home (co-directed with Anne-Marie Miéville, 1985, 52 mins)
JLG/JLG, autoportrait de décembre - Godard’s self-portrait documentary finds the filmmaker questioning his place in cinema history and the end of Western culture (1995)
2 x 50 Years of French Cinema - in his documentary in celebration of the centenary of cinema, Godard points the camera at himself (co-directed with Anne-Marie Miéville, 1995)
Moments choisis des histoire(s) du cinéma - Godard’s re-edit of Histoire(s) du cinéma on 35mm film reorganises footage and includes unique material (2004)
Exposé du film annonce du film “Scénarios” - Jean-Luc Godard presents his idea for a 6-chapter feature film (2024)
Scenarios - Godard’s final work (2024)
New introduction by Godard expert Michael Witt (2025)
New interview with Michael Witt on Godard’s magnum opus (2025)
New interview with Godard collaborator Bernard Eisenschitz on the director’s working methods (2025)
Extensive archival TV interview with Godard on French programme Bouillon de culture (1993)
Limited edition booklet featuring new essays by film writers Sophia Satchell Baeza and Jawni Han, and an essay by Adrian Martin
Limited Edition of 5000 copies, presented in a rigid box with full-height Scanavo cases and removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings

[TMDaines]

Wow. What an great announcement.

[nicolas]

Phenomenal news!

[andyli]

The original TV format w/ annotation, the '04 recut, plus a wide array of late works, some never before on English-friendly release. It's so much more than Histoire(s) du cinéma that the title is almost misleading.

[domino harvey]

JLG/JLG is one of his best, great addition! This is obv a great looking set but I’m disappointed that they didn’t figure out a solution to simultaneous subtitles for the narration AND the IDs

[nowhereisaplace]

This is great, and while in the grand scheme of things, only a small sampling of the work he produced during the creation of that phenomenal series (and with some of these works, before and after the series as well), these works are all concerned with similar themes and ideas, so the package should be a very consistent one, thematically speaking. Although I am ashamed to say I haven’t caught up with the latest works included here yet, so that will be a bonus for me of picking this set up. So far, this is the release of the year for me. Incredible.

[denti alligator]

JLG/JLG is one of his best, great addition! This is obv a great looking set but I’m disappointed that they didn’t figure out a solution to simultaneous subtitles for the narration AND the IDs

The description sounds to me like they are available together, no?

[Red Screamer]

Good thing we voted Radiance label of the year! Soft and Hard? Eisenschitz? I’m tempted to buy a copy for everyone I know.

[Peacock]

What a missed opportunity- it seriously doesn’t include the anime version or the black and white version?



But really this is amazing, Radiance have really gone all out by including all the other films! And I can’t wait for the two different options of subtitles.

Thank you Fran!!!

[domino harvey]

JLG/JLG is one of his best, great addition! This is obv a great looking set but I’m disappointed that they didn’t figure out a solution to simultaneous subtitles for the narration AND the IDs

The description sounds to me like they are available together, no?

I don’t read it that way, though I hope you are correct

[Peacock]

Ditto what Dom said.

The ideal would be three options of subs to avoid this. But if not then two but they would be - 1: narration subs, 2: narration + annotation subs.

Let’s see!

[JSC]

What a great set, really excited! I never thought we'd get JLG/JLG and Soft and Hard on blu-ray
before Made in USA and Les carabiniers. Looking forward to it.

[malachi_lui]

I already have the Olive DVD of Histoire(s) but this set will be absolutely essential. Not sure how much of a visual upgrade the main feature will be since it’s analogue video, though the real highlights are the ‘extras’ here, JLG/JLG especially. So excited to finally have that coming to English-friendly Blu-ray.

Now if only we could get Nouvelle Vague and Germany Year 90 Nine Zero next…

[Noiretirc]

Region B.

I feel ill.

[nowhereisaplace]

I also really like the simplicity of the cover design, it reminds me of the old Gaumont original box for Histoire(s) a little bit.

[Zot!]

Oooh lovely in every concievable way. I hope they have the aforementioned subtitle mixes, but I thought the concern was that if you put everything on screen at once it will just be a wall of text? Either way, I will trust the process.

Region B.

I feel ill.

I know it has been stated a million times over, but a region-b player is a must have. However I wonder, does anyone know if this is 25fps?

[JSC]

Region B.

I feel ill.

Get well... go to 220 Electronics and buy a region free blu-ray player. At this point many
are equivalent in price to region-locked players and 220 is very user friendly. They tell you
exactly how the various players work. I've been buying from them for twenty years and
its never been an issue.

[therewillbeblus]

This is obviously an incredible announcement, especially the inclusion of JLG/JLG and contribution from Adrian Martin

Regarding region-free players, it's so worth paying some extra money to be able to access all these releases. It's a life-changing decision, just do it

[Peacock]

Radiance are greedy; they weren’t content with being Label of the Year 2025… Looking like another great year for them so far!

And yeah it’s 2026, you can buy a cheap region free player for the price of a couple of Criterion’s.

[Noiretirc]

(I don't want to derail, but my previous attempts to get said player were much easier said than done. There were..."technical problems", according to the people at Best Buy and elsewhere. But...I'll try again!)

[FrauBlucher]

Order from these guys https://www.220-electronics.com/collect ... lu-ray-dvd

[Oedipax]

Life-affirming announcement, this set!

Does anyone know if JLG/JLG has been given a fresh HD scan? If memory serves, the other 80s/90s works (Freddy Buache, Soft and Hard, 2 x 50) are all shot on standard def video.

There was a 720p web release some years back of JLG/JLG with incorrect (far too warm warm) colors that you can see here, so hopefully that pitfall is avoided.

Wild to think I'll end up owning three different releases of HdC between Artificial Eye, Madman, and now Radiance.

[Aunt Peg]

Wild to think I'll end up owning three different releases of HdC between Artificial Eye, Madman, and now Radiance.

There was some difference between the Artificial Eye & Madman release. Can you recall what that was?

[domino harvey]

Madman had new subs by Adrian Martin and Felicity Chapman, who’s solely credited here, plus a Martin intro

[Aunt Peg]

Madman had new subs by Adrian Martin and Felicity Chapman, who’s solely credited here, plus a Martin intro

Thanks.

Have already placed an order for the Godard so that is interesting to know the difference. The extras on this a spectacular to say the least.