The following review was first published in 2020 when the disc was originally released. The Blu-Ray is now available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through OCN Distribution.

Melodrama is not a dirty word. There are settings where it is appropriate to let yourself delve into the intense emotions that are inherent from being human. Human beings need the catharsis that can come with reckoning with these base feelings. The late director Andrzej Żuławski understood this, and he channeled this belief into stories featuring raw, unbridled emotion that put off as many people as they lured in with their intense excess. L’important c’est d’aimer (Translation: That Most Important Thing: Love) was Żuławski’s first French film that came about in 1975 after the director was exiled from his native Poland for his previous film, The Devil. This film, which follows the exploits of bohemians on the fringes of society, is said to be one of the director’s most accessible films. While it is not an altogether easy or pleasant experience, the film boldly challenges you to get on board with this complicated love story that is worth exploring.

The lovely Romy Schneider stars as Nadine Chevalier, for which she won the first-ever Best Actress Cesar Award before her untimely death seven years later at the young age of 43. Nadine is an aging actress who has been reduced to starring in low-rent soft-core exploitation films just to keep afloat. While shooting a particularly intimate scene, a tenacious tabloid photographer, Servais (Fabio Testi), finds his way on set and takes pictures of an emotionally fragile Nadine. Although he is ejected from the set, Servais becomes enchanted with his subject and hopes to strike a deal to take additional photos of her at her house. His bold attempt to become ensnared in Nadine’s life leads to a complicated love triangle between the pair and Nadine’s movie-obsessed husband, Jacques (French pop singer Jacques Dutronc). If this sounds sudden, then you pretty much have a handle on how this movie operates. Nadine does not appear to love Jacques, but she feels morally obligated to him due to his actions in the past. In an effort to get in her good graces, Servais borrows money from local gangsters to fund a theater production of Richard III for her to star in opposite German actor Karl-Heinz (Klaus Kinski).

The movie descends into a world of burlesque, eroticism and heightened emotions as characters go big emotionally. The kinetic Kinski steals the film as the sexually ambiguous lead of the play who helps Nadine get to where she needs to be emotionally for the role. In addition to being in an emotionally taxing situation with Nadine and her husband, Servais is dealing with some heavy emotional baggage when he is not photographing orgies to pay off his debt. The bouncing Jacques plays his emotions close to the vest as he clings to old school Hollywood allure to avoid any real misfortune. Nadine is hobbled by the insecurity in her work, as well as the new love she is trying to resist. The love triangle is never portrayed as sweet or anything worth idealizing. Love in this film is cruel and uncertain. It causes real pain for all involved, but none more than Nadine. The entire situation is so uncertain, and it culminates in an intense confrontation between Nadine and Jacques in a café where Schneider relinquishes any shred of self-consciousness and allows herself to be unflinchingly raw and honest.

By the end of the film, you may wonder what it is exactly that you just witnessed. L’important c’est d’aimer is a film about messy people finding love that is not pretty. There are gory bits and erotic bits. It’s all swirled together into a complicated film about the maturing of love. Melodrama is dialed up to eleven and passions ignite and fade on a dime. Żuławski revels in the farcical undertones until the very end. The film may leave some cold or turned off, but those willing to engage in the muck and mire of adult relationships may find something to appreciate intellectually, if not emotionally. At the very least, you have a beautifully constructed film with talented actors giving their all to the craft.

Video Quality

L’important c’est d’aimer comes to Blu-Ray with a new digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.66:1. The presentation is far from pristine, but overall it is a solid presentation for a film as old as this one that has not undergone extensive restoration. There are the occasional speckles from print damage, but overall clarity and detail are admirable. The picture tends to run a bit soft, and the colors lack a vibrancy that would make them pop off the screen. Skin tones are natural and consistent with subtle facial features easily noticeable. Black levels hold up relatively well, but there is some crush present. The video quality will not knock your socks off, but there are a lot of positive aspects to it that should please fans of the film.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with LPCM 2.0 mono tracks in the original French, as well as an English dub. When viewing non-English language films, it is always recommended you stick with the original language. The moving, memorable score by Georges Delerue sounds great throughout the duration of the film, as it takes you deeper into the inner turmoil of the characters. There are moments where it threatens to overwhelm the dialogue, but the track maintains a good balance so that dialogue comes through clearly. It appears that there may have been some language barriers on set that resulted in some cast members not speaking French, which results in the occasional sync issue. There do not seem to be any majorly noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear. Film Movement Classics has given this film the audio presentation it deserves.

Special Features

Interview with Andrzej Żuławski: A sixteen-minute interview with the late director that feels more substantial than a lot of featurettes of this sort due to his candid nature. He discusses the cast of the movie, his contempt for the distributors who forced him to cut scenes and how he hates the title of the film. It is a breath of fresh air that is truly worth watching.
Original Trailer: The nearly four-minute trailer is presented here in standard definition. It highlights a lot of the film without giving away exactly what it is about. There are some shots that could spoil plot points if you have you choose to watch it first.
Booklet: A 16-page booklet is included with a very illuminating essay by author Kat Ellinger. She does an excellent job of analyzing some of the themes of the film and puts them into context for the reader.

Final Thoughts

L’important c’est d’aimer is a challenging film that does not deign to spell out every single point it is trying to make. The complicated love story is anchored by the marvelous Romy Schneider in a truly fearless role. Film Movement Classics has rescued this film for domestic audiences by providing a Blu-Ray with a solid A/V presentation and at least a few special features. This is not a film for everyone, but those with an interest in French cinema with some adult elements should take a chance on this one. Recommended

L’important c’est d’aimer 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: Film Movement Classics 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.