The Young Girls Of Rochefort -1967- Criterion -... | 10000+ Plus |

The Young Girls of Rochefort was a hit in France but took time to gain the same critical appreciation in the United States as Umbrellas . However, its influence has grown significantly over the decades. It is frequently cited as a major influence on modern musicals that prize atmosphere and stylization, most notably Damien Chazelle’s La La Land 1.2.4.

Behind the camera, Demy assembled a team of masters. The legendary composed the film’s extraordinary jazz-infused score. In a shift from their previous collaboration ( The Umbrellas of Cherbourg ), The Young Girls of Rochefort features snappy dialogue between songs, making it a more traditional yet accessible musical. Production Designer Bernard Evein famously had the entire town square repainted in glorious pastel shades of pink, peach, yellow, and baby blue to create the film’s signature visual aesthetic. "It is almost indecent to describe what should only be seen," one critic writes.

The essay touches on how the "pastel paradise" masks underlying themes of yearning, loss, and even a "cheery" axe-murder subplot mentioned casually by the characters. Special Edition Features

Visually, the film is a masterpiece of deliberate design. Demy famously had thousands of the town's shutters painted in bright pastel colors to create a specific, painterly aesthetic, perfectly complementing the film's mood. Cinematographer Ghislain Cloquet bathes the town of Rochefort in a palette of soft pinks, sky blues, and sunny yellows, transforming the location into a whimsical, dreamlike soundstage. The choreography is fluid and integrated into the town itself, with dancers swirling through open squares and public gardens as if the whole world were breaking into song.

If you are searching for edition, you have options. It is available on the Criterion Channel (streaming), on Blu-ray, and as a 4K UHD disc. The Young Girls of Rochefort -1967- Criterion -...

The Criterion edition (Spine #717) also includes several visual "pieces" that complement the essay: Learn More - Sounding Cinema

The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967) - The Criterion Collection

The Young Girls of Rochefort is not just a film; it is an antidote to despair. The Criterion Collection edition (No. 717) ensures that this masterpiece is preserved in the most pristine quality possible. Whether you are a lifelong fan of musicals or a newcomer to Jacques Demy’s enchanting world, this release is an essential addition to any library. Its message is simple: stay optimistic, for love and dreams are just around the corner.

Criterion enriches the viewing experience with a wealth of archival and contemporary supplements: The Young Girls of Rochefort was a hit

★★★★ ½ (Essential for all musical lovers and French New Wave completists) Final Note: Do not skip the restoration demonstration. Watching the “before” footage—faded, pinkish, flat—is necessary to appreciate the miracle of the “after.”

The Criterion Collection edition is the definitive way to experience the film. Key features usually included in their releases are:

A beautiful 1993 documentary by Demy’s widow, Agnès Varda, charting the film’s lasting legacy in the actual town of Rochefort.

Go ahead. Put it in your cart. “You Must Believe in Spring.” Preferably on a Tuesday. Preferably with a glass of rosé. Rochefort is waiting. Behind the camera, Demy assembled a team of masters

For a film so utterly dependent on its sensory execution, the Criterion Collection’s presentation of The Young Girls of Rochefort is essential. Demy and his production designer, Bernard Evein, famously repainted the actual buildings of Rochefort in vibrant shades of pink, blue, and yellow to match the film's costume palette.

The Young Girls of Rochefort -1967- Criterion , Les Demoiselles de Rochefort , Catherine Deneuve , Françoise Dorléac , Jacques Demy , Michel Legrand , Gene Kelly , French New Wave musical , Criterion Collection restoration.

It's a film where characters repeatedly walk right past their soulmates, oblivious, and where the most cheerful musical number occurs right after a background character mentions a gruesome local murder. This is the film's genius: it acknowledges the melancholy of reality—of lost love and shattered dreams—but refuses to be beaten down by it. In the words of Demy himself, “I wanted above all to provide two hours of joy”.

[ Classical Hollywood Royalty ] <---> [ French New Wave Innovation ] (Gene Kelly) (Catherine Deneuve) (George Chakiris) (Françoise Dorléac) \ / \ / v v [ JACQUES DEMY'S VISION ]