The Two of Us Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		5.0

The Two of Us Blu-ray Movie Review

Archie Bunker's Place, WWII style.

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman May 27, 2018

There have been any number of well remembered films featuring kids dealing with the trauma of making it through World War II, including (in no particular order) Life Is Beautiful, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, The Tin Drum, Europa Europa, Lore, Empire of the Sun, The Book Thief, Ivan's Childhood, The Diary of Anne Frank, Come and See, and Forbidden Games, to name just a few in what is really a rather interesting and at times emotionally overwhelming list. While some of the aforementioned films feature children separated from their families and (in some cases) forced to live “underground” in one way or the other (especially if they were Jewish), two other films that should be mentioned in this category offer a perhaps subliminal link to Claude Berri’s immensely moving The Two of Us, namely Louis Malle’s Au revoir les enfants and John Boorman’s Hope and Glory, in that all three films are based on the memories of their writer-directors (it’s perhaps more salient than usual that all three films were at least co-written by their directors). Many of the above linked films can be devastating viewing experiences, and only the most hard hearted audience member will be able to make it through The Two of Us without at least intermittent lumps in the throat, but what’s so memorable about this now legendary film is how unexpectedly sweet it is, despite some intentionally provocative subtext that sees a trouble prone young Jewish boy named Claude (Alain Cohen) sent to live with a rural couple whose paterfamilias Pépé (the iconic French star Michel Simon) is an unrepentant bigot and anti-Semite.

Despite a context that is at times both melancholic and frightening, The Two of Us actually flirts with outright comedy at times, especially in its opening vignettes documenting Claude’s seemingly inerrant ability to get in trouble. The little boy seems willfully unaware of the maelstrom erupting around him, or of the fact that his “merely” being Jewish can put his distraught father and probably over protective mother in danger. A number of naughty escapades push Claude’s father to the breaking point, and ultimately some tangentially linked family friends in the country (who are unaware of the family being Jewish) are contacted to take Claude in, on the pretext that Paris has simply become too dangerous.

There are some who (probably understandably) feel The Two of Us dabbles a bit too much in overt sentimentality and may even sugar coat some elements of the story, but it’s actually the (what is to me, anyway) the film’s rather honest ambiguity about what people can really be like that gives this film its inherent power and emotional impact. Pépé is far from perfect, as some of his revealed prejudices show, but he is essentially a good man. In today’s groupthink culture where Political Correctness is often proscribed, a man like Pépé might be routinely disparaged, even despite his “redeeming” characteristics, while Berri is more than content to depict him as an aged curmudgeon who has a lifetime of experience that has pushed him inexorably toward certain opinions that may in fact be objectionable, but which (kind of oddly) never seem overly malevolent.

The film is unbelievably potent at times as it documents the growing relationship between Claude and Pépé, and to a lesser extent Pépé’s long suffering wife Mémé (Luce Fabiole), along with Claude’s “adventures” matriculating into a new (largely Catholic) society and school life in a rural location far removed from the urban hustle and bustle of Paris. There’s a really authentic feeling for small village life running rampant throughout this film, with several outstanding vignettes involving townspeople. The whole subtext of almost subliminal anti-Semitism that is displayed by Claude’s foster parents and other villagers is never far from the surface, but perhaps due to Claude’s inherent resilience, it only occasionally seems overtly threatening.

I’m not ashamed to admit I find it hard to watch The Two of Us without tearing up, especially in the unabashedly emotional finale. This was a major comeback for Simon, after a bizarre accident with makeup that resulted in his partial paralysis, and he essays one of the most lovable bigots in cinematic history with a flair and indelible sweetness that has to be seen to really be appreciated (it’s especially incredible that Simon seems so sweet when the character is often spouting dubious “theories” about various ethnicities). Simon's work here might be just a bit on the buffoonish side at times, but his interplay with the wonderful young Cohen is some of the most memorable in any film dealing with youths during World War II, and indeed perhaps in cinema as a whole.

The Two of Us Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Two of Us is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Cohen Film Collection with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.66:1. Based off of a new 4K restoration, this is a "practically perfect in every way" transfer that should knock the socks and/or eyeballs off of any fan of this film. Contrast is spot on, delineating deep blacks and well modulated gray scale with ease, and detail levels are routinely pleasing, even in some midrange (and even some wide) shots. The grain resolves organically without any issues whatsoever. The most eagle eyed videophiles may catch just a minor hint of density fluctuations, but they're negligible. Criterion put out this title on DVD several years ago (it was in fact one of the very first things, and maybe the very first thing, I reviewed in my then nascent online presence), and it looked great then, but this new version is really gorgeous and an incredibly enjoyable viewing experience.

The Two of Us Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Two of Us features an LPCM 2.0 mono track that offers fine support for the film's dialogue and ambient environmental effects (a lot of the film takes place outside once Claude gets to the country). Georges Delerue's heartfelt score also sounds rich if unavoidably narrow in this presentation. There are no signs of damage or distortion to report.

The Two of Us Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Feature Length Audio Commentary with Film Critic Wade Major


• Michel Simon Discusses The Two of Us (480i; 1:25) is a brief archival piece with Simon reminiscing about coming out of an unwanted screen retirement to tackle the role. In black and white, as well as in French with English subtitles.


• Michel Simon and Jean Renoir in Conversation (480i; 6:00) is another sweet archival piece with the two discussing their friendship and collaborations. In black and white, as well as in French with English subtitles.


• Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 1:45)

The Two of Us Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I just flat out love The Two of Us, despite (or in fact maybe because of) what is Berri's unabashed tendency to display his heart on his sleeve. This release may be just a tad late to really be called a "50th Anniversary" edition (the film debuted in 1967), but even as a "51st Anniversary" edition, The Two of Us deserves to be celebrated. Cohen has done this touching viewing experience right in terms of technical merits, though I personally wish a few more supplements had been included. Highly recommended.