One Deadly Summer – Cult Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: France, 1983
Director: Jean Becker
Writer: Sébastien Japrisot
Cast: Isabelle Adjani, Alain Souchon, Suzanne Flon, Jenny Clève, Maria Machado, Evelyne Didi, Jean Gaven, François Cluzet

Release Date: November 18th, 2024 (UK)
Approximate Running Time: 133 Minutes 19 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono French
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £14.50 (UK)

"a provocative 19-year-old whose arrival, with her mother and sick father, in a sleepy Provence village sets the locals afire with lust and gossip. She soon finds a suitor in gentle Pin-Pon (Alain Souchon), the local mechanic, and they marry shortly after. Then the tone shifts; when a dark secret emerges from her past, the film becomes more complex and Adjani’s character reveals a disturbing side as she manipulates events and men in order to seek revenge for an outrage inflicted in her childhood…" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "New 2K sourced elements restored 16/9 version."

One Deadly Summer comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 40.5 GB

Feature: 21.2 GB

Although this transfer has many similarities to the Tanelorn Films U.S. Blu-ray release, the result is a transfer that is clearly stronger all around. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and there are no issues with compression.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in French with removable English subtitles. The audio is in excellent shape; dialogue always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and ambient sounds and the score are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include reversible cover art, an interview with the director Jean Becker (29 minutes 14 seconds, LPCM stereo French with removable English subtitles), and a documentary on author Sébastien Japrisot, known as the Graham Green of France, titled Portrait of Screenwriter Japrisot (45 minutes 41 seconds, LPCM stereo French with removable English subtitles).

Other extras include trailers for The Battle of Algiers, La Dolce Vita, and Juliet of the Spirits.

Summary:

A mechanic falls in love with a provocative young woman who recently moved to town with her mother and disabled father. What starts off as an idyllic love affair turns dark when secrets from her past emerge, causing her state of mind to deteriorate and regress to childhood.

What starts off as a story about a young woman looking into a traumatic event from the past becomes a story about obsession and being consumed to the point that you lose sight of reality. The protagonist is a young woman named Elle, who outwardly is carefree and sexually uninhibited, while inwardly she’s filled with rage and a desire to exact revenge against the men who raped her mother. Her family's moving to a small rural village puts her near those who can give her the answers she seeks and the names of the men responsible.

Elle is a force of nature and an object of desire; Isabelle Adjani (Possession) delivers a remarkable performance that captures the essence of her character. Another performance of note is Suzanne Flon’s (The Train) portrayal of Cognata, a deaf aunt of Pin-Pon, the man Elle falls in love with. For a film that leans more toward the darker side, the interactions between Elle and Cognata are among the few playful moments. Most characters shout at Cognata when they speak to her, but Elle chooses to whisper and make eye contact instead. Despite this contrast, none of the performances fall short.

Although there are some striking moments, mostly related to Elle’s physical form, the visuals for the most part let the performance take center stage. The narrative is flawlessly constructed; there are an ample amount of twists and turns, which do a phenomenal job building an exemplary finale where the truth is revealed, albeit at a cost. Another area where the narrative is very effective is its use of flashbacks, which bring things into focus. Another area where One Deadly Summer excels is Georges Delerue’s (Contempt) score, which greatly enhances the mood. Ultimately, One Deadly Summer is an extraordinary psychological drama that quickly draws you in and stays with you after its final image.

One Deadly Summer gets a first-rate release from Cult Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a pair of insightful extras. Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer