Clement (Jean-Louis Trintignant, Il sorpasso) is a wealthy son of an industrialist who lives a secret life as a right-wing terrorist. Double-crossed following an assassination attempt he flees to the countryside with his wife, Anne (Romy Schneider, La piscine) where they stay with his childhood friend, Paul (Henri Serre, Jules et Jim). Clement plots his revenge but Anne falls for Paul and a love triangle is just one of many complications in this multi-layered discovery from the French New Wave. With the support of producer Louis Malle, Alain Cavalier (Fill ‘Er Up with Super) directed his debut, a noirish drama beautifully shot by cinematographer Pierre Lhomme (Army of Shadows). While echoing the political turmoil of the 1960s, the film probes bourgeois values and the relationship between sex and violence, acting as a precursor to The Conformist and demonstrating the influence of Chabrol.

For thoughts on Le Combat Dans L’ile, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/B0HH3Rt5Kow?si=AcxFw8kn7dSZQiWr&t=2899]

Video Quality

Le Combat Dans L’ile debuts on Blu-Ray courtesy of Radiance Films with a 2K restoration of the Original Camera Negative conducted by Gaumont with additional color correction performed by Radiance Films. The new transfer retains the natural grain structure that preserves the comely aesthetic of the feature. Through this attention to authenticity, the transfer delivers subtle details that shine through in the outfits, settings, and natural landscapes. While the transfer may show off fleeting instances of softness in a few spots, this is a rare occurrence as the material holds up well.

Hardly any specks remain in the new transfer, and there is no doubt this source has been given a thorough clean-up. The black-and-white photography keeps a firm hand on contrast in all environments with crisp highlights and no unsightly instances of black crush. Any shadowy moments present some exceptional depth to the image. Radiance Films has delivered a top-notch visual presentation that allows this film to look the best it ever has.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with an LPCM 1.0 mono track in the original French (with optional English subtitles) which handles the material without issue. Dialogue comes through with clarity and without any hint of distortion or sibilance. Exchanges never get overshadowed by the sound effects or the score. The steady and deliberate approach to the narrative allows for the precise implementation of environmental sounds and other textural elements. The music comes through with a flattering fidelity at all times. There is practically nothing in the way of age-related wear and tear. The audio experience is one that should satisfy viewers.

Special Features

The first-pressing of the Radiance Films Blu-Ray of Le Combat Dans L’ile includes a booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic Ben Sachs and scholar and author Mani Sharpe, along with an older excerpt from author Pierre Lhomme. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Alain Cavalier:

- 1962 Interview: A five-minute interview from 1962 in which first-time director Alain Cavalier in which he discusses his interest in American cinema, working with Louis Malle, working with his performers, and more.

- France 1961: A 13-minute featurette from 2010 finds the director looking over images from the production of his debut and reflecting on the experience, his influences, and more.

- Playing Dead: A five-minute piece in which the director looks over footage from his film and muses on his experiences.

Jean-Louis Trintignant: An eight-minute interview from the Belgian interview show Cinescope from 1983 in which Trintignant discusses his career, his work on Le Combat Dans L’ile, his lack of concern for playing likable characters, working with Romy Schneider, and more.

The Succulence of Fruit: A nearly 38-minute analysis from 2020 with French critic Philippe Roger in which he delves into the themes of the film, the work of Alain Cavalier, how the film handles masculinity, the work of the performers, and more.

Un Americain: A 17-minute short film from 1958 by Alain Cavalier is provided here in which a young sculptor experiences the ethereal nature of Paris.

Gallery: A brief still gallery is provided here.

Trailer: The three-and-a-half-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

Le Combat Dans L’ile is a unique beast that oscillates between being a riveting political thriller and a palpable relationship drama. No matter the mode, the performers always come to play with Jean-Louis Trintignant and Romy Schneider each delighting every time they are on screen. Alain Cavalier wielded a firm command over the medium in his directorial debut thanks to his experience behind the scenes in other productions. This does not appear to be discussed much in the realm of French cinema, but it is deserving of this second chance in the spotlight. Radiance Films has released a Blu-Ray featuring a stellar A/V presentation and some exceptional special features. Recommended

Le Combat Dans L’ile will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on November 28, 2023.

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

Disclaimer: Radiance Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.