Godard on DVD and Blu-ray

Discuss internationally-released DVDs, Blu-rays, and UHDs and related topics
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diamonds
Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2016 6:35 pm

Re: Godard on DVD and Blu-ray

#501 Post by diamonds »

Earlier this year there was a great interview published with subtitler Andrew Litvack about working with a few French directors to subtitle their films, including Claire Denis, Olivier Assayas, and Godard. The Godard anecdote is pretty amusing, and Litvack does say that Godard "always wanted to subtitle as little as possible."
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barbarella satyricon
Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2019 11:45 am

Re: Godard on DVD and Blu-ray

#502 Post by barbarella satyricon »

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Last edited by barbarella satyricon on Fri Sep 12, 2025 4:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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domino harvey
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Re: Godard on DVD and Blu-ray

#503 Post by domino harvey »

It's a well known idiosyncrasy of subtitling Godard films that usually non-French speakers actually end up understanding way more than native speakers because subtitlers will translate inaudible or intentionally obfuscated dialogue that otherwise would be unheard/unclear
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hearthesilence
Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2005 8:22 am
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Re: Godard on DVD and Blu-ray

#504 Post by hearthesilence »

diamonds wrote: Wed Dec 30, 2020 7:40 pm Earlier this year there was a great interview published with subtitler Andrew Litvack about working with a few French directors to subtitle their films, including Claire Denis, Olivier Assayas, and Godard. The Godard anecdote is pretty amusing, and Litvack does say that Godard "always wanted to subtitle as little as possible."
That interview is essential reading for anyone who's green about subtitling - it covers all the basics.

FWIW, Litvack was one of the main figures (really the main figure) interviewed back in 2014 for this NY Times story on subtitling.
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therewillbeblus
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 7:40 pm

Re: Godard on DVD and Blu-ray

#505 Post by therewillbeblus »

I know this has been discussed, but I'm struggling to find a concrete answer nonetheless- what is the optimal blu-ray to buy for One Plus One, the abkco U.S. or the French?
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EddieLarkin
Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2012 2:25 pm

Re: Godard on DVD and Blu-ray

#506 Post by EddieLarkin »

The abkco has a much improved transfer over other editions, and is in 1.66:1, which is surely the proper ratio considering much of the film is hardmatted to that ratio (the French is 1.37:1 but then switches to a boxed 1.66:1, showing the mattes top and bottom).
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domino harvey
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Re: Godard on DVD and Blu-ray

#507 Post by domino harvey »

The abkco is great and has a lovely commentary. I was a hardliner on the 1.33 before seeing its 1.66 transfer and I concur that it looks to be the OAR based on the hard matting of the intertitles
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therewillbeblus
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 7:40 pm

Re: Godard on DVD and Blu-ray

#508 Post by therewillbeblus »

Thanks guys!
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therewillbeblus
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 7:40 pm

Re: Godard on DVD and Blu-ray

#509 Post by therewillbeblus »

For some reason, the abkco blu shows up on my player as a BD-R but appears pressed. Anyways, Sterritt's commentary is terrific and expresses a lot of complex ideas in a very digestible manner- one of the best Godard commentaries I've heard. As an aside, I want to hear more about why Sterritt thinks Weekend is Godard's take on "film noir" (unless this is limited to the nefarious plot by the central couple in the fringes)
Calvin
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2011 3:12 pm

Re: Godard on DVD and Blu-ray

#510 Post by Calvin »

I asked Gaumont if there was any possibility of getting Passion or JLG/JLG on Blu-Ray and, while not answering specifically, they do have a "big wave" of Godard releases planned for this coming Winter.
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The Fanciful Norwegian
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 6:24 pm
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Re: Godard on DVD and Blu-ray

#511 Post by The Fanciful Norwegian »

It's kind of odd they haven't released those already, given that they licensed Japanese releases years ago and apparently supplied the masters. They also licensed a Japanese set of the early Sonimage films (Ici et ailleurs, Numéro deux, Comment ça va?), but Numéro deux has some blurring applied to the nudity.
Calvin
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2011 3:12 pm

Re: Godard on DVD and Blu-ray

#512 Post by Calvin »

Gaumont have yet to release Every Man for Himself and Hail Mary themselves either but they've been on Blu-Ray in the US for years. So I'm hoping that they're not just going to release titles that already have English-friendly HD releases
Calvin
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2011 3:12 pm

Re: Godard on DVD and Blu-ray

#513 Post by Calvin »

It's the hope that kills - Gaumont will be releasing Every Man for Himself, Soigne ta droite and Tout va bien on Blu-Ray on February 8th alongside DVD-only reissues for JLG/JLG, Hail Mary, For Ever Mozart, and Moments choisis des histoire(s) du cinéma.

Soigne ta droite will include Lettre à Freddy Buache and Meetin' WA as extras.
Lanerlan
Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2026 1:51 am

Re: Godard on DVD and Blu-ray

#514 Post by Lanerlan »

There's a new R2 blu-ray coming up with:

All episodes of Histoire(s) du dinema, with both regular and annotated subtitle tracks
Moments Choisis, the 2004 compilation of Histoire(s)
Lettre a Freddy Buache
Soft Conversation on Hard Subjects
JLG/JLG, autoportrait de decembre
2 x 50 Years of French Cinema
Expose du film annonce du film Scenario
Scenarios

As well as extras.

I don't know if a standard edition will come out later, the one up for pre-order is limited.
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MichaelB
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:20 pm
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Godard on DVD and Blu-ray

#515 Post by MichaelB »

This release has had its own dedicated thread since the day of the original announcement.
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