Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16845 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-06-13
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Box set, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: French
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 134 minutes

Synopsis
This World War I mystery finds limitless beauty in the nostalgia of loss. Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, whose whimsical AMELIE riveted audiences, A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT also stars Audrey Tautou--the 21st century's Audrey Hepburn--in the stubbornly emotional role of a widow in denial. Here she is Mathilde, a waifish young woman with a pronounced limp from childhood polio. Living with her quirky aunt and uncle in a farmhouse by the sea, and waiting desperately for her fiance Manech (Gaspard Ulliel) to return from the war, she believes that if he were truly lost she would feel it in her heart. Thus, when the bad news arrives--Manech and five fellow soldiers were exiled to No Man's Land for shooting off their own fingers in hope of being discharged--Mathilde refuses to believe he is dead. Instead, she begins her own investigation into Manech's infantry, hiring a private detective and tracking down the wives and girlfriends of each of Manech's compatriots. Conducting countless interviews, Mathilde pieces together Manech's war stories--which are told in earthshaking flashbacks involving gruesome explosions, flying guts, and massive suffering. And yet, the all-in-this-together humanity of these awful scenes, and the heartfelt bravery with which Mathilde absorbs the details of each battle, is undeniably moving. Jodie Foster appears as Elodie, one of the widows, in a charismatic yet muted performance and with a flawless accent. However, the most intriguing of the widows is Tina Lombardi (Marion Cotillard), a thrilling dominatrix-assassin bent on avenging her lover. A timeless masterwork that raises the bar for breathtaking camerawork, vivid landscapes, and fantastical storytelling, A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT is adapted from the novel by Sebastien Japriscot.

Customer Reviews

My film of 2004
I rarely give five stars, but I feel that this film deserves it for a number of reasons.

It is both a fantastic spectacle, and at the same time very moving. In essence it is a love story set against the background of trench warfare on the western front in 1917. After the war, Matilda (played by the beautiful Audrey Tautou), a young woman from rural Brittany seeks to prove that her lover Manech (played by the equally beautiful Gaspard Ulliel) is not dead. Ulliel is a superb actor, who I first noticed when he seduced/was seduced by Charlotte Rampling in the comedy "Summer Things". His naive charm in this film moved this reviewer to tears.

Other reviewers have commented on how the first viewings can be confusing as you try to juggle the lives and subsequent histories of Ulliel's companions in the trench to find out if and how he survived. In this respect the central filling of this film's sandwich is not unlike an Agatha Christie murder mystery. But the beauty of this film is that repeated viewings enhance the experience, for it is shot in a beautiful autumn shimmer, with marvellous views of the Breton countryside and seascapes. The recreation of 1920s Parisian landmarks is a triumph of artistry and just goes to show how CGI can now enhance film.

One word about the editions. I would recommend the two-disc special edition. The extras are definitely worth it, showing how clever the production team has been in creating the brilliant effects both on the battlefield and off.

Some have complained about the apparent frivolousness of an Amelie-approach to World War One. Yes, Jean Pierre Jeunet does seem to have a signature in this film that mirrors his earlier work on Amelie, in particular the intorduction of trivial and yet interesting characteristics of his players, and the often hyperactive camera work, where the camera is never restful for long. But on balance I think the criticism is unfair. The film clearly shows the harrowing ordeal of life in the trenches and the injustices that were endured by the troops. The behind-the-scenes documentary clearly demonstrates the strenuous efforts that were made to portray the experiences in as realistic a light as possible. And it is ultimately Ulliel's experiences as shown in the film that makes the story all the more moving, not less.

I work in an arts cinema and see well over one hundred films there a year: this was my film of 2004.

A complicated and moving epic
At first I thought I wouldn't like the film as the beginning is very bleak and violent with a long scene depicting the trenches in the First World War: it reminded me of the opening sequence of the film "Saving Private Ryan". The number of characters introduced during the opening sequences makes the story a bit complicated as one tries to remember who is who as they reappear later in the film. However, as the story unfolded I got more engrossed as to how the film would end. It's a high budget film with lots of impressive scenes, not least the war sequences, but also the streets of Paris in the 1920s full of authentic vehicles and lots of people. A cameo performance to look out for is Jodie Foster apparently speaking impeccable French!
Overall a moving story, excellently acted.

A superb DVD which offers superb extras
As a supplementary to my review of the film, it's only fair to offer a few words on the quality of the video release and, in particular, the extras provided. Picture and audio quality are excellent throughout, the subtitles legible and easy to follow. The film, however, is released in so many countries it can be quite fiddly choosing the right option first time round. But that's a minor quibble.

The extras are superb. Many DVD's offer extras which barely warrant a look. Here, you have extras which you can truly enjoy. Jeunet delivers a commentary on the film which is highly instructive. He introduces the players, the technical staff, and offers a scene by scene explanation of influences, intentions, in-jokes, options he'd considered. It's a fascinating insight into the mind of a cinematographer.

There are also a number of superb little documentaries on the making of the film and the efforts which go into specific scenes and locations. For anyone considering a career in the cinema, or for anyone simply interested in the technical side of it, these are highly entertaining and instructive analyses of how to make a movie - from storyboard to final edit. It's amusing, it's educational, and it is seriously good entertainment in its own right.

This is a first class film, but the DVD extras offer superb value for money - both film and extras are highly polished productions, and you will watch both again and again.