Blanche (DVD & BLU-RAY)

Blanche (DVD ; BLU-RAY)

DESCRIPTION:

One of the greatest of all medieval films, not least for its utterly distinctive realisation of a recognisable yet alien World Cinema, Walerian Borowczyk's third feature was widely hailed as a masterpiece from the moment it first appeared and is still regarded as one of his greatest films.

Based on Juliusz S?owacki's 19th-century play Mazepa but relocated to 13th-century France, Blanche tells the story of the beautiful young wife (Ligia Branice) of a nobleman many decades older (French acting legend Michel Simon). As innocent as her name suggests, Blanche becomes the unwilling centre of attention in a power struggle between her husband, the visiting King and his page, the latter a notorious womaniser. Its unique visual style resembles a medieval fresco, and its period-instruments soundtrack, adapting the ancient Carmina Burana'song book, was years ahead of its time.

Blanche is presented in a brand new high-definition restoration from original 35mm elements.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS:

• New high definition digital transfers of the feature and the shorts
• Uncompressed Mono 2.0 PCM Audio
• Optional English subtitles where necessary
• Introduction by Schalcken the Painter director Leslie Megahey
• Ballad of Imprisonment, a documentary about the film featuring producer Dominique Duverg-Sgrtin, assistant director Andr Heinrich, camera operator Nol Vry and assistant Patrice Leconte
• Obscure Pleasures: A Portrait of Walerian Borowczyk, a newly edited archival interview in which Borowczyk discusses painting, cinema and sex
• Gunpoint, a documentary short by Peter Graham produced and edited by Borowczyk
• Reversible sleeve featuring original poster designs

DETAILS:
Region: TBC
Rating: 18
Cat No: FCD954
Duration: 93 mins
Language: French
Subtitles: English
Aspect Ratio: TBC
Audio: TBC
Colour: Colour