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The Mother and the Whore - The Criterion Collection

£22.99

Released: 20th January 2025. After the French New Wave, the sexual revolution, and the upheavals of May 1968 came the near religiously revered magnum opus by Jean Eustache. In his long-unavailable body of work, ranging from documentaries about his native village to closely autobiographical narrative films, Eustache pioneered a forthright and fearless brand of realism. The pinnacle of this innovative style, The Mother and the Whore follows Alexandre (Jean-Pierre Leaud), a Parisian pseudo-intellectual who lives with his tempestuous girlfriend, Mari e (Bernadette Lafont), even as he begins a dalliance with the sexually liberated Veronika (Francoise Lebrun), leading the three into an emotionally turbulent love triangle. Through daringly sustained long takes and confessional dialogue, Eustache captures a generation navigating the disillusionment of the 1970s, and in the process achieves an intimacy so deep it cuts.

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  • Details

    Released:
    20th January 2025
    Category:
    World Cinema
    Studio:
    Criterion Collection
    Format:
    Blu-ray
    Certification:
    18 – Suitable only for adults
    Barcode:
    5060952897290
  • Description

    After the French New Wave, the sexual revolution, and the upheavals of May 1968 came the near religiously revered magnum opus by Jean Eustache. In his long-unavailable body of work, ranging from documentaries about his native village to closely autobiographical narrative films, Eustache pioneered a forthright and fearless brand of realism. The pinnacle of this innovative style, The Mother and the Whore follows Alexandre (Jean-Pierre Leaud), a Parisian pseudo-intellectual who lives with his tempestuous girlfriend, Mari e (Bernadette Lafont), even as he begins a dalliance with the sexually liberated Veronika (Francoise Lebrun), leading the three into an emotionally turbulent love triangle. Through daringly sustained long takes and confessional dialogue, Eustache captures a generation navigating the disillusionment of the 1970s, and in the process achieves an intimacy so deep it cuts.
    Region Code:
    Region B
    Duration:
    218 minutes
    Original Language:
    French
    Extras:
    Language(s): French, Subtitles: English, Interactive Menu, Screen ratio 1 - 1.37:1, Mono, Bonus Footage, Interviews: Francoise Lebrun (actor)., Conversation with Jean-Pierre Gorin (film-maker) and Rachel Kushner (writer); Program on the film's restoration; Segment from the French television series 'Pour le cinema' featuring Francoise Lebrun, Jean Eustache (director) and Bernadette Lafont and Jean-Pierre Leaud (actors); Essay by Lucy Sante (critic); Introduction to the film by Jean Eustache; New cover by Eric Skillman., Trailers
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