JEANNE MOREAU, FILMMAKER is a revelatory 2-disc Blu-ray set that includes new restorations of Moreau’s rarely-seen work as a director: LUMIÈRE (1976), THE ADOLESCENT (1979), and the documentary LILLIAN GISH (1984).

LUMIÈRE: Four actress friends, Sarah, Laura, Julienne, and Caroline, talk about their emotional and professional paths. They live intensely and deal with different concerns, both as women and as actresses. Their strong bond is embodied in the central figure of Sarah, the oldest and most famous of them…

THE ADOLESCENT: July 14th, 1939. Marie has just turned 12 and, as she does every year, she is about to go on holiday to her paternal grandmother’s house in central France. She is thrilled to see her beloved Grandma and the children of the village. Marie also meets the new country doctor and begins to experience a previously unknown feeling. The young girl gradually leaves childhood behind, while the shadow of war soon looms over her…

LILLIAN GISH: A tribute to Lillian Gish by Jeanne Moreau, where one actress pays homage to another. The American silent film star looks back on her career since her début in 1913, and evokes the filming conditions when she was a child, the first Hollywood blockbuster Birth of a Nation by D.W. Griffith and her passion for cinema, guided by an insatiable curiosity…

For thoughts on Jeanne Moreau: Filmmaker, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/TWWb5imBhfk?si=y34c43zTyRoRj0GK&t=3598]

Video Quality

Lumière, The Adolescent, and Lillian Gish make their Blu-Ray debut courtesy of Carlotta Films and Kino Lorber with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in the original aspect ratios. Lumière is derived from a new 4K restoration of a mixture of the 35mm Original Camera Negative and Interpositive, while The Adolescent comes from a 35mm Original Camera Negative. The transfer of Lillian Gish is slightly less impressive with a 2K rendering of Betacam SP since the original 16mm camera negative was too damaged to be utilized. Each of these stories seems to be in the best shape possible considering the source.

Lumière and The Adolescent share a disc so compression issues are a slight concern, but we did not spot any major missteps in this department. Even after the restoration, you may eye a fleeting blemish here or there, but these transfers look incredible with natural film grain resolved well. Clarity and detail are ideal with much to explore in these lush locales. The texture present within the costumes and environment is especially impressive. The presentation is enjoyable throughout the runtime of both films with image stability and delineation being top-notch. The colors are vibrant with a golden push for the grade and other hues saturating the screen, especially when it comes to the foliage. Black levels hold up well with almost nothing in the way of crush, and highlights never veer into blooming.

Lillian Gish arrives on its own Blu-Ray disc with a transfer that holds up really well despite its source limitations. There are occasional white specks, tiny cuts, and other small blemishes, but they are fleeting at worst. The experience skews close to the original aesthetic intention with nothing looking unnatural and no major instances of spiking. The archival material used here seems to be of the highest quality possible when this was originally made. When you consider the film’s vintage and condition of the source material, it is pleasing to see the material looking so stable and consistent. There do not appear to be any issues with compression artifacts or any other such digital anomalies. The track does show off some fine detail in the clothing of the subjects. Colors present with a decent vividness that gets the job done. This release has provided a level of care to an artist who deserves it.

Audio Quality

This new Blu-Ray set comes with a DTS-HD 1.0 Master Audio mono track for each film in the original language option that represents them well. The original mono track is not overly ambitious in its sonic intentions, but it delivers a more than enjoyable experience. These films utilize music especially well as it flows through confidently. Every element is presented with inviting clarity and crisp fidelity as they come through the room. Dialogue holds up without stumbling, coming through clearly without being overshadowed by the music or sound effects. The environmental noises are delineated effectively without getting lost in the mix. The track avoids most major instances of age-related wear and tear or distortion. The audio setup will not let you down throughout this set. Optional English subtitles are provided on this release.

Special Features

Disc One (Lumière & The Adolescent)

Lumière

- Pour Le Cinema – Tournage de Lumiere: A 13-minute piece from 1975 is provided that takes a look at Jeanne Moreau stepping behind the camera to tell this story, her desire to bring authenticity to the lives of female performers, how the women in the film felt being directed by a woman, the themes of the picture, and more.

- Trailer: This disc provides the trailer for Lumière (2:16)

The Adolescent

- Petite Histoire: A 13-minute piece from 1978 is provided that takes a look at Jeanne Moreau’s continued work behind the camera, her work with the performers, what she gets out of directing over performing, and more.

- Cine-Regards – Il y a Jeanne: Another 15-minute featurette from 1978 is provided that looks at Moreau’s choice of performers, what she accomplishes as a filmmaker, sound engineer Dominique Dalmasso, and more.

- Salle des Fetes – Cinemas: A five-minute interview from 1979 is provided in which Moreau discusses her relationship with Simone Signoret, her method for directing performers, and more.

Disc Two (Lillian Gish)

Interview with Clint Eastwood: A 22-minute interview from the 1994 Cannes Film Festival is provided in which Moreau interviews filmmaker/performer Clint Eastwood about his career, the importance of music in his life and films, the key opportunities in his life, getting recognition for your work, and more.

Trailer: There is a two-and-a-half-minute trailer for the Jeanne Moreau: Filmmaker retrospective.

Final Thoughts

These three films from Jeanne Moreau showcase a talent who is well regarded on screen but is seldom recognized for what she made behind the camera. These subjects speak to something that the artist was interested in exploring, and by extension, she brings a perspective that was in short supply in cinema at this time, especially. Moreau thrives both directing herself and training her gaze upon others, and there is much to be learned about her here. These are as vital as anything from the recognized masters of the time. Carlotta Films and Kino Lorber have reintroduced these films to a new audience with a brand new Blu-Ray that features a strong A/V presentation and a nice array of supplemental features. Those who appreciate personal tales centered on women should make note of this collection. Recommended

Jeanne Moreau: Filmmaker is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Carlotta Films 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.