Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.5

Ponette Blu-ray Movie Review

A must-see gem of international cinema.

Ponette is a powerful and moving story about a young girl's love for her mother. Executive produced by Christine Gozlan (The Piano Teacher, Vera Drake), Ponette is a testament to international cinema and the universal language of cinema. A French production, Ponette is a must-see classic with a great performance from child-actor, Victoire Thivisol.

Four-year-old Ponette (Victoire Thivisol) loses her beloved mother (Marie Trintignant) in a terrible car accident. The sudden and unexpected death of her mother causes her father (Xavier Beauvois) to send her to a boarding school to stay with her aunt. Attempting to continue on with her life, Ponette makes friends at the school while attempting to not lose her connection with her mother. Ponette attempts to speak with her – and reach her from the beyond.

The heart of Ponette is the performance by Victoire Thivisol. For such a young actress, the film was one that demanded so much of her. Yet Thivisol manages to outshine even the much older and more seasoned actors in the production. As Ponette cries, the heart breaks. The film is a moving story of love. Victoire Thivisol is exceptional in the film and delivers a performance that pulls at the heart strings.

The production of Ponette has many compelling elements that also enhance the filmmaking. The production design by Henri Berthon provides the film with a compelling style that fits the story. Featuring authentic costumes by Astrid Traissac, Ponette is able to explore the characters well.

Victoire Thivisol delivers an exceptional performance.

The cinematography by Caroline Champetier (Of Gods and Men, Holy Motors) is one of the best creative components. The filmic cinematographic style is compelling and enhances the tone. An outstanding effort by Champetier. There are many compelling shots and sequences which are impeccably framed: as art on a canvas.

The music composed by Philippe Sarde (Lord of the Flies, Barocco) is beautiful and complex. The score heightens the emotional backdrop of the film. Setting the tone for the drama, the music majestically imbues the film with a sense of wonder. Sarde delivers.

Directed by Jacques Doillon (The Little Gangster, The Hussy), Ponette is a moving cinematic odyssey. Doillon penned the script with co-screenwriter Brune Compagnon (who worked on an early draft). A moving story, Doillon imbues the script with a sense of dramatic weight and depth. Anyone who has ever suffered the loss of a loved one will relate to the tragedy at the heart of the story: the grieving of Ponette and the spiritual journey she is taken on (as she tries to communicate with her dearly departed mother). Ponette is a beautiful story about love – and its unending importance.

Ponette Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, Ponette is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.66:1 widescreen. The release comes from a new 4K restoration. The presentation quality is exceptional. The scan is crisp and satisfactory throughout the entire presentation. There are no issues with the print quality. There is little to no wear on the scan.

Ponette Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. The lossless audio quality is impressive. Dialogue is crisp, clear, and easy to understand. The track is a bit laid-back and sparse at times but is effectively reproduced through the encoding. An excellent presentation by Kino Lorber.

English subtitles are provided.

Ponette Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by Film Historian Samm Deighan

Ponette Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2:30)

The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: Tous les matins du monde (SD, 2:01) and Under the Sand (SD, 1:57).

Ponette Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ponette is a moving story about the unending love of a child and her mother. The film has a great child performance by four-year-old Victoire Thivisol. The performance is significantly better than many adult actors can ever manage. The filmmaking is imbued with great depth and emotional gravitas. The Blu-ray from Kino Lorber comes from a new 4K restoration. The presentation quality is superb. Highly recommended.