Solo – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: France, 1970
Director: Jean-Pierre Mocky
Writers: Jean-Pierre Mocky, Alain Moury
Cast: Jean-Pierre Mocky, Sylvie Bréal, Anne Deleuze, Denis Le Guillou, Éric Burnelli, Alain Fourès, Henri Poirier

Release Date: June 22nd, 2026 (UK), June 23rd, 2026 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 86 Minutes 56 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono French
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK), $39.95 (USA)

"A womanizing violinist and jewel thief (Jean-Pierre Mocky, Litan) must abandon his carefree lifestyle when he learns that his younger brother is part of the leftist revolutionary group responsible for the brutal murders of powerful men. Determined to save the life of his idealistic sibling, the cynical drifter becomes embroiled in a struggle that is not his to fight." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, “Solo was restored in 4K by the Éclair Classics laboratory with support from the CNC and supervised by Mocky Delicious Products. The film was supplied to Radiance Films as a high-definition digital file.”

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

Disc Size: 34.2 GB

Feature: 25.2 GB

The source looks excellent; the flesh tones and colors look correct, the image clarity and compression are solid, the black levels are strong, and the grain remains intact.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in French with removable English subtitles. The audio is clean, clear, and balanced, with well-represented ambient sounds.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery (18 images—stills/posters); an archival interview with actor and director Jean-Pierre Mocky (12 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actress Anne Deleuze (17 minutes 28 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with Jean-Pierre Mocky’s assistant and friend Eric Le Roy (14 minutes 51 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French with removable English subtitles), reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings; and a 28-page booklet (limited to 3,000 copies) with cast & crew information, an archival interview with Jean-Pierre Mocky titled Jean-Pierre Mocky, the Maverick of French Cinema conducted by Daniel Geldreich, an archival interview with Jean-Pierre Mocky conducted by Max Tessier, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Jean-Pierre Mocky directed Solo. His filmography spans 63 years, from his directorial debut, The Chasers, to his penultimate film, Tous flics! released three years after his death. His notable films are Litan, Kill the Referee, and Agent Trouble.

An internationally known thief becomes the prime suspect in a series of killings targeting affluent individuals, which are carried out by a leftist revolutionary group led by his younger brother.

Although his later films are known for their satirical humor, his earlier films like Solo were a condemnation of restrictions imposed by society. The opening setup does a phenomenal job setting a bleak tone that's relentless and never lets up. From there, what unfolds is an intense story with characters of no redeeming qualities whose choices put them on a collusion course with death.

Instead of being a conventional police procedural, the narrative puts an inventive twist on a familiar scenario. After discovering what his younger brother has done, the protagonist tries to locate him before the police do. His frantic search parallels the police who are investigating the younger brother's crimes. That said, the narrative superbly brings these two together for an exemplary finale that serves as a perfect coda for the events that preceded.

Outside of a few uncredited appearances, Jean-Pierre Mocky had not acted in ten years before taking on the role of the protagonist. While he delivers a solid performance, he reportedly offered the role to Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo; both of them turned him down. When it comes to the rest of the cast, especially Anne Deleuze, who portrays one of the leftiest revolutionaries, they are excellent in their roles. Ultimately, Solo is an unflinching exploration of tradition and classism that quickly grabs your attention.

Solo gets a solid release from Radiance Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and informative extras. Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer