Thanks to Criterion for a masterful release of a long out-of-print masterpiece.by seenafterscene

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January 16, 2010: Without getting to nostalgic, I will say that this was one of my early discoveries and later, while a student in college, I was given the unique opportunity to guest lecture my own class on the topic of the lesser known "Left Bank" of the French New Wave movement, its film director Alain Resnais, and this film specifically.

I will spare you the lecture, but suffice to say, it has had an important impact on me, continues to delight me, and I tend to notice something "new" almost every time I watch it.

This is puzzling & confusing "almost to the point of incomprehension," as one critic coined the phrase (though that well-known film critic was talking about "The Big Sleep.")

This film has been out-of-print for several years, and as to be expected from Criterion, the print (which also was my first exposure to Criterion in Blu-Ray format) is immaculate. The old (long OOP) print of Fox Lorber was adequate, but this is stunning. Of course, as to be expected from any Criterion release, the bonus material is fantastic.

All that said, this is NOT for the casual viewer. Its constant jumps from past to present, and constantly shifting "perspectives" are likely to simply annoy, bore, or disinterest even today's viewers who are more commonly accustomed to unconventional narrative structure, and even those fans of more famous French New Wave of Godard, Truffaut, etc.

All that said, this is a one-of-a-kind, highly challenging, divisive, and discussion-starting films of all time. It is a one-of-a-kind experience.

This review was written about the Blu-ray Black & White edition.