L' Immortelle Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

L' Immortelle Blu-ray Movie Review

Enter the dream.

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 4, 2014

I’m beginning to understand what inspired David Lynch to start directing films. 1963’s “L’immortelle” exists in a dreamscape, or perhaps a nightmare, or perhaps it’s all set in a level of purgatory. Famed French New Wave architect Alain Robbe-Grillet isn’t in the mood to provide answers with his directorial debut. He’s mounted an avant-garde ode to the minutiae of loss and psychological disorder, setting this often indescribable tale in Istanbul, where the lead character and the viewer are strangers in a strange land, unable to decode the local language and decipher the landscapes. “L’immortelle” isn’t an approachable picture by any means, instead marching forward as an exercise in cinematic form.

Although it teases situations of life and death, “L’immortelle” isn’t an emotional journey. Robbe-Grillet has no interest in the blood flow of his characters, instead using misery to build a maze of interpretational events. The feature employs repetition and amplified sound effects to create a realm of confusion, where Frenchman N (Jacques Doniol-Valcroze) endlessly hunts for L (Francoise Brion) throughout Istanbul, unable to grasp his experience in this void as fragments of history materialize before him. Robbe-Grillet plays everything out in pause, isolating the unsettling unreality of the situation, which returns to specific imagery, including window blinds, a dog, and L’s face.

“L’immortelle” can be a hypnotic stroll through the subconscious and it can also feel like algebra homework. Robbe-Grillet loves to have it both ways, challenging the viewer with inscrutable cinematic puzzling, sold by committed but blank performances from the stars. One doesn’t casually come to “L’immortelle.” There has to be a willingness to take on such intentionally distanced filmmaking, leaving the picture only for the most courageous of art-house adventurers.

L' Immortelle Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.67:1 aspect ratio) presentation is a generous replication of the original work, boasting terrific contrast and a relatively intact print, with only a few obvious instances of damage and speckling. Blacks are pure and textured, and there's a commendable management of grain, maintaining a richly filmic viewing experience. It's clear the picture has been brought to the HD realm with care, maintaining the essentials of the image without disruption.

L' Immortelle Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 LPCM sound mix does feature crackly highs, making extremes in mood a tad piercing. However, this is not a consistent event, as much of the track is tasked with organizing sound effects and dialogue exchanges, which sound clear and meaningful, while the film's minimal use of music supports as intended, without overwhelming other elements. Hiss is present but not excessively so.

L' Immortelle Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (33:59, SD) with director Alain Robbe-Grillet dates somewhere from the mid-2000s, discussing his work on "L'Immortelle" (he doesn't seem to enjoy the film) and creative inspirations.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

L' Immortelle Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Highly regarded, "L'immortelle" is a master class in editorial precision and sound design. It's cold to the touch, but impressively conceived, and the Blu-ray allows Robbe-Grillet fanatics an opportunity to study his most unappreciated (and unavailable) work with the pauseable concentration and repetition it deserves.