Milos Forman's first steps in the cinema in 4 major films
With his first works, Milos Forman is dubbed leader of the Czech New Wave. In total rupture with the aesthetics of socialist realism, the future director of Flight over the Cuckoo's Nest takes ordinary characters shown in everyday life as heroes of his films, without didacticism or moralizing scope.
This singular look is the salt of his four early works presented for the first time in High Definition: the jubilant L'Audition , the sensitive and biting L'As de piques and Les Amours d'une blonde , and the satirical comedy Fire, firefighters! – his last Czech film before the American exile.
Available in Blu-ray or DVD boxes
Rigid case containing a 3-fold digipack
New Restored Masters
Original versions with French subtitles
THE BOX CONTAINS
BLU-RAY 1
THE HEARING (1963 – B&W – 82 mn)
This film brings together the two medium-length films Ah, if there weren't these guinguettes and L'Audition . The first follows Blumental and Vlada, two teenagers who have each joined a local brass band. The second, an audition session for the Semafor theater in Prague.
THE ACE OF SPADES (1963 – B&W – 90 mn)
Petr is a sixteen-year-old apprentice who has just landed a small summer job. Instead of sunbathing by the pool and flirting with girls, he has to watch the customers of a convenience store in order to prevent possible thefts...
SUPPLEMENTS (IN HD) *
. INTERVIEW WITH PAVLA MARTÍNKOVÁ-NOVOTNÁ (15 mins)
The actress of The Ace of Spades remembers the shooting, her playing partners and evokes the direction of actor of Milos Forman.
. DELETED SCENE
. ORIGINAL TRAILER
BLU-RAY 2
THE LOVES OF A BLONDE (1965 – B&W – 81 mn)
The small town of Zruc sees a regiment of middle-aged reservists land, much to the despair of its inhabitants who expected to meet young and attractive soldiers . The pretty Andula and her friends are awkwardly courted during the ball organized in their honor...
SUPPLEMENT (IN HD)*
. SPRINGTIME BY MILOS FORMAN (2020 – Colors and B&W – 12 mins)
A look back at Milos Forman's first four films made in communist Czechoslovakia in the 1960s, with this question: how, in such a context, can libertarian films be imposed? By Luc Lagier.
BLU-RAY 3
FIRE, FIREFIGHTERS! (1967 – Colors – 73 mins)
In a small provincial town, a firefighters' ball is organized in honor of the fifty years of service of one of their own. In addition to a raffle, a miss beauty contest is set up to give the gift to the veteran. But nothing goes as planned...
SUPPLEMENTS (IN HD)*
. MILOS FORMAN, 1960s
a documentary by Luc Lagier (2010 – Colors and B&W – 50 mins)
In front of the camera of the creator of Blow Up , Arte's web-magazine, Milos Forman evokes his memories as a filmmaker in Czechoslovakia in the 1960s.
. TRAILER 2019
* In HD only in the Blu-ray edition
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3 BD • HIGH DEFINITION MASTERS • 1080/23.98p • AVC ENCODING
Original Version DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 • French Subtitles
Format 1.37 respected • Black & White and Colors • Total Film Length: 326 mins
3 DVDs • NEW RESTORED MASTERS •
Original Version Dolby Digital 1.0 • French Subtitles
1.37 format respected • 4/3 • Black & White and Colors • Total Film Length: 313 mins
Released November 4, 2020
