The French had a spate of devastatingly beautiful cinematic classics during their new wave period of the early 1960s. One that does not always get the attention it deserves is the mysterious and dramatic 1960 gem Seven Days…Seven Nights (originally known as Moderato cantabile) from the great Peter Brook (Lord of the Flies). Based on the 1958 novel by Marguerite Duras, the film takes a gentle and eloquent look at the psychological ramifications of living a stifled life, especially for a woman. The film proved to be a showcase role for Jeanne Moreau (Elevator to the Gallows) that earned her the award for Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival. The film is one that fared well in its homeland but never really made an impact in other international markets. There is something quite striking about the film, though, which makes it such a win for film fans that it is now waiting to be rediscovered by a whole new generation of viewers with this new release. The methodical pace may not work for some, but those who appreciate this style of French cinema will be quite taken with it.
Moreau takes on the role of Anne Desbarèdes, a beautiful housewife who has grown weary from not having much to do outside of hosting dinner parties in her isolated country mansion for her wealthy husband (Jean Deschamps), the owner of the local steel mill. When she is not playing the role of dutiful wife, she is often caring for her young son Pierre (Didier Haudepin). One afternoon while accompanying Pierre to a piano lesson with the stern Miss Giraud (Colette Regis), a loud wail rings out interrupting his faltering rendition of Anton Diabelli’s Sonatina in F. A woman has been killed at a nearby bar by her volatile lover. Anne is but one of the numerous spectators that gather around the crime scene to figure out what happened, but she seems to be the person who is most greatly impacted from an outsider’s perspective. The murder appears to be a straightforward crime of passion, but her imagination gets the best of her upon meeting Chauvin (Jean-Paul Belmondo), a frequent bar patron and employee of her husband’s who falsely claims to have insight into the case while gathering for a drink.
The description of this film might lead you to believe this story resembles the great Hitchcockian thrillers as an unstable woman questions whether or not this new man in her life might be a killer himself. The truth is rather more nuanced and emotionally tragic in a way. Anne may understand that Chauvin is indulging her with lies, but these are the tales that rouse her bored mind. Moreau plays the role with such solemnity that you feel every ounce of emotion that is conveyed through a lingering camera on her face. She gains a lot as she begins this unconsummated love affair with Chauvin, a man who she wants to accompany her as they act out their idea of this tragic relationship. The film is not so much a sexual thriller, but rather an exploration of a woman who wants to throw a middle finger to polite almost-aristocratic society and live her version of a fulfilling life. The tragedy comes as she is faced with the reality that the world is not going to help her fulfill her dreams in a painless way. The ending has a surface level appearance of stasis, but inside Anne has upended her entire way of thinking.
Brook and his director of photography Armand Thirard capture this black-and-white feature with an eye for composition seldom appreciated these days. The widescreen aspect ratio is used quite favorably in the way Anne is strikingly showcased along the railing of a ferry. The sparse isolation of the shot is a good indication of some of her more deeply-held feelings. From frame to frame the shot is either filled with details that are altogether unimportant to the characters or barren in a way that is meant to draw out discomfort. One of the standout scenes in the film comes near the resolution when Anne is bucking up against social conventions as she gets more inebriated during a dinner party and more unfiltered in her musings to the guests. They politely try to ignore the fact that anything might be wrong, but as the audience we know that Anne has already broken through a necessary barrier for self-actualization. From the performances to the attention to detail behind the camera, Seven Days…Seven Nights is one enthralling drama that packs an emotional wallop in its own understated manner.
Video Quality
Seven Days…Seven Nights makes its Blu-Ray debut thanks to Kino Classics with a 1080p transfer from what seems to be a beautiful recent scan provided by Studio Canal. Apart from a few minor instances of softer shots, likely due to a combination of the source elements and its intended aesthetic, it is heartening to see this transfer look so spectacular. The new transfer shows off a great amount of depth and enhanced detail within the production design. Black levels are very deep with no trace of black crush or compression artifacts. The contrast is well defined, and there are only occasional nicks and scratches present in a handful of scenes. The gorgeous black-and-white photography sparkles in high definition with natural grain intact. There is a fantastic amount of detail present with nice textures on the clothing and within the interiors of the house and bar. Kino Classics has done very well with this release.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a very pleasing DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track in the original French with optional English subtitles. There does not seem to be any majorly noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear. The music sounds great throughout the duration of the film as it establishes the mysterious atmosphere for the story. The track maintains a good balance so that dialogue comes through clearly and there is never a moment where it threatens to overwhelm the dialogue. Environmental sounds such as car noises or nature effects such as waves are rendered well alongside everything else. Kino Classics has given this film the perfectly preserved, faithful audio presentation it deserves.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Film Historian/Filmmaker Daniel Kremer offers a thoughtful and entertaining commentary track in which he delves into the work of Marguerite Duras, the performance of Jeanne Moreau, the disinterest in narrative in the material, the camerawork in the feature, and much more. This is an invaluable addition to the disc that is worth a listen.
- Trailers: There are trailers provided for Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Viva Marie!, Léon Morin Priest, Le Doulos and Cartouche.
Final Thoughts
Seven Days…Seven Nights is a beautiful and somber examination of the psychological unraveling of an unfulfilled housewife. The powerful performance from Jeanne Moreau anchors this deliberately paced tale while Jean-Paul Belmondo gives a striking performance that complements her. Kino Classics has delivered a Blu-Ray featuring a really great A/V presentation and an informative commentary track. Fans of contemplative French dramas should give this one a chance. Recommended
Seven Days…Seven Nights will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD on September 28, 2021.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
