The French Lieutenant's Woman Blu-ray Review

Criterion's Blu-ray release of Karel Reisz's "The French Lieutenant's Woman" boasts a meticulous 1080p transfer, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC within its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. This transfer, crafted in 2K resolution from the original camera negative using a Northlight film scanner, ensures that the film’s visual integrity is preserved. The restoration process, which included manual removal of dirt, debris, and scratches via MTI's DRS, in conjunction with Digital Vision's Phoenix software for grain, noise, flicker, and jitter management, contributes to its immaculate presentation. Furthermore, a professional remastering of the original monaural soundtrack at 24-bit from the 35mm magnetic tracks expunges any audio blemishes.

Visually, the Blu-ray handles the film's dual storylines, set a century apart, with remarkable deftness. The Victorian England segments are portrayed with warm, glowing tones and rich colors, while the modern-day sequences appear bright and crisp. The understated grain structure authentically replicates the filmic feel, maintaining texture even in low-light scenes without overwhelming the viewer. Stunning clarity and contrast bring the lush coastal exteriors to life, with defined leaves, complex patterns, and myriad pieces of Victorian décor showcased in high detail. Reflections used throughout the film to highlight characters' multi-faceted natures are rendered with vivid sharpness.

Color reproduction excels, featuring vibrant greens of the English countryside and stable flesh tones. Rich blacks and stellar shadow delineation enhance nocturnal scenes' impact, while close-ups capture detailed facial features like Streep’s creamy complexion and period-accurate facial hair. Although minor instances of motion blur exist, they are infrequent and do not detract from the overall viewing experience. The absence of problematic sharpening adjustments ensures that image stability remains excellent throughout. Criterion’s transfer breathes new life into this classic film, offering an exceptional visual experience for both new viewers and longtime admirers.

The Blu-ray release of "The French Lieutenant's Woman" features a single audio track: English LPCM 1.0, meticulously remastered at 24-bit from the original 35 mm magnetic tracks. Optional English SDH subtitles are also provided. The remastering work is immediately apparent, with a beautifully balanced presentation of Carl Davis' integral score. This precise balancing significantly enhances the film's overlapping narratives, wherein a simple musical theme can dynamically transform an episode. Dialog is consistently clean, stable, and easy to follow, devoid of pops, cracks, audio dropouts, or digital distortions.

The LPCM mono track exhibits lush sound quality and high detail fidelity. The audio's tonal depth is impressive, with atmospheric sounds—such as chirping birds and crashing waves—subtly enhancing the scene's immersion. Delicate effects, like footsteps crunching in underbrush, are well defined, bringing a heightened realism to quieter moments. Carl Davis' romantic score and an ethereal Mozart piano sonata sonically shine, sounding rich and elegant. While dialogue is predominantly clear and comprehensible throughout, there are fleeting instances of mild distortion, particularly in the scene where Charles first sees Sarah on the cobb. Nonetheless, the track maintains a purity that aligns well with the film's Victorian setting.

Criterion’s Blu-ray release of "The French Lieutenant's Woman" offers an array of insightful and meticulously produced extras that significantly enhance one's understanding of the film’s depth and production history. Highlights include an engaging interview with film scholar Ian Christie, who elucidates the complexities of adapting John Fowles' novel and the brilliance of Harold Pinter's screenplay. The archival episode of "The South Bank Show" presents invaluable perspectives from John Fowles, Karel Reisz, and Pinter himself. Actors Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons share their compelling experiences in "Emotional Uncertainties," while composer Carl Davis’ interview provides a revealing look into the scoring process. Each supplement presents a rich perspective on the film's artistic and technical merits, making this edition a must-have for cinephiles.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailer: Original trailer for "The French Lieutenant's Woman."
• Ian Christie: Film scholar explains the unfilmable nature of the novel and Pinter's screenplay.
• The South Bank Show: 1981 archival TV episode exploring the book’s adaptation and film production.
• Emotional Uncertainties: Documentary with reflections from actors and editor on the film’s production.
• Carl Davis: Composer discusses scoring the film and its challenges.
• Leaflet: Illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by Lucy Bolton on female consciousness in cinema.

Director Karel Reisz and screenwriter Harold Pinter's adaptation of John Fowles' 'The French Lieutenant's Woman' achieves remarkable success in translating a complex novel to the screen. The film intertwines two narratives: a Victorian saga between Sarah Woodruff (Meryl Streep) and Charles Smithson (Jeremy Irons), and a contemporary romance involving their modern-day actor counterparts, Anna (also Streep) and Mike (also Irons). This structural ingenuity not only preserves the novel's intricate themes but also brings forth a fresh, intellectual dimension by contrasting Victorian mores with modern attitudes.

Reisz's direction masterfully oscillates between these parallel stories, creating a cohesive narrative that stirs both the intellect and emotion. The Victorian tale focuses on Sarah, a woman scarred by a brief affair with a French officer, and her subsequent relationship with Charles, an engaged Darwinian fossil collector. Their enigmatic interactions sharply contrast with the more overt and liberated liaison between Anna and Mike, highlighting societal constraints' impact on relationships across eras. The film's unique jigsaw-like structure compels viewers to continuously piece together evolving intentions and identities, making each reexamination reveal new layers of depth.

Technically, the film is a marvel. Freddie Francis' cinematography is impeccable, adding atmospheric richness through brilliant framing and lighting. Carl Davis' orchestral score, featuring poignant violin solos, underscores key moments, enhancing the film's emotive power. Streep delivers a standout performance, infusing Sarah with a mysterious allure that stands in stark contrast to her modern, forthright Anna. Jeremy Irons matches her intensity, creating compelling chemistry that deepens the film's impact. Supporting roles by Patience Collier, Leo McKern, and Lynsey Baxter further enrich its nuanced tapestry. ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’ thus stands out for its sophisticated narrative structure and exceptional execution, embodying both the spirit and complexity of Fowles’ novel.

Karel Reisz's "The French Lieutenant's Woman," adapted from John Fowles' novel, intricately weaves together two parallel stories of couples in contrasting eras. This cinematic feat, once dubbed "unfilmable," is brought to life through Harold Pinter's masterful screenplay, creating a layered narrative that continually challenges the viewer's perspective. Recently restored in 2K, the film’s visual splendor is now brilliantly showcased in high-definition.

Intelligent and provocative, the film stands as a testament to the talents of director Karel Reisz, screenwriter Harold Pinter, and the exceptional performances of Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons. This dual tale deftly explores themes of Victorian repression, dark obsession, and modern love through inventive storytelling and poetic presentation, which significantly enhance its emotional resonance. Criterion's Blu-ray edition reinvigorates the film with a lush video transfer and pristine audio quality, offering viewers an immersive experience.

Several enriching supplements further delve into the film’s complexities, providing essential context and perspective, making this release a comprehensive and enlightening package. "The French Lieutenant's Woman" is a multi-faceted and often fascinating motion picture that merits renewed attention and appreciation.

Set like a giant jigsaw puzzle, Karel Reisz's "The French Lieutenant's Woman" tells two stories about two couples existing in two drastically different worlds. Throughout the film, the two stories constantly overlap and force the viewer to compare and reevaluate the main protagonists' intentions and eventually their identities. The film was inspired by John Fowles' famous novel, which John Frankenheimer once described as unfilmable, and is based on a script by Nobel Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter. It has been recently restored in 2K and looks really beautiful in high-definition. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.