Solo Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Solo Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman June 19, 2026

La Tête contre les murs offered Jean-Pierre Mocky as writer and co-star, though Georges Franju handled the directing reins. That 1959 film centered on the mistreatment of institutionalized peoples, but this 1970 outing, which Mocky co-wrote and directed along with his starring duties, might suggest that we poor capitalist types are all "institutionalized", or at least confined, by the sociopolitical and/or socioeconomic strictures modern day society offers. This is a film that explores the "afterglow" (?) of the short-lived but still visceral May 1968 protests in France, which one of the supplements here maybe (maybe not) jokes ended simply because it was time for everyone to go on holiday. The film begins with both a figurative and literal bang, as a group of would be anarchists attacks what might be thought of as the French villa version of Epstein Island, unfortunately taking out not just the elderly entitled men in an orgy, but also the nubile (and naked) young women. That opening then contrasts rather disjunctively with a sudden emphasis on a seeming musician named Vincent (Jean-Pierre Mocky), who may indeed be using that supposed career as a front for other, slightly more larcenous, activities. After travels abroad, Vincent returns to Paris, at least in part to reunite with his brother Virgile (Denis Le Guillou), who, it turns out, was part of the quasi-terrorist group attacking the orgy in the film's opening vignette.

The excesses of both the ostensible ruling class and student revolutionaries are kind of skewered in this film, but the overriding ambience is basically pure nihilism, as the basically anti-political Vincent gets sucked into events completely beyond his control and perhaps even beyond his understanding. As the noose tightens around the kids who perpetrated the massacre, Vincent is desperate to find and help Virgile, which is probably a fool's errand in any case but which probably unsurprisingly leads to tragic results. Solo is obviously more overtly political than La Tête contre les murs, though it like the other Mocky film Radiance is offering on Blu-ray is a far cry from some of the comedic material for which Mocky became well known.

Solo Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Solo is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Radiance Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.66:1. A prefatory text card announces a 4K restoration, and the insert booklet contains a bit more information:

La Tête contre les murs was restored in 4K by the Éclair Classics laboratory with support from the CNC and supervised by Mocky Delicious Products.

The film was supplied to Radiance Films as a high definition digital file. The film is presented in the original aspect ratio with original mono audio.

I'll pun as I did in my La Tête contre les murs Blu-ray review and say that this is indeed another pretty delicious looking transfer, albeit arguably not quite at the level seen in the earlier (black and white) feature. There's still some very minor age related wear and tear like little nicks and flecks that occasionally dot the premises here, and the palette is occasionally skewed slightly toward blues/purples in the very darkest scenes, as well as exhibiting a slight yellow/orange cast fairly frequently at other times which may be perceptible in some of the screenshots accompanying this review. Those dark scenes can also have a lack of shadow detail and even moments of outright crush. On the whole, though, the palette is very nicely suffused and detail levels are very appealing. Grain resolves naturally throughout.

Solo Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Solo features LPCM Mono audio in the original French. You might think your speakers aren't working at the very beginning, but that's a bit of sleight of (audio) hand as the calm before the veritable storm of the horrific shooting that ensues. Sound effects including shots and, later, Vincent's violin playing are typically full bodied and natural. Some of the underscoring by Georges Moustaki, which includes some interesting reuses of famous left wing anthems, also boasts nice fidelity. Dialogue is rendered without any problems. Optional English subtitles are available.

Solo Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Jean-Pierre Mocky (HD; 12:55) is offered in this 2018 interview. Subtitled in English.


• Anne Deleuze (HD; 17:28) is interviewed in this 2022 piece done for Esc Editions. Subtitled in English.


• Eric Le Roy (HD; 14:52) offers another contextual analysis like the one he provided for Radiance's Blu-ray release of La Tête contre les murs .


• Gallery (HD)

Radiance's insert booklet contains two archival pieces from 1970. Per Radiance's standard operating procedures, the sleeve is reversible and there's an Obi strip.

Solo Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Solo may frankly be a bit more screed like than La Tête contre les murs, but it's a fascinating political document of its time that certainly deserves wider viewership. Technical merits are solid and the supplements appealing. Recommended.