Cinema of Discovery: Julien Duvivier in the 1920s

A unique collaboration between archives and collections from around the world, appropriate for such an illustrious and innovative filmmaker.One of the most prolific and technicallyproficientfilmmakers in cinema history, Julien Duvivier, was idolized by the likes of directors Jean Renoir, Ingmar Bergman, and Orson Welles. Duvivier’s expressive use of the camera was primarily created under the influence of poetic realist style – in fact he did much to establish the technical and aesthetic standards of French poetic realism, which won him international acclaim. For a time, he was among cinema’s most celebrated directors, receiving nominations and top prizes at notable international film competitions, including the Berlin International Film Festival, the Venice Film Festival, the National Board of Review, and New York Film Critics Circle Awards.Assembled in this Blu-ray disc collection are nine of Julien Duvivier’s deeply moving and imaginative early feature films from the late 1920s that showcase his innovative and prominent contribution to film history.Red Head (Poil de Carotte, 1925)andRevelationakaThe Agony of Jerusalem (L’Agonie de Jérusalem, 1927)depict characters grappling with challengingly painful life choices that many viewers will relate to.The Marriage of Mademoiselle Beulemans (Le mariage de mademoiselle Beulemans, 1927)andMother Hummingbird (Mama Colibri, 1930)are engrossing dramas of forbidden love.The Maelstrom of Paris (Le Tourbillon de Paris, 1928)andThe Miraculous Life of Teresa of Lisieux (La Vie miraculeuse de Thérèse Martin, 1929)portray characters pursuing their dreams any cost.The Mystery of the Eiffel Tower (Le Mystère de la tour Eiffel, 1928),The Divine Voyage (La Divine Croisière, 1928), andLadies’ Paradise (Au bonheur des dames, 1930)are comprised of familial conflicts.