Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

French Postcards Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 22, 2016

Willard Huyck's "French Postcards" (1979) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of independent distributors Olive Films. There are no supplemental features on this release. In English and some French, without optional English SDH subtitles for the English dialog. Region-A "locked".

That day when they fell in love

There was a time when this film was very effective as a big promotional piece for Paris and the many great experiences young people can have there. It was not intended as such, but I know for a fact that there were boys and girls that decided to go to the French capital as exchange students precisely because they had seen it. This was a long time ago, before you can buy a pumpkin spice latte in a paper cup.

The film still works but in a different way. I saw it a few nights ago and it brought tears to my eyes. There are a couple of reasons why, but I am only going to mention only the one that isn’t personal. The city that you will see in the film no longer exists. It is sad but true. And no, I am not being overly melodramatic. I am simply being honest with you. So, now the film works as a reminder of what was lost and can never be brought back.

A large group of American students arrive in Paris to study and have plenty of fun. The film follows closely three of them: Alex (David Marshall Grant, Air America), a free-spirited charmer who has apparently been looking for romance in all the wrong places and is convinced that in Paris his luck will finally change; Joel (Miles Chapin, Hair), a shy bookworm who has never had a girlfriend but is ready to be in a meaningful relationship; and Laura (Blanche Baker, Sixteen Candles), a naïve beauty who has a boyfriend back home but is dying to have a passionate affair with a handsome Frenchman. Initially, the three are confident that they will find exactly what they are looking for, but the more adventurous they become, the more they begin to realize that perhaps they need to adjust their expectations. Then, right before they give up, fate decides to spice up their lives in some rather unusual ways. Alex begins seeing the elegant Madame Catherine Tessier (Marie-France Pisier, Cousin cousine), whose older husband (Jean Rochefort, Pardon Mon Affaire) has grown tired of her caprices and now cares more about his academic work than their marriage. Joel meets and falls madly in love with Toni (Valerie Quennessen, Summer Lovers), who is fluent in English and likes the fact that he isn’t as pushy as her previous boyfriends. Laura also goes out with Sayyid (Mandy Patinkin, Alien Nation), but quickly discovers that even in France there are men who don’t seem to understand what women truly want.

The film is full of various cliched situations, but it sells Paris as this idyllic romantic European city where anyone can find true love. This is what makes it so attractive -- for a short period of time you are transported to a place where hate and cynicism simply do not exist and you instantly begin to feel good.

The problem with this beautiful image of Paris is that it quickly cracks. I think that it is very difficult to view the film now and somehow force your mind not to remind you what has happened in this city in recent years and how drastically it has been transformed. I honestly could not do it. For a while the film had the classic effect on me, but then I felt incredibly sad.

Fans of the film will be pleased to know that Olive Films’ upcoming Blu-ray release features the original music that was used for its theatrical release. When the film was released on VHS by Paramount Pictures and on DVD by Legend Films, various changes were made and entire songs were actually removed.

French Postcards Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Willard Huyck's French Postcards arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Olive Films.

The release has been sourced from a pre-existing master, which I assume is the only one Paramount Pictures has in its vaults. There are some traces of very light fading that affects density during a couple of sequences early into the film, but there are no traces of compromising digital tinkering. This makes a huge difference because even though the film does have a dated appearance it also has some fairly stable organic qualities. Obviously, grain could and should be better exposed, but there are enough native textures that have been retained. There is one short fragment where colors are a bit shaky, but otherwise stability is good. However, ideally saturation should be much better. There are no large debris, cuts, or damage marks, but a few flecks can be spotted. Ultimately, it is easy to see that the film could look better in high-definition, but this is an acceptable organic presentation that at least makes it easy to view it on larger screens. My score is 3.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

French Postcards Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. There are a few exchanges in French, but they have printed theatrical subtitles (see screencapture #13). Optional English SDH subtitles have not been provided.

Generally speaking, clarity and depth are quite good. Some minor unevenness can be noticed during a few of the outdoor sequences, but there are no serious anomalies to report. Separation is also good, though dynamic movement is underwhelming. The dialog is stable and easy to follow.

French Postcards Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Most unfortunately, there are no supplemental features to be found on this Blu-ray release.

French Postcards Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Willard Huyck's French Postcards is a small gem that was largely ignored during the DVD era. This is unfortunate because I think that it is as charming and refreshingly honest as the three films in Cédric Klapisch's popular Spanish Apartment Trilogy. Olive Films' upcoming Blu-ray release of French Postcards has been sourced from what I assume is the only master Paramount Pictures currently has in its vaults and has the original music that was used during the film's theatrical release. RECOMMENDED.