• RENDEZVOUS WITH RESNAIS

    Technical director Lee Kline, just back from Paris, where he worked on Last Year at Marienbad with Alain Resnais, reports:

    I was a little nervous to show Alain Resnais our new transfer of Marienbad, but I pushed hard to have him come into Scanlab, one of the very good French labs we use. It was important that this film look right on video, and I needed some guidance. As it turned out, he couldn’t have been nicer or more helpful. We watched the whole film together in HD, and he definitely wanted it to be brighter and less contrasty. Before he came in, I had been going in the other direction, since the print I viewed appeared to have a fair amount of contrast. But Resnais was clear that it should not be a very cold-looking film, and he liked going from dark to light very dramatically. The added contrast was only taking away from the needed warmth. As for the overexposed footage, we nailed that one right on the head.

    We talked about picture restoration, and he’s good with cleaning up the film as needed. For audio, though, he really wants to have a track that’s unrestored on the DVD, one closer to what people would have heard in theaters back in the sixties. He has suggested doing two tracks—one unrestored, the other restored—and letting people choose. He’s fine with putting in a card that says why there is a choice.

    He signed his name several times for me, and I have a few sheets of paper with different choices. I promised to show him everything before we put out the DVD, so he really knew what he was approving! He would like a DVD of the movie to see the final grading.

    Resnais is a very dapper man—he was dressed in a bright red shirt, dark tie, and what appeared to be a long Moncler puffy overcoat. His English is great, and he’s looking forward to the interview next week. He purchased many Criterion laserdiscs back in the day and hated VHS. Earlier I happened to be working in the same room on In the Realm of the Senses—a slightly awkward film to be color correcting. Resnais saw a few minutes of it, and I jokingly told him, “I hope we haven’t made the organs too magenta.” He just smiled.

16 comments

  • By Pete
    December 12, 2008
    06:34 PM

    This is the happiest news in a long time! This title is long overdue, and I can hardly wait to see what extra features you include. Any forecast on when it is likely to be released? Many thanks for adding LY@M to the Collection.
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  • By Sam
    December 12, 2008
    07:52 PM

    Please, please, please release it on Blu-ray as well as on SD DVD!
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  • By Peter Rinaldi
    December 12, 2008
    09:00 PM

    I think including both the unrestored and restored tracks is an EXCEPTIONAL IDEA!!!!!! I would suggest considering that with most of the older films. Very exciting. I am actually not a hugh fan of this film, but i think i just might purchase it because of that feature!
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  • By Eric
    December 12, 2008
    11:53 PM

    What a cool idea. Though, given his interest in memory, nostalgia, and cinema of the past, are we surprised he wants both audio tracks?
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  • By David
    December 13, 2008
    12:46 AM

    Before I even finished reading this I started looking for Moncler coats! I can't wait for Marienbad to be released. So glad Renais is still around, I wish him a very very long life. Unexpected happiness came when I saw IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES...!!!
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  • By Adam
    December 13, 2008
    09:55 PM

    Good news on 'Marienbad', it's needed Criterion treatment for ages, though I'm less excited about 'Senses'; it's Oshima's most famous film in the west, but I always hoped Criterion would start with something like "Night and Fog in Japan", "Death by Hanging", or the masterpiece "Cruel Story of Youth", the classic New Wave films, than the pornographic "In the Realm of the Senses".
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  • By Josh
    December 14, 2008
    03:17 AM

    Man... I would kill to meet Alain Resnais
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  • By nicholas
    December 15, 2008
    05:23 AM

    Yeah awesome stuff with this Last Year in Marienbad release. Really great film that I would love to see some interviews/essays with.
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  • By CD.
    December 15, 2008
    06:09 PM

    I really hope that the MARIENBAD package includes TOUTE LA MEMOIRE DU MONDE.....!
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  • By Alexander Frost
    December 15, 2008
    07:43 PM

    This is absolutely marvelous! I haven't seen this film in a long time and I am very anxious to see it again especially with the Criterion treatment!
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  • By Collin Kelley
    December 15, 2008
    10:45 PM

    Oh, my god you just made my year! I've been wanting Last Year at Marienbad on Criterion for years and now it's coming! Yes, yes, yes!
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  • By Brian
    December 16, 2008
    06:17 AM

    *continues the acclaim for Resnais* pack this with as much SE-material as you can.
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  • By Bruce
    December 16, 2008
    11:29 AM

    Now Criterion needs to address releasing "Je t'aime, Je t'aime" which is currently only available from France without English subtitles.
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  • By Matt
    February 07, 2009
    06:58 AM

    Blu Ray please.
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  • By stuart
    February 11, 2009
    06:23 PM

    When's this disc finally going to see release? This article was posted two months ago, and Marienbad isn't even listed in the films slated for release in April. This offering has become such a "carrot on a stick", just change the name to "NEXT Year In Marienbad".
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  • By Tony Williams
    September 07, 2009
    03:34 AM

    I was very fortunate to sit in on the shooting of Je t'aime Je t'aime - I was studying film at the time. Resnais graciously allowed me on set , introducing me to cast and crew and also into the cutting room. A very charming man. He made me play a background waiter in a few restaurant scenes. I was able to tell him I had seen Hiroshima Mon Amour 16 times and it was my inspiration for film making. Please release Je t'aime Je t'aime on DVD with english subtitles!!!! Tony
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