Cinema of Discovery: Julien Duvivier in the 1920s

One of the most prolific and technically proficient filmmakers 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) and Revelation aka The Agony of Jerusalem (L'Agonie de Jérusalem, 1927) depict characters grappling with challengingly painful life choices that many viewers will relate to. The Wedding of Mademoiselle Beulemans (Le mariage de mademoiselle Beulemans, 1927) and Mother Hummingbird (Mama Colibri, 1930) are both engrossing dramas of forbidden love, while The Whirlwind of Paris (Le Tourbillon de Paris, 1928) and The Miraculous Life of Thérèse Martin (La Vie miraculeuse de Thérèse Martin, 1929) portray characters pursuing their dreams and aspirations at any cost. The Mystery of the Eiffel Tower (Le Mystère de la tour Eiffel, 1928), The Divine Voyage (La Divine Croisière, 1928), and Ladies' Paradise (Au bonheur des dames, 1930) are comprised of familial conflicts surrounding money, betrayal, and love. This collection covers a wide array of thematic journeys, expertly treated by a momentous filmmaker.

These extraordinary restorations, which incorporate almost all original elements from surviving materials, have been completed by Lobster Films, with the support and collaboration of the CNC (Centre national du cinéma et de L'image animée), the Národní filmový archiv (Prague), the Fondation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé, Cinematek (Cinémathèque royale de Belgique, Belgium), la Cinémathèque Française, le Cinémathèque de Toulouse, Cineteca di Bologna (Italy), département de la Charente, Eye Filmmuseum (Netherlands), and the Gosfilmafond film archive (Russia).