The Story of Adele H.
Blu-ray Company: Twilight Time
Starring: Isabelle Adjani, Bruce Robinson, Sylvia Marriott,
Joseph Blatchley
Plot: Product Description: The Story of Adèle H (L’Histoire d’Adèle H., 1975) is
the sublime François Truffaut’s frighteningly intense look at amour fou: the
obsessive love that drives a woman to destruction. The woman is Adèle Hugo, the talented and
privileged daughter of the most celebrated author in Europe; the object of her
affection is a n’er-do-well English soldier, one Lieutenant Pinson. Based on fact, this
titanically poetic film follows the infatuated Adèle as she trails Pinson from
one end of the earth to the other, descending into madness and living on the
fire of her passion.
My Review and Thoughts:
The Film: 5/5
Directed by the master of French filmmaking, Francois
Truffaut. What can be said about this master of film that has not already been said?
If one mentions great directors, he has to be on the list. He is a passionate
director that gave the world, a touch of meaning in his films. The Story of
Adele H is no different when it comes to amazing cinema.
This is truly a deep, grand, and utterly absorbing, dramatic
film. It digs deep into you, and controls your emotions as you watch.
Surprisingly this is my first time seeing this film, and I am blown away, by
its dark beauty and intense emotional structure. This is a journey of love at
its finest, yet at its darkest. For if one loves someone, and that someone does
not love back, then the story takes on a mind of its own. This weaves mastery
in acting, direction and music. The whole film comes across as a living
reality, that the viewer can’t help understand, or most of all, fit directly
into the story. I was inserted into the whole picture. The film is able to grab
you emotionally. I am shocked, I have never seen this one. It’s a film that in
my viewpoint, comes across as being in a world of its own. A one of a kind
experience that only Truffaut could do. Truffaut accomplished so much with this
vision.
Twilight Time has done another wonderful and breathtaking
job at bringing another forgotten masterpiece to Blu-ray. The film deserves to
be seen in the highest quality, and Twilight Time has done that. This is
another prime example of how to treat a film that is important. Twilight Time
really never lets me down, and it never lets the movie world down. Twilight
Time, through many of their features, bring thoughtful pieces of film to
Blu-ray for the first time, and The Story of Adele H is one of those films.
They have honored and given great respect to this film. If Truffaut was alive,
he would be proud of this Blu-ray and the beauty given to it by Twilight Time.
This is a mix of genera’s. It is equal parts historical
drama, and also a mix of romantic situations, wrapped around a biography
setting. This was nominated for many awards including the Academy Award for
Best Actress, Isabelle Adjani. Adjani captures the part of Hugo in the reality
of a flawless performance. You cannot say enough about her performance, for it
is one of the defining performances in all of cinema. At the time, which is an
amazing accomplishment, she was the youngest actress to have ever been
nominated for Best Actress. The movie is the story of the real life, Adele
Hugo. Daughter of a one of a kind, mastery in writing, Victor Hugo. Adele falls
madly in love with a military officer named Pinson, played, also flawlessly by
Bruce Robinson. The movie is based on Adele’s diaries. Adele was in total
obsession for her love, yet that love would ultimately be her down fall, and
destruction. Adele had a passion for love, romance, and one single man. Adjani
brings that love affair and ultimate obsession to reality on screen, and is
able to create a performance that digs deep into your soul and mind, as you
watch.
As I have stated this also stars Bruce Robinson. Robinson is
a jack of all trades. Director, screenwriter and published author. He is an actor
that sadly never really got the push he deserved. He is an amazing performer,
and the part of Pinson is a defining example of that mastery. It’s his work
behind the camera, or with a pen, that many will know him from. He wrote the
screenplay for the 1984 classic, The Killing Fields, which he was nominated for
an Oscar. Cult film fans, will know him from directing and writing, the cult
film, Withnail and I, which came out in 1987. This movie was about his life and
structured in a black comedy way. Most recently, it would be his screenplay
adaption and directing of, Hunter S. Thompson’s The Rum Diary that people would
recognize, which starred Johnny Depp.
Now I have always been a huge fan of Isabelle Adjani. The
reason way, is not only for her amazing acting, but it is because, she stared
in one of my favorite dark horror films of all time. The deep and twisted 1981
masterpiece, Andrzej Zulawski’s Possession, which I wish someone would bring
out on special edition Blu-ray, (hey Twilight Time, Hint Hint). Adjani won best
actress at the Cannes Film Festival for the role in Possession. In all her
films including, The Story of Adele H, Adjani is able to craft a deeper, darker
and emotional ordeal through her performances, that I don’t think, anyone can
do, accept her. On a side note and a little trivia for all you movie lovers
reading this, she and actor Daniel Day Lewis had a relationship, and had a son
together named, Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis, who is a hip-hop performer. The Story
of Adele H, not only captures that excellence in performances, it also leaves
one of the greatest impressions upon the watcher.
Now a movie can’t be excellent without the mastery of a
perfect director. After seeing this for the first time, it only makes me
realize all the more, in how amazing and important Francois Truffaut was to
film. We lost this master at such a young age. 52 years young. I can only
imagine, all the craftsmanship that he would have brought to the filmmaking
world, if he would have lived. Not only a master director, but a master writer.
He was able to bring so much heart and soul to his films. The Story of Adele H
is that prime example. Francois directed some of my favorite films, such as the
masterpiece, 1959’s The 400 Blows, The Bride Wore Black which Twilight Time has
also released on a Special Edition Blu-ray, which you can read my review here
for it: CLICK TO READ REVIEW .He also did the film adaption of Ray Bradbury’s
Fahrenheit 451. He was one of the best and brightest French Filmmakers in
cinema history.
The Story of Adele H is a film that should be seen and
respected as being one of the great French Films or films period. Now you can
enjoy this wonderful film on this beautiful stunning product. An amazing
transfer onto Blu-ray by Twilight Time. This special edition 3,000 Unit Disc,
is highly recommended by A Bucket of Corn and should be experienced. A flawless
video and audio experience.
Audio/Video: 5/5
Audio: French and English 1.0 DTS HD-MA. Subtitles English
SDH.
Video: 1080P High Definition 1.66:1
There is no fault in this department. The audio and video is
spectacular. The imagery, even with the film’s darker toned, or bleaker
atmosphere, the film is vibrant and crystal clear. As I have stated, I have
never seen this before, so I have nothing to compare it to, but what I can see
by this Blu-ray presentation, it could not be any better. The audio is the same.
The music and effects and dialogue are all clear.
Extras: 3/5
You get the amazing isolated score, which many of the
Twilight Time Blu-ray’s come with. That music score is lovingly composed by a
true treat to anyone’s listening ability, Maurice Jaubert. Sadly Jaubert would
never get to see his work respected by director and visionary Truffaut. Jaubert
died at the young age of 40. Truffaut would use the mastery of Jaubert in many
of his films. All one has to do is listen to the music and realize how amazing
Jaubert was.
You also get a fantastic audio commentary by film historians
Julia Kirgo and Nick Redman. This is in reality, one of my favorite audio
commentaries. I love listening to the expertise and knowledgeable understanding
of these two. Both are very important to the world of movies. I think both of
them are two people that respect film and understand film and cherish film,
like so many do, including me. It’s always a treat to hear both of them, and
this is no different.
Original Trailer
MGM 90 Years Trailer
And as always the amazing little booklet that comes with
Twilight Time Blu-rays. Loved this as always from Julia Kirgo.
Also this is limited like always to 3,000 units of
production.
Overall:
A must see film. An important film of mastery. Some of the
best acting ever. Isabelle Adjani is breathtaking in this part. The direction
is flawless. This is a blu-ray of perfection in audio and video and transfer. I
highly recommend this for any lover of cinema. This is one of those films, now
after seeing it for the first time, I consider it, a film that is required
viewing, of those considering themselves, film lovers.
INFO:
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