Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3515 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-05-23
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Black & White, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: French
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 94 minutes

Synopsis
In Alain Resnais's masterwork, L'ANNEE DERNIERE A MARIENBAD, each fantasy laden, heavily dramatised, aesthetically perfected scene is dictated by the memories of a man (Giorgio Albertazzi), who is one of many elegant, aristocratic guests vacationing at the enchanting resort, Marienbad. Because the story consists of foggy memories that may or may not be accurate, the film unrolls like a repetitious dream. In the opening sequences, the man describes the immensity and silence of the lavishly decorated baroque hotel as the camera roams its empty hallways. Soon after, the hotel guests appear, assembled for a theatre production inside the hotel. Like the actors in the play, the characters in the film make it obvious that they are also playing established roles and reciting lines. Sometimes they simply pose as the camera passes over them, while at other times, they stand like statues, trying to remember what happened last year. They amuse themselves with parlour games, ballroom waltzes, target practice in the shooting gallery, and strolls through the garden. Meanwhile, the man establishes the abstract plot about a love affair he began last year with a woman (Delphine Seyrig), reconstructed from his partial memories. She remembers nothing of the affair, not even the man's name. In fact, most of the guests cannot even recall the year in which these things might have happened--was it 1928 or 29

Customer Reviews

Subtitles in image area disrupt viewing.
A excellent film except for the English subtitles in the image area which disrupt the viewing experience. These cannot be defeated. I note that there is a French version without sub titles available on the Amazon web site in France and perhaps this should be listed on the UK site as long as it is made clear that there is no translation of the French dialogue. I am more interested in the photography for instance.
There used to be a version with subtitles under the image area, and many years ago I did tape this on SVHS from a TV showing, but unfotunately have since recorded over the tape.

A jewel of a masterpiece
This symbollic film can be tough to watch and difficult to like, but over the decades it has become one of my favourites. You have to like cinema art and expressive cleverness to appreciate it. It looks terrific and most of the difficulty is in the music, which is for church organ, but this music is important to the symbolism of the film so we have to accept it. Stiff and "formal" is the style and haunting and magical is the overall effect. The character (and acting) of the husband in this film is a favourite of mine.

Trapped
This film can be hard work and dare i say, even boring but you have to hold your hands up and admit that it does at least make you think. It can be interpreted in many ways......so heres my own interpretation

All of these characters are trapped in a film and are unaware of this and so continue to live out the same part, repeating the same lines and expressing the same character traits that the film requires. Somehow the character X becomes aware that this is the case and tries to find a way to escape the never ending cycle of fictional existence. It becomes clear to him that escape is virtually impossible and so he decides to convince the woman A to go with him (after all, the film might continue to exist without him but can't possible continue without both of them)

He knows that he can't tell her the truth and so tries to persuade her that they already know each other from last year. He is aware that she will be familiar with him as there characters clearly interact in the fictional film that we never get to see and so uses this to his advantage.

While all the other charcters play out there parts he works to find a way out of the continual loop of repitition. Eventually realising the futility of his desired escape he belatedly accepts his fate as one of many characters that are destined to remain trapped in this film forever.

He finds some form of peace.