One of the original critics turned filmmakers who founded the French New Wave, Jacques Rivette (La belle noiseuse) began shooting his debut feature in 1957, well before that cinema revolution kicked off with The 400 Blows and Breathless.
Released in 1961, the rich and mysterious Paris Belongs to Us offers some of the radical elements that would define the movement–with a particular Rivette touch.
The film follows a young literature student (Betty Schneider) who befriends the members of a loose-knit group of twentysomethings in Paris. They are united by the apparent suicide of an acquaintance.
Suffused with a post–World War II disillusionment mood, while also showing a playful temperament, Rivette’s film marked the provocative start of a brilliant directorial career.
SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
- New 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
- New interview with Richard Neupert, author of A History of the French New Wave Cinema.
- Jacques Rivette’s 1956 short film Le coup du berger, featuring cameos by fellow French New Wave directors Claude Chabrol, Jean-Luc Godard, and François Truffaut
- New English subtitle translation
Credits
Running time: 141 minutes
Black & White
In French with English subtitles
1.37:1 aspect ratio