Themroc: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: France, 1973
Director: Claude Faraldo
Cast: Michel Piccoli, Béatrice Romand, Marilù Tolo, Francesca Romana Coluzzi, Jeanne Herviale, Stéphane Bouy, Coluche, Madeleine Damien, Patrick Dewaere, Miou-Miou, Myriam Mézières

Release Date: May 19th, 2025 (UK), May 20th, 2025 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 109 Minutes 10 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK), $39.95 (USA)

"Living at home with his mother, bachelor house painter Themroc (Michel Piccoli, Belle de Jour) leads a dull life. One day, after an unearned run-in with his boss, the usually docile Themroc rebels and dismantles his myopic world." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, “Themroc was restored in 4K resolution from the original camera negative by StudioCanal and supplied to Radiance Films as a High-Definition digital file."

Themroc comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 38 GB

Feature: 29.7 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones are healthy, colors look correct, image clarity, contrast, and black levels are strong, and compression is solid. Shot on 16mm and blown up to 35 mm, the grain looks thick; that said, the image always looks organic.

Audio: 5/5

There is no spoken dialog; characters cough, grunt, and speak gibberish. The audio sounds clean and balanced. Included are two removable English subtitles; the second of these two is more elaborate. It is essentially a descriptive audio translation of what is happening and heard.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery (7 images - posters), an interview with film critic Manuela Lazic who discusses Michel Piccoli (23 minutes 26 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with film critic David Thompson who discusses Themroc (23 minutes 19 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an archival French TV interview with actor Michel Piccoli and director Claude Faraldo (17 minutes 30 seconds, LPCM stereo French with removable English subtitles), reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 20-page booklet (limited to 3000 copies) cast & crew information, an essay titled Themroc: The Return of the Repressed written by Alison Smith, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

A house painter who lives with his mother and sister revolts against society after an incident at work.

There are no spoken words, just coughing, grunts, and other sounds. It is through characters' emotions and body language that they speak. Though the narrative moves in a linear way, its unconventional approach might present a challenge for some viewers. That said, if you embrace what the filmmaker is trying to achieve, it becomes easier to glean information as the story progresses.

All of the heavy lifting is done by the cast, especially Michel Piccoli (Contempt) in the role of the protagonist, a man who reaches his breaking point and smashes societal norms. Though the lack of dialogue seems daunting, the cast must have found freedom in not having to speak. Through gestures and expressions, you can express more than through words. The rest of the cast is filled with recognizable faces: Béatrice Romand (Claire’s Knee), Marilù Tolo (The Five Days), Coluche (Tchao Pantin), and Patrick Dewaere (Série noire).

Though Themroc deals with some subject matter that pushes boundaries, notably the protagonist's inappropriate relationship with his sister, the overall tone of the film is lighter than expected. It is clear that the director is approaching everything from a satirical view, and this is most apparent in how effectively it employs humor. Ultimately, Themroc is a unique cinematic experience and a brilliant deconstruction of the working class.

Themroc gets a definitive release from Radiance Films, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer