Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Céline and Julie Go Boating Blu-ray Movie Review

A stunning new 2K restoration by the Criterion Collection.

Celine and Julie Go Boating is an essential avant-garde classic of the French New Wave. A charming experimental work bristling with imagination and creative ideas, Celine and Julie Go Boating is from producer Barbet Schroeder (Single White Female, Our Lady of the Assassins). From director Jacques Rivette (Paris Belongs to Us), the film stars Dominique Labourier and Juliet Berto.

Julie (Dominique Labourier) is a beautiful and charming librarian living a quiet life. Celine (Juliet Berto) is a magician with unbridled sensuality and creativity. The pair unexpectedly meet and go on a strange fantasy adventure: traveling across the barren streets of Paris while exploring a haunted-house and setting forth on a quirky murder-mystery melodrama. When Julie and Celine move in to a house together, quirky realities intertwine for a post-modern romp through time itself.

The performances are spectacular to watch. Dominique Labourier has a vibrant sophistication in her role: providing the film with a sense of added depth. Labourier's strong performance imbues Celine and Julie Go Boating with a quirkiness that works wonders. Juliet Berto is remarkable too: providing the experience with her undeniable “coolness” and charm. Berto and Labourier work wonders together and the on-screen dynamic is essential to the experience.

French New Wave at its best.

The production is complimented by exceptional cinematography by Jacques Renard (Monsieur Albert, Blanche and Marie). Celine and Julie Go Boating is a unique visual wonder. The filmmaking soars with creativity and style. The vibrant and lush use of color is both beautiful and complex.

There are other layers to the filmmaking: the costumes by Jean-Luc Berne, Pierre D'Alby, and Laurent Vicci provide the leading actresses with an array of interesting aesthetic styles. The fun make-up by Ronaldo Abreu is inventive and helps highlight the natural beauty of Dominique Labourier and Juliet Berto. The music by Jean-Marie Senia (Chillers, Blood of the Vine) is sophisticated and charming.

The screenplay by Juliet Berto, Dominique Labourier, Bulle Ogier, Marie-France Pisier, and Jacques Rivette is one of the best qualities of the film – though the script is highly experimental and it shifts gears repeatedly, Celine and Julie Go Boating is consistently full of creative energy and fun style. There are plenty of creative layers to the script.

Jacques Rivette (Paris Belongs to Us, The Beautiful Troublemaker) directed an experimental classic with the French New Wave classic. The photography never stands still: highlighting the inventiveness of Rivette's stylish filmmaking. Celine and Julie Go Boating is well worth the experimental mind-trip.

Céline and Julie Go Boating Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from the Criterion Collection, Celine and Julie Go Boating is presented in the original 1.37:1 full frame aspect ratio. The release comes from a new 2K digital restoration. Featuring stunning visuals, the film scan presentation is robust and detailed throughout. The print is nearly flawless and shows little to no signs of significant wear.

The Celine and Julie Go Boating print is clear and free from any major damage (such as scratches, dirt, debris, burns, and other print- related deficiencies). Despite the scan coming from a 2K master (rather than a 4K restoration), the picture-quality is exceptional here and fans of the film will be enormously pleased with the scan.

Céline and Julie Go Boating Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in the original French language in uncompressed PCM mono in 24 bit high resolution. The release includes English subtitles. The subtitles on the release were free from any glaring spelling or grammatical errors. The audio is crisp throughout the presentation. Dialogue was especially clear sounding and there were no egregious issues with regards to hiss, crackle, warps, pops, or clicks. An exceptionally clean sounding audio track that was just as well restored as the video-presentation.

Céline and Julie Go Boating Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release includes a booklet featuring production credits, restoration notes, and an essay penned by Beatrice Loayza.

Disc One:

Audio Commentary with film scholar Adrian Martin

Disc Two:

Jacques Rivette: Le Veilleur is a television special in two segments: Le jour (SD, 1:13:01), about French New Wave cinema and La nuit (SD, 56:53) featuring Rivette discussing his filmography and career. Broadcast on French television on February 28, 1994.

Pacome Thiellement and Helene Frappat (HD, 34:45) discuss the importance of Celine and Julie Go Boating in an exclusive conversation produced by the Criterion Collection in 2020.

Bulle Ogier (HD, 10:25) features an interview with the actor as they discuss their participation in the production of Celine and Julie Go Boating.

Barbet Schroeder is interviewed about his role as producer and actor in Celine and Julie Go Boating. Schroeder discusses the uniquely varied roles with regards to the production of the film in this exclusive interview conducted by the Criterion Collection and recorded in 2020.

Couleurs Du Festival De Cannes (SD, 5:59) features an interview with Bulle Ogier, Juliet Berto, and Marie-France Pisier.

Pour Le Cinema (SD, 11:37) includes interviews with the stars of Celine and Julie Go Boating and behind-the-scenes footage.

Jacques Rivette: Histories De Titres (SD, 8:15) highlights an interview with Rivette about the production of Celine and Julie Go Boating.

Jacques Rivette (SD, 20:46) is interviewed about the production of Celine and Julie Go Boating. Rivette reminisces on Celine and Julie Go Boating and the period he spent making it.

Bulle Ogier, Dominique Labourier, and Marie-France Pisier (SD, 35:13) includes archival interviews about the production of Celine and Julie Go Boating.

Céline and Julie Go Boating Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Celine and Julie Go Boating is a shining example of why French New Wave cinema is a joy to experience. The film is experimental from start to finish while showcasing a unique creativity. Fans of international cinema won't want to miss this essential classic: providing a vibrancy that is quite profound. Dominique Labourier and Juliet Berto are charming to watch and each actress imbues the film with a sense of joy. The Criterion Collection Blu-ray has an exceptional 2K restoration and a wide assortment of supplemental features. Highly recommended.