( aka, 'Hell', 'Jealousy' , 'Torment' )

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/direct-chair/chabrol.htm
France 1994

This little-seen French number's title translates as "Torment." Or more to the point, "Hell." In other words, not your typical get-cozy-and-snuggle-up-by-the-fire-with-a-loved-one art flick. But as the film opens, everything is as happy as could be. Nelly (Beart) and Paul (Cluzet) are young hoteliers with a gorgeous country estate. Paul is the consummate host and concierge, while Nelly's stunning beauty and playful friendliness are worth the trip alone. But there lies the problem; it starts with a smile that lingers too long, a lost keepsake, or a few unaccounted-for hours... and pretty soon Paul is convinced that his wife is up to no good. By the time the picture ends, Paul has become hysterically possessive, and L'Enfer's cryptically French ending will make you glad you can rewind a few times to catch the nuance. The lead roles could not have been cast better, and Beart does better work here than in anything else I've seen. As a thriller, L'Enfer is a solid film. As a character study of the horrific way jealousy can ravage a man's soul, L'Enfer is not to be missed.

Excerpt of Christopher Null's review at the Film Vault at the Austin Chronicle located HERE

Poster and Lobby Cards (Click to enlarge)

Theatrical Release: February 16th, 1984

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DVD Comparison

Second Sight (UK) Region 0 - PAL vs. Fox Lorber Region 0 - NTSC vs. MK2 Region 2 - PAL

MK2 screenshots courtesy by Ashirg

(Second Sight Region 0 - PAL - LEFT vs. Fox/Lorber Region 0 MIDDLE vs  MK2 - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers

  

   

  

 

Distribution

Second Sight
Region 2 - PAL 

16X9 enhanced

 Fox/Lorber
Region 0 encoded NTSC

MK2
Region 2 - PAL 

16X9 enhanced

Runtime 1:38:00(4% PAL speedup ) 1:40:39  1:37:57 (4% PAL speedup )
Video Widescreen  - 1.60:1
Average Bitrate: 6.88 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s		 Widescreen - 1.56:1 
Average Bitrate: 5.80 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s		 Widescreen  - 1.60:1
Average Bitrate: 5.52 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 R0

Second Sight

 
Bitrate R0

Fox Lorber

Bitrate R2

MK2:

Audio French (Dolby Digital 2.0) French (Dolby Digital 2.0)

French (Dolby Digital 2.0)

Subtitles English and None Burned in white English subtitles English and None
Features Release Information:
Studio: MK2

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen - 1.60:1 The image is anamorphic.

Discographic Information:
DVD Encoding: Region 2 - PAL
Layers: Dual

Bonus :

  • Presentation of film by Joel Magny (about it over the stills from the film) (3:07)
  • Chabrol gives a commentary for three key scesn in the film (37:54)
  • Discussion with Claude Chabrol ("talking head" interview with Chabrol about Cluzot) (11:15)

NOTE: English subs are on EXTRAS.  

Release Information:
Studio: Fox Lorber

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterbox 1.56:1

Discographic Information:
DVD Encoding: All Regions - NTSC
Layers: Single

Edition Details:
• All Regions
• Color, Widescreen
• Theatrical trailer - widescreen non-anamorphic 1:27
• Production credits (static screens )
• Awards (static screens )
• Widescreen letterbox format

 
Release Information:
Studio: MK2

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen - 1.60:1 The image is anamorphic.

Discographic Information:
DVD Encoding: Region 2 - PAL
Layers: Dual

Bonus :

  • Presentation of film by Joel Magny (about it over the stills from the film) (3:07)
  • Discussion with Claude Chabrol ("talking head" interview with Chabrol about Cluzot) (11:15)

Also short trailers to other DVD releases by mk2

  • Trailers of films of Claude Chabrol (11 trailers for films released by mk2)
  • The lesson of cinema of Claude Chabrol (Chabrol watches and comments 3 scenes from the film) (10:52, 12:50, 14:07)

NOTE: No English subs on EXTRAS.  

DVD Release Date:  July 7th, 2003
Keep Case
Chapters: 16 		DVD Release Date: June 10, 1998
Keep Case
Chapters: 28		 DVD Release Date:  October 16th, 2002
Snap Case
Chapters: 32
Comments: The Fox/Lorber transfer is very poor, but it is occasionally sharper with noticeable grain. The colors are way off on one of these DVD and I would guess it is with Fox. The Mk2 and Second Sight are the same transfer. There is artifacting (digital pixilation) issues on both discs and surprising for a film only 8 years old. I assume that somewhere out there is a very tight print of this fine film. The ratio of these discs is not the same. My guess would be that the MK2/Second Sight is slightly off as the characters look a little elongated to me. Neither version is worth recommending as is, but I you want to buy now, then the Second Sight with the subtitled Extras is your choice. The Extras on the MK2 are a bit more extensive, but don't have English sub-titles.  The Second Sight is the definitive version available at present.

   Gary W. Tooze

 

The Claude Chabrol Collection from MK2 includes the following five films: Betty, L'Enfer, Poulet, au vinaigre, Inspecteur Lavardin and Masques. They have all English subtitles on the main feature, but not on the extra material.



DVD Menus

 (Second Sight Region 0 - LEFT vs. Fox/Lorber Region 0 MIDDLE vs  MK2 - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

 

 

 

(Second Sight Region 0 PAL - TOP vs. Fox/Lorber Region 0 MIDDLE vs  MK2 - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

(Second Sight Region 0 PAL - TOP vs. Fox/Lorber Region 0 MIDDLE vs  MK2 - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

(Second Sight Region 0 PAL - TOP vs. Fox/Lorber Region 0 MIDDLE vs  MK2 - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

(Second Sight Region 0 PAL - TOP vs. Fox/Lorber Region 0 MIDDLE vs  MK2 - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

Report Card:

Image:

Second Sight /MK2 (tie)

Sound:

 -
Extras: Second Sight
Menu: Second Sight

 

Recommended Reading in French Cinema (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)

The Films in My Life
by Francois Truffaut, Leonard Mayhew

French Cinema: A Student's Guide
by Philip Powrie, Keith Reader 		Agnes Varda by Alison Smith Godard on Godard : Critical Writings by Jean-Luc Godard Claude Chabrol (French Film Directors)
by Guy Austin		 Robert Bresson (Cinematheque Ontario Monographs, No. 2)
by James Quandt		 The Art of Cinema by Jean Cocteau French New Wave
by Jean Douchet, Robert Bonnono, Cedric Anger, Robert Bononno 		French Cinema: From Its Beginnings to the Present
by Remi Fournier Lanzoni

Check out more in "The Library"

The Claude Chabrol Collection from MK2 includes the following five films: Betty, L'Enfer, Poulet, au vinaigre, Inspecteur Lavardin and Masques. They have all English subtitles on the main feature, but not on the extra material.
DVD Box Covers

  

   

  

 




 

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