Pauline at the Beach Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Pauline at the Beach Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 11, 2016

1983’s “Pauline at the Beach” is regarded as an installment of writer/director Eric Rohmer’s “Comedies and Proverbs” series, with the French New Wave veteran continuing his examination of human behavior as its challenged by deception, painful truths, and disappointment. For this production, Rohmer takes his fixations into the sun, adding the sensuality of beach bodies and the lure of a long vacation to ornament a coming-of-age exploration, puckered by sketchy characters and extended dissections of romantic need.

As with anything Rohmer produces, “Pauline at the Beach” leads with a conversational atmosphere, observing the characters in various stages of confession and introspection, trying to communicate needs and desires as mild gamesmanship goes on behind closed doors. It’s an intellectual comedy, armed with wit instead of demonstration, with Rohmer emphasizing the talents of his cast, who handle shades of gray with care, while star Arielle Dombasle has the more visually demanding role, preserving the outward sex appeal of the movie while her co-star, Amanda Langlet, displays fading innocence with softness and depth.

Pauline at the Beach Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.66:1 aspect ratio) presentation provides a filmic viewing experience, with dimensional appearance and fine grain. Colors are also supportive, delivering on bold primaries and lush skintones, helping the sexual mood of the feature. Detail is strong, capturing set decoration and close-ups with satisfactory texture, while outdoor adventures are open for study. Delineation isn't troublesome. Source isn't in rough shape, but speckling is constant, along with periodic scratches and mild flicker.

Pauline at the Beach Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix replicates Rohmer's leisurely mood, finding an appealing balance of dialogue and atmospherics. Dramatics are crisp, handling argumentative and soul-searching exchanges comfortably, emphasizing performances. Music is limited, but it's never problematic. Beach visits amplify the track, filling it with crashing waves and group encounters, adding to the picture's mood. A few points of damage are detected during the listening experience, but nothing distracting.

Pauline at the Beach Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (10 pages) features an essay by Michelle Orange.

• Interview (16:02, SD) with Eric Rohmer is pulled from a 1996 television program, finding the writer/director in an animated mood, eager to share the "Pauline at the Beach" origin story, poring through early story notes and screening Super-8 audition footage.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:49, HD), presented without subtitles, is included.

Pauline at the Beach Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Rohmer works to knot "Pauline at the Beach" with betrayals and botched seduction attempts, and the film does manage to contribute interesting, complex characterizations, even with the helmer's deliberate pacing. Personalities are the star of the show here, not speed, and "Pauline at the Beach" delivers on thoughtful exchanges, philosophical ideas, and primal desires without tripping over itself, managing to remain emotionally authentic as it teases French comedy convention.