Playing with Fire Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Playing with Fire Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 18, 2022

Alain Robbe-Grillet's "Playing with Fire" (1975) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Cult Epics. The supplemental features on the disc include exclusive new audio commentary by critic Tum Lucas; archival program with Catherine Robbe-Grillet; and vintage promotional materials for the film. In French, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Out of the ten films Frenchman Alain Robbe-Grillet directed over the years the only one that still has not made it to Blu-ray is The Blue Villa (Un Bruit qui rend fou). This film wasn’t even included in the big and beautiful DVD box set French label Carlotta Films produced a decade ago to celebrate Robbe-Grillet’s legacy. But I think that it is only a matter of time before it is remastered and transitions to Blu-ray because Robbe-Grillet’s work is so different that people will always talk about it and want to explore it. Of course, any serious exploration of Robbe-Grillet should include the classic Last Year at Marienbad as well, which he scripted for Alain Resnais in 1961.

Playing with Fire (Le jeu avec le fou), which is included in Cult Epics’ brand new Sylvia Kristel 1970s Collection four-disc Blu-ray box set, is one of the least seen Robbe-Grillet films on this side of the Atlantic. In fact, this might be the first time the film has been given an official home video release in North America, which obviously is quite the event. (I know for a fact that there were no legit English-friendly DVD releases of it, but I am unsure if a local distributor bothered to introduce it on VHS). It has been fully remastered on behalf of StudioCanal and my guess is that this makeover will likely remain the the best presentation of it on the home video market.

The film is oddly surreal in all of the ways you would expect a Robbe-Grillet film to be, but part of its personality if altered a bit and clearly reveals an external influence. You need to keep this in mind when you view the film because it is essentially its one and only weakness. I will explain why at the bottom of this article.

In Paris, a gang of criminals kidnap a beautiful girl, phone the wealthy banker Georges de Saxe (Philippe Noiret), and demand that he pays them a massive ransom before they release her. They warn the banker that if he contacts the police they will kill the girl, and to make him realize that they mean business stage a few quick demonstrations of their ability to deliver on their promises. At first, the banker panics, but then much to his delight discovers that the criminals have screwed up and picked up the wrong girl. Shortly after, while still negotiating with the criminals, he hires Franz (Jean-Louis Trintignant), an experienced private dick-bodyguard, and instructs him to hide his free-spirited daughter Carolina (Anicee Alvina) until all the drama is resolved. Franz immediately goes to work and after he discovers Caroline places her in the very last place in Paris the criminals would think to look at to get the banker’s real daughter -- an upscale bordello disguised as a private club for exotic art connoisseurs with deep pockets.

Playing with Fire makes the most sense if described as a giant teaser rather than a conventional thriller with an unconventional sense of humor because its entire ‘story’ is essentially a collage of contrasting episodes that constantly play with the viewer’s expectations. Naturally, this happens to be the reason why the film does not establish a solid identity -- crime, drama, erotica, and comedy overlap until its final credits roll.

The most memorable visuals come from the bordello. Once Caroline enters it and begins exploring its pleasure chambers, Robbe-Grillet blurs the line that is supposed to separate and the surreal and creates that classic very fluid atmosphere his best films are known for. In other words, the entire kidnapping case is just a ruse that prepares for the activities inside the bordello and Caroline’s hallucinations. Kristel is one of the senior hosts there, but her cameo is instantly forgettable.

The external influence that I mentioned above is Trintignant’s. Robbe-Grillet and Trintignant made a couple of pretty dark films together and here it is quite obvious that the latter is casually mocking the former’s notoriously subversive mind. It is a nice touch that produces some pretty funny moments, but it will make perfect sense only to viewers who are familiar with the other films. (Trans-Europ Express, The Man Who Lies, and Successive Slidings of Pleasure are out on Blu-ray courtesy of the Redemption label. Click on the links to see our listings and reviews of these releases).

Playing with Fire Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Playing with Fire arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Cult Epics.

The master that was used to source this release is very, very nice. I wonder if it is the same master that was licensed from StudioCanal and used to source the DVD release of the film that is included in Carlotta Films' Alain Robbe-Grillet - Récits cinématographiques DVD box set because it has very similar characteristics. There are absolutely no traces of problematic digital corrections, so both the darker indoor footage and brighter outdoor footage usually look either very good or excellent. Yes, some of the finer nuances during the indoor footage could be a bit more convincing, but there is still plenty to see and appreciate. Depth is very nice as well, especially when there is plenty of natural light. Colors are lush and healthy, wonderfully balanced and stable. In fact, excluding a few ranges of darker nuances, I don't think that there is any room for meaningful improvements. I noticed a few shaky traditions, but there are no serious stability issues. There are no distracting large debris, cuts, damage marks, warped or torn frames to report in our review. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Playing with Fire Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: French LPCM 2.0 and French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

I chose the LPCM 2.0 track and did a few comparisons with the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. I am unsure if I missed something crucial, but from the small parts I tested they sounded identical on my system. So, I don't know what the difference between the two is supposed to be. The dialog is clear, stable, and very easy to follow. Dynamic intensity is good, but the original sound design isn't overly impressive.

Playing with Fire Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview with Catherine Robbe-Grillet - in this archival program, Catherine Robbe-Grillet, the widow of Alain Robbe-Grillet, recalls the production of Playing with Fire and the director's relationship with Jean-Louis Trintignant. There are some interesting comments about the film's 'open-mindedness' as well as Philippe Noiret's personality and acting methods. In French, with English subtitles. (6 min).

• Commentary - an exclusive new audio commentary recorded by critic Tim Lucas.

• Promotional Gallery - a collection of vintage promotional materials for Playing with Fire.

• Trailers - trailers for the other three films in the Sylvia Kristel 1970s Collection Blu-ray box set.

• Booklet - 40-page illustrated booklet featuring an essay by author Jeremy Richey and technical information.

• Poster - see screenshots.

Playing with Fire Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Have you seen Alain Resnais' Last Year at Marienbad? Do you like how it bends reality and plays with your mind? Last Year at Marienbad was scripted by Alain Robbe-Grillet and all of the films he directed after it use similar tricks to impress. Some are darker, some are more explicit, some are more surreal. Playing with Fire is the funniest of the ten films Robbe-Grillet directed, though I think that in order to fully appreciate its sense of humor you need to have seen the other three films he made with Jean-Louis Trintignant. To be clear, you won't have a disappointing experience with Playing with Fire if you haven't seen these films, but your grasp of the subtle mocking game Trintignant engages in will be more complete. This release is sourced from a wonderful organic master that was prepared on behalf of StudioCanal and is included in Sylvia Kristel 1970s Collection, a four-disc box set produced by Cult Epics. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.