Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		2.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		2.5

Mr. Klein Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 16, 2022

Joseph Losey's "Mr. Klein" (1976) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include interviews with critic Michel Ciment and editor Henri Lanoe; interviews with Joseph Losey and Alain Delon; documentary film; and more. In French, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

The events in the film take place shortly after Pierre Laval’s government has started confiscating the properties of its Jewish citizens and shipping them to various camps in Germany. It is a nationwide operation involving multiple parties -- state archives provide long lists of citizens that are eligible for relocation, the local police authorities are in charge with their detention and the confiscation of their properties, and military units are responsible for their transportation to heavily guarded train stations where they are promptly loaded on trains bound for Germany.

Due to the ongoing activities a lot has changed in Paris, but Robert Klein (Alain Delon), a very wealthy art dealer, has not stop living life to the fullest. He has continued visiting his favorite restaurants, enjoying the company of his beautiful mistress, and making deals. In fact, the accelerating departures of Jewish citizens have presented him with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that have made him appreciate his work even more. They have made him richer too, though he already has more than enough to retire in style and live like a king for the rest of his days.

But Klein’s seemingly perfect existence is seriously compromised when someone leaves a Jewish newspaper at his door, addressed to him, and he reports the error to the local authorities. While trying to categorically prove that not only he isn’t the intended recipient of the newspaper, but that he isn’t Jewish so that he can avoid future troubles with the local authorities, Klein unexpectedly falls in a rabbit hole so deep that after a while he begins suspecting that there may not be a way out of it.

Joseph Losey’s Mr. Klein was very clearly conceived to function like Orson Welles’ The Trial, which was released a little over a decade earlier. But there is crucial element of the setup that is altered in Losey’s film. Indeed, in The Trial Anthony Perkins’ character can immediately recognize that he has been forced into a rabbit hole where hypocrites and madmen are fully in control. More importantly, the logical questions he keeps asking while he is placed under “open arrest” are part of a litmus test that ultimately reveals the true nature of authoritarianism. Mr. Klein only shifts the point of view of Delon’s character so that he can begin to see what plenty of other people around him already do. Also, and this is a crucial detail, up until the moment where Delon’s character arranges to meet the other Mr. Klein his entire frustration is fueled by his desire to return to his bubble of luxury. Though he has been completely blind and deaf while residing there, he has had a perfect life, and this is the type of existence he wants again. So, Perkins’ character is wide awake and capable of deconstructing his absurd reality from the get-go, while Delon’s character embarks on a journey to restore his status as a blind and deaf citizen.

Delon is good as the perplexed and frustrated art dealer, but there is material in the middle section of the film where he reaches out to his good friend Pierre (Michael Lonsdale), who works for the secret police, that could have been scripted quite a bit better. Indeed, instead of ramping up the intensity of his descend down the rabbit hole, the screenplay demands that he behaves like a simpleton that is suspiciously incapable of being even remotely rational. This material hurts the film because it makes the transformation of the supposedly suave businessman appear unnatural and leaves the impression that Losey temporarily struggles to control the progression of the story.

Losey shot Mr. Klein with his good friend and frequent collaborator Gerry Fisher. The film does not have any striking visuals, but its period atmosphere, especially in the final third where there are some heavy noirish overtones as well, is lovely.

*Criterion’s new Blu-ray release of Mr. Klein is sourced from an exclusive 4K restoration that was prepared at Hiventy in Joinville-le-Pont, France, on behalf of StudioCanal.

Mr. Klein Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Mr. Klein arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the leaflet that is provided with this Blu-ray release:

"This 4K restoration was undertaken by StudioCanal, with support from the Centre national du cinema et de l'immagie animee (CNC), at Hiventy in Joinville-le-Pont, France, from the 35mm original camera negative and the 35mm sound negative."

The new 4K restoration that was prepared for Mr. Klein is very disappointing. After the makeover the film looks unnaturally green, often to the point of being unbearably distracting, and has a distinct new digital appearance. But the wild color scheme is just one of many issues that were introduced in the lab. Indeed, there are many areas where the restoration has eliminated native detail and, in the process, very seriously destabilized the native dynamic range of various visuals. Most of these visuals have multiple ranges of darker nuances, but the damage can be observed in brighter visuals as well. For example, in screencaptures #3 and 13 you will see how darker nuances and shadow details are either severely flattened or lost because of improper grading. In screencaptures #29 and 30 you will see how depth is compromised as well. Furthermore, a lot of darker areas reveal plenty of artifacting with digital blockiness that at this point I am beginning to think is present on the master that is being supplied for replication. Why? Because there are very familiar reoccuring patterns that were present on Hiventy's 4K restoration of La Piscine as well. You can see examples of these artifacts and other anomalies in screencaptures #8 and 13. The good news is that image stability is terrific. The fluidity of the visuals is dramatically improved as well. Finally, the entire film looks spotless. (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).

Mr. Klein Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: French LPCM 1.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The lossless track is excellent. The audio is very clear, sharp, and nicely rounded. If there were any traces of aging before the 4K makeover, it is impossible to tell now. Dynamic intensity is as good as it should be, but you need to keep in mind that the film does not have a dramatic music score that produces a wide range of memorable contrasts. The English translation is excellent.

Mr. Klein Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - presented here is a new trailer for the recent 4K restoration of Mr. Klein. In French, with English text and English subtitles. (2 min).

• Making Mr. Klein - presented here are two programs on the making of Mr. Klein. The first is a segment of the April 25, 1976, episode of Pour le cinema, directed by Pierre Mignot. It features Alain Delon and Joseph Losey discussing their involvement with the project. The second is a new interview with editor Henri Lanoe, which was conducted in 2021.
  
  1. Alain Delon and Joseph Losey. In French, with English subtitles. (13 min).
  2. Henri Lanoe. In French, with English subtitles. (27 min).

• Joseph Losey and Michel Ciment - presented here are two interviews.
  
  1. Michel Ciment - in this new video interview, critic Michel Ciment discusses the life and legacy of Joseph Losey. The interview was conducted in 2021. In French, with English subtitles. (49 min).
  2. Losey and Ciment - in this excerpt from an archival audio interview, Joseph Losey discusses the conception and production of Mr. Klein. The interview was conducted in 1976. In English, not subtitled. (34 min).

• Story of a Day: The Vel d'Hiv Roundup - this archival documentary takes a closer look at The Vel d'Hiv Roundup, which took place on July 16, 1942, which is partially recreated in Mr. Klein. Included in it are clips from interviews with survivors and Resistance members. The documentary was produced in 1986. In French, with English subtitles. (94 min).

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring Ginette Vincendeau's essay "It's All in the Name" as well as technical credits.

Mr. Klein Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The new 4K restoration of Mr. Klein is disappointing. It provides the film with a very odd greenish digital appearance that I found quite distracting. This isn't the film I remember seeing years ago, which is why I cannot recommend Criterion's Blu-ray release. If you wish to add Mr. Klein to your library, my advice is to find a way to rent and test the Blu-ray release, and only then make a decision whether to invest in it.