In Boyfriends and Girlfriends (aka My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend) Rohmer uses the amorous misadventures of two girlfriends in the Paris suburbs to test the old proverb “les amis de mes amis sont mes amis” (“the friends of my friends are my friends”) in the final episode of his “Comedies and Proverbs” series. Taking an identifiable stab at a yuppie(ish) set, Rohmer’s witty Shakespearean roundelay involves the buttoned-up Blanche (Emmanuelle Chaulet, in a superb debut) and the free-spirited Lea (Sophie Renoir), and their current amours. The pair are tempted by each other’s love interests, testing both their friendship and their understanding of matters of the heart.
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[youtube https://youtu.be/XVdHVOn5xZ0?si=WJXRl43YyVd2UJmD&t=1998]
Video Quality
Boyfriends and Girlfriends arrives on Blu-Ray with a new digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in its original 1.37:1 original aspect ratio derived from a recent restoration. While there are perhaps a few things that could be further improved, the new restoration looks excellent throughout most of the runtime. Colors are deftly saturated in a way that allows the environments and elements of the production design to show off. Skin tones are natural and consistent with unique facial features easily noticeable in closeup.
Print damage is kept to a minimum with overall clarity and detail rendering as well as you could want. There are small details in the production design that shine through thanks to this transfer. Black levels hold up favorably with strong detail in shadows and very little in the way of crush. Digital noise is not an issue here. There is a subtle loss in fine detail in some of the more dimly lit areas, but this does not register as a persistent issue. This new presentation is lovely and provides this one with a robust new life. Metrograph Pictures has done a stand-out job with this one.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a nice DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track in the original French with optional English subtitles. Environmental sounds fill the speakers well with subtle sonic details that are rendered perfectly. Dialogue stays firmly situated in the mix without being drowned out by competing elements. The track maintains a fine balance with all parallel elements so that exchanges come through crisp and clear. The score maintains a good fidelity throughout the film as it sets the tone of the narrative. There do not seem to be any unwelcome instances of age-related wear and tear. This is a really fine audio presentation for this one.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Film historian Adrian Martin provides an informative commentary track that explores the career of Eric Rohmer, how this stands as the culmination of the “Comedies and Proverbs” run of films, the background of the performers, the themes being explored by the auteur, how this film fares compared to other work from the director, the aesthetic of the feature, and much more.
- Summer of Rohmer Trailer: A minute-long trailer is provided for the films of Eric Rohmer.
Final Thoughts
Boyfriends and Girlfriends is a relationship drama as only the great Eric Rohmer could realize it. The filmmaker allows his characters to breathe and grow with every interaction, basking in the gentle oscillation of compelling exchanges. There never appears to be a drive to dredge up unnecessary drama, choosing instead to find emotional honesty the key to the film’s success. When characters are faced with a potentially melodramatic revelation, the maturity at hand never fails to leave you in awe. Such carefully considered interpersonal drama may not be for everyone, but anyone who is fascinated with true humanity should love this. Metrograph Pictures and Kino Lorber have delivered a Blu-Ray with a top-notch A/V presentation and a nice commentary track. This is a good entry point into Rohmer if you find yourself curious. Highly Recommended
Boyfriends and Girlfriends is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Metrograph Pictures and Kino Lorber have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
