Emotions Over Explosions

Read Time:4 Minute, 3 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Is Paris Burning? (Paris brûle-t-il?)
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Genre: Drama, History, War
Year Released: 1966, 2023 Kino Lorber Blu-ray
Runtime: 2h 53m
Director(s): René Clément
Writer(s): Larry Collins, Dominique Lapierre, Gore Vidal, Francis Ford Coppola
Cast: Jean-Paul Belmondo, Kirk Douglas, Alain Delon, Glenn Ford, Orson Welles, Charles Boyer, Leslie Caron, Jean-Pierre Cassel, George Chakris, Bruno Cremer, Claude Dauphin, Pierre Dux, Gert Fröbe, Daniel Gélin, Georges Géret, Hannes Messemer, Harry Meyen, Yves Montand, Anthony Perkins, Michel Piccoli, Wolfgang Preiss, Claude Rich, Simone Signoret, Robert Stack, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Pierre Vaneck, Marie Versini, Skip Ward
Where To Watch: available now, order here www.kinolorber.com, or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: Prepare to embark on a cinematic experience that will upend your weekend watchlist! René Clément, the man behind the lens, sends out an invitation – whisking us off to 1944's Paris with IS PARIS BURNING? It's not just the usual war flick, folks. We're diving headfirst into the emotional chaos of a city under the shadow of the Nazis.

Paris – the beacon of romance, art, and resilience – takes center stage. Leading the charge is an ensemble more starlit than a clear summer night: think Kirk Douglas, Alain Delon, Jean-Paul Belmondo, and Glenn Ford—ever wondered how the essence of a city's spirit could be captured? Look no further than the palpable yearning these characters display.

But here's where Clément plays his wild card. Ditching the expected cacophony of battle scenes, he plunges into the emotional warfare inside his characters' minds. This isn’t about loud booms and dramatic dives; the heartbeats, the silent glances, and the internal battles take the spotlight. Gert Fröbe's General von Choltitz is a standout, navigating the treacherous waters of wartime decisions with unmatched finesse.

Taking a cinematographer's lens, the black-and-white presentation is sheer genius. It's not just about aesthetics; it's about feeling every fiber of the past, like thumbing through an old photo album. And sure, the movie might be a marathon, but every second unravels a layer of Paris during its trials and tribulations. And that score? It dances through the storyline, a musical partner to the visual spectacle.

Speaking of visuals, the blend of genuine wartime footage with the narrative? Stellar. It's Clément's special recipe, marrying real-world grit with real-world storytelling. It paints Paris in hues of bravery even during its darkest hour.

While IS PARIS BURNING? might tip its hat to the 60s film flavor, it firmly etches its mark on the canvas. The intricate lacework of the French Resistance narrative does have a tiny loose thread, though: the role of the Republican Spaniards. Was it an oversight or a deliberate omission? The jury's still out.

This movie is like a rich, layered, and oh-so-satisfying gourmet dessert. Newbies fret not; the narrative's embrace is warm and welcoming. This isn’t just another addition to a director’s repertoire. It’s a mesmerizing ballet of wartime emotions, shifting seamlessly from the depths of despair to the exhilarating peaks of hope. IS PARIS BURNING? Is a soulful sojourn through time, a testament to the human spirit and cinematic craftsmanship.

Product Extras:
Digitally Restored from a 4K scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative by Paramount Pictures in Association with American Zoetrope and Francis Ford Coppola
NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Daniel Kremer and Howard S. Berger
5.1 Surround/Lossless 2.0 Stereo English Audio and Lossless 2.0 Mono French Audio
Optional English Subtitles

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[photo courtesy of KINO LORBER]

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