(aka 'Le Graal" or "The Grail" or "Lancelot of the Lake" or "Lancillotto e Ginevra")

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/direct-chair/bresson.htm
France / Italy 1975

Elliptical narrative is also a typical Bressonian approach, but it does seems particularly pronounced in Lancelot, perhaps because Bresson assumed the legend of King Arthur was widely known. Bresson also elides much of the heroism, action, violence, and grandiose milieu of the traditional tale, fashioning an epic story as a restricted, modest film, with weary characters fighting to maintain their chivalric ideals despite the pressing desires of their hearts at the end of an age.

Bresson was always highly-attuned to the rhythm of his films and many commentators have stressed Lancelot's visual and aural patterns in particular, suggesting it was Bresson's way of adapting the poetic source material. Lindley Hanlon's detailed analysis of rhythm in Fragments: Bresson's Film Style (1986) goes so far as to consider passages of the film's dialogue through their parataxis (juxtaposition of phrases), dovetailing (shared words), and meter (spoken rhythm). As Hanlon explains, an element such as dovetailng, when used consistently, intensifies the film's themes.

From Doug Cummings article on Masters of Cinema located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: September 26th, 1974 - France

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DVD Comparison:

New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL

(New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL RIGHT)

DVD Box Cover

 

Distribution New Yorker - Region 1- NTSC Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL
Runtime 1:20:18  1:20:24 (4% PAL speedup) 
Video 1.66:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 6.4 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s		 1.66:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.47 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:

NY'er

Bitrate:

Artificial Eye

Audio French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
Subtitles English, None English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: New Yorker Video

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.66:1

Edition Details:
• Theatrical trailers

DVD Release Date: May 25, 2004
Keep Case
Chapters: 15

Release Information:
Studio: Artificial Eye

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.66:1

Edition Details:
• Bresson Filmography (text screen)

DVD Release Date: April 28th, 2008
Keep Case
Chapters: 10

Comments:

ADDITION: Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL April 08':  Although also single-layered the new, progressive AE towers above the region 1 NY'er in terms of image for the vast number of deficiencies in the NTSC disc. These include being sourced from an unconverted PAL source (as the times indicate) - it hence has 'ghosting' and 'combing' (interlaced) - is hazier - has faded colors and is cropped on the right edge. Both offer original audio and optional English subtitles but beyond a trailer for the NY'er and a text bio for the Artificial Eye - there are no supplements.

Almost 4 years seems like quite a wait to obtain this particular Bresson title on DVD in an acceptable and improved transfer and the lack of extras is a disappointment. Perhaps one day our patience will be rewarded with a commentary or the like but for now the Artificial Eye is the definitive digital presentation for this film - a dominant improvement over the New Yorker.

NOTE: Also coming this same day from AE in the UK are A Man Escaped (Robert Bresson, 1956) with some extras and the directors 1977 film; The Devil, Probably (reviewed HERE).

****

ON THE NY'ER: I concur with my friends at Masters of Cinema regarding this New Yorker release. Our bitrate indicates that it is "analog-sourced" (taken from none HD-tape) and has prevalent ghosting. MoC has determined that it is cropped on all edges. The colors are dull and the image is extremely dark. On the positive the subtitles are well done and the audio is clear, but there are no Extras. Not as many Bresson fans had highly anticipated. out of

Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

(New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL RIGHT)

 

Subtitle Sample

 

(New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL BOTTOM)

 

 

 

Screen Captures

 

(New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL BOTTOM)

 

 

 

(New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL BOTTOM)

 

 

(New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL BOTTOM)

 

 

(New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL BOTTOM)

 

 

(New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL BOTTOM)

 

 

(New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL BOTTOM)
 

 

(New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL BOTTOM)
 

 

Recommended Reading for Robert Bresson fans (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)

 

 

Check out more in "The Library"

 
DVD Box Cover

 

Distribution New Yorker - Region 1- NTSC Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL



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