When Blanche meets the charismatic Gregoire, she thinks she has found the one. Their passionate affair develops quickly, and they soon marry and relocate far from Blanche’s family. As her new life begins, Blanche finds herself caught in the grip of a deeply possessive and dangerous man, desperate to escape. Just the Two of Us is a closely observed and emotional domestic thriller by Valérie Donzelli.

For in-depth thoughts on Just the Two of Us, please see my colleague Phoenix Clouden’s review from its original theatrical release here.

Video Quality

Just the Two of Us comes to Blu-Ray courtesy of Music Box Selects with a 1080p transfer after debuting in theaters over a year ago. We were worried this might not ever reach physical media, so we are thrilled to see this materialize. Colors are rightfully complex with distinct hues showing off in brighter environments. The cinematography of the film maintains a natural look that thrives in high definition. Skin tones are consistent, and there are some excellent facial details present, especially in close-ups. The detail on display likewise provides some nice character within the production design and costumes. Elements such as compression artifacts or other unwanted digital anomalies do not intrude upon this image. Black levels retain great shadow detail with no signs of crush. This Blu-Ray release is a welcome addition to the collection.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a steady DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track in the original French which brings the story to life with ease. Dialogue is mixed with care and comes through clearly without ever being overshadowed by any music or sound effects. Directionality is rendered accurately so that sounds emerge from all the natural spots. Environmental sounds are a key part of the soundscape such as background chatter or various outdoor sounds, which lend a dynamic sensibility to each channel. There is a nice sense of activity in the film, and this track presents the movie exactly as it was intended. The film is primarily driven by dialogue, but any use of music gives the track an extra shot of life. This is a strong disc that gives the film a proper presentation. Optional English and English SDH subtitles are included.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Film critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas provides a really rich commentary track in which she explores the themes of the narrative, the careers of the cast and creative team, the influences on the style of the feature and more.

Interview with Director Valérie Donzelli: A five-minute interview with the director in which she discusses why she wanted to tell this story, making changes from the novel, choosing Virginie Efira to play the dual roles, and more.

Photo Gallery (1:12)

Theatrical Trailer (1:41)

Final Thoughts

Just the Two of Us is a harrowing look at the creeping malevolence of domestic abuse and the ways in which it can swallow you whole before you even know it. There have been similar movies that have dramatized such harm with a heightened sense of drama, but this movie takes the time to show how abusers can slowly weaponize their love to choke the metaphorical life out of you. Virginie Efira is one of our favorite French actors working today, and she turns in an unbelievable dual performance that keeps you deeply invested in this story. It is not an easy watch, but it is impeccably executed. Music Box Films has released a Blu-Ray featuring a sterling A/V presentation along with valuable special features. Recommended

Just the Two of Us is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.

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

Disclaimer: Music Box Selects and OCN Distribution 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.