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The Story of Adele H.: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: France, 1975
Director: François Truffaut
Writers: François Truffaut, Jean Gruault, Suzanne Schiffman, Frances Vernor Guille
Cast: Isabelle Adjani, Bruce Robinson, Sylvia Marriott, Joseph Blatchley, Ivry Gitlis

Release Date: November 18th, 2024 (UK)
Approximate Running Time: 97 Minutes 35 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 12 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono French
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK)

"The year is 1863. Adele Hugo (Isabelle Adjani, Possession) is the daughter of the legendary poet and novelist Victor Hugo. After falling in love with the British soldier Lt. Pinson (Bruce Robinson), Adele sails by herself to Nova Scotia, intending to persuade Pinson to marry her. Pinson callously rejects her advances; unperturbed, she continues to pursue him, and her obsession becomes wilder and more desperate, leading her to become increasingly outcast from society." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "The Story of Adele H. was delivered to Radiance as a High Definition digital file by Park Circus."

The Story of Adele H. comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 35.8 GB

Feature: 26.5 GB

Sourced from an existing master, this transfer is in great shape. Flesh tones look healthy, colors look very good, image clarity and black levels are strong, and compression is solid. Though Radiance Films’ and Kino Lorber’s releases share the same source, Radiance Films is the best this film has ever looked on home media. That said, this is another solid encode from Fidelity in Motion.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in French with removable English subtitles. The audio is in great shape, dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and the score sounds appropriately robust.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 50 seconds, LPCM mono French with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with director Francois Truffaut (2 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actress Isabelle Adjani (5 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with removable English subtitles), archival footage of the premiere in Lyon with Francois Truffaut and Isabelle Adjani (2 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with cinematographer Nestor Almendros (30 minutes 1 second, Dolby Digital stereo French with removable English subtitles), an interview with film critic Phuong Le (17 minutes, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 24-page booklet (limited to 3000 copies) with cast & crew information, Letter to Jean-Louis Bory written by Francois Truffaut, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

The Story of Adele H. is based on the diaries of Adèle Hugo, the daughter of author Victor Hugo, whose notable works include The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Les Misérables. The Story of Adele H. chronicles Adèle Hugo’s unrequited love for a military officer. The events take place in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Barbados. Adèle Hugo, at first under an alias and later under her real name, follows the military officer everywhere he goes.

Set in the 1860s, The Story of Adele H. is a period melodrama with exceptional costume and production design. Also, it is an exquisitely photographed film that takes full advantage of its scenic landscapes. François Truffaut’s attention to detail and direction are flawless. Though other similar stories sprawl over two or even three hours, The Story of Adele H. conveys just as much in its 98-minute duration.

For a film where everything falls into place, one would be hard-pressed to name another actress who could have portrayed the protagonist better than Isabelle Adjani (Possession). She perfectly captures her character's desperation and deteriorating state of mind. Though her character is not mentally stable, throughout she retains her ability to deceive as a means to justify the ends. For her performance she would receive an Academy Award nomination for best actress.

At the heart of The Story of Adele H. is a story about a woman who becomes obsessed with a man who she originally rejected. Despite his flaws—he’s a womanizer, and the fact that he’s no longer interested in her, these things do not discourage her. Determined to win back his affection, she goes as far as spreading lies about him when she learns he’s engaged to another woman. Ultimately, The Story of Adele H. is a heartbreaking story about a woman destroyed by obsession.

Radiance Films gives The Story of Adele H. its best home video release to date, highly recommended.