Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Eden and After Blu-ray Movie Review

Kids today.

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 1, 2014

1970’s “Eden and After” doesn’t represent a change of creative direction for director Alain Robbe-Grillet, but it does bring a hearty dose of color to his style after his previous work bathed in the mystery of black and white. Perhaps the addition of bold hues encourages the primal side of the filmmaker, as “Eden and After” is more feral creation for the notoriously arcane helmer, indulging the wild side of youth as it explores psychological gamesmanship and unlocked desires. True to Robbe-Grillet’s cinematic approach, it’s cold to the touch, but for a low-wattage freak-out, “Eden and After” achieves its vague goals.

A tale of university students, including Violette (Catherine Jourdan), who partake in challenges of fear coming under the influence of Jean-Pierre (Sylvain Corthay), a stranger with chemical connections to African horror, “Eden and After” slavishly follows the Robbe-Grillet template. It’s interpretational, esoteric, and static. The difference here is nightmare imagery, sending Violette on a bizarre journey of self that’s wrapped up in a mystery involving a key and a picture of a Tunisian home. Storytelling is dismissed early on in the feature, which primarily focuses on artful pursuits, with the director’s deliberate staging and editorial skills contributing to this cinematic enigma, peppered with a few passages of interpretive dance.

Eden and After Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.66:1 aspect ratio) presentation brings Robbe-Grillet's cinematic universe into color, with some bright, stable hues welcoming the viewer as costuming and assorted grotesqueries are detailed, displaying limited fade. Skintones are quite natural. Grain takes on a slightly noisy quality here, but nothing that diminishes the filmic qualities of the viewing experience, while print issues are minimal, save for some speckling, mild judder, and a few harsh reel changes. Detail is satisfactory, with encouraging clarity for the various environments, bringing out Tunisian textures and industrial playgrounds, while close-ups retain their aging and emotional accuracy. Blacks have crush issues, but only on rare occasions.

Eden and After Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 LPCM sound mix carries the mood of the film with accuracy, emphasizing disparate sound effects and blustery atmospherics that sell changes in location. Music carries weight, bringing a nice heaviness to the track, with thumping tribal percussion and swinging rock rhythm. Dialogue exchanges are always intelligible, with a slightly muddy quality due to the age of the movie. Intentional manipulations in sound register clearly, retaining the feature's artistic intent.

Eden and After Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "N. Takes the Dice" (79 minutes, 2.0 DTS-HD MA) is an alternate cut of "Eden and After," created with different takes and editorial approach.

• Interview (30:56, SD) with Robbe-Grillet explores his leap into color with "Eden and After," with his considerable artistic intentions with the feature.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:41, HD) is included.

Eden and After Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Eden and After" doesn't particularly advance Robbe-Grillet as a filmmaker, yet it has moments of real beauty and cinematic craftsmanship, and the helmer is wise to focus intently on the expressive face of star Jourdan. It doesn't take long before the feature loses connection with reality (or perhaps never had it in the first place), and while confusion is plentiful, it's communicated with a directorial confidence that eases immediate dismissal.