7 July 2008

Ah, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, or to call it by its rightful name, Les Parapulies de Cherbourg. It's one of the few musicals that you're free to love without actually being able to recall the lyrics or even specific tunes from, although if French is not even your second language then you at least have an excuse on the former. Jacques Demy's vibrant, visually gorgeous 1964 musical is the sort of film just crying out for a blu-ray edition. We'll have to wait on that one for now, but in the mean time there's a chance to familiarise yourself with Demy's next movie, Les Demoiselles de Rochefort, a large scale tribute to the Hollywood musical featuring screen legend Gene Kelly which is being released in the UK on DVD for the first time by the BFI, the 1996 restoration is presented in a 2-disc set that also features an hour long documentary by Agnès Varda and other special extras.

Jacques Demy was one of the most distinctive directors to emerge from the French New Wave in the late '50s and early '60s. The films he made up until his untimely death in 1990 constitute one of the most extraordinary bodies of work of that era, much of which was screened in a career retrospective at BFI Southbank last November.

Les Demoiselles de Rochefort centres on twin sisters Delphine and Solange (played by real life sisters Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Dorléac). Tired of their humdrum existence in the picturesque seaside town of Rochefort, they dream of leaving to find success and romance in Paris, just as a carnival and an American composer (Gene Kelly) hit town. The superb ensemble cast also features Danielle Darrieux, Michel Piccoli, Jacques Perrin, George Chakiris and Grover Dale. With a plot of pure Shakespearean farce, witty dialogue and lyrics by Demy and a magnificent jazz score by three-times Academy Award winner Michel Legrand, this has to be one of the most joyously ebullient movies ever.

Les Demoiselles de Rochefort will be released as a 2-disc set on UK DVD by the BFI on 28th July 2008 at the RRP of £22.99. The DVD will feature a 2.35:1 transfer and uncompressed PCM stereo French soundtrack with optional English subtitles, and the following extra features:

• Les Demoiselles ont eu 25 ans (Agnès Varda, 1993, 64 mins) – documentary mixing on-set footage, home movies and footage from the 25th Anniversary celebrations in Rochefort;
• Extracts from the Guardian Interview in which Catherine Deneuve talks about working with Jacques Demy and his influence on her career;
• Audio extracts from Gene Kelly's Guardian Lecture on the Hollywood Musical;
• Illustrated booklet containing original publicity photos and production stills.