Plot: What’s it about?
Claude (Alain Cohen) is a normal young boy, loud and rambunctious, always looking for trouble to get into. But as World War II rages on and the German forces continue to hunt down Jewish people, the time for Claude to act up isn’t now, as it puts he and his Jewish family in great peril. His parents want him to just blend in, but he insists on standing out, so the family has moved several times to elude capture. After enough problems, his parents decide to send him to live with friends in the countryside, where he will be far from the German threat. But even in this rural locale, Claude will have to pretend to be someone else, as the old man that lives there hates Jews himself. That man is Pepe (Michel Simon), an old man with senility issues who quickly forms a bond with Claude, making fast friends. But even with their unlikely friendship, surrounded by war and with a deception between them, what will become of their unique relationship?
I am fairly well educated in the ways of cinema, I’ve seen a lot more movies than most and from a broader selection. I have an appreciation for films of all kinds, from all eras, a good movie is a good movie, after all. The Two of Us has been praised in many circles and now as part of The Criterion Collection, the film finds a wide home video release. I kept an open mind, but I have to be honest, this one bored me from start to finish. I don’t have grudges against foreign films, black & white films, slow moving films, or any other kind of films, but this one just didn’t click. The story is simple and seems like it should work, but I never found myself drawn in, even for a moment. The lone grace is the performance of Michel Simon, who is quite good here, but the movie as a whole left me disappointed. This disc from Criterion looks terrific and has a few nice extras, so if you’re interested, take a look, but I’d recommend a rental before a purchase.
Video: How does it look?
The Two of Us is presented in 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen. This transfer looks superb, but this is a Criterion release, so I am not surprised. The print is in good condition, with no serious marks or debris, though a little grain can be seen in some sequences. I noticed a level of softness throughout, but this never proves to be a real issue, though it is evident. The black & white visuals look good outside of the softness, thanks to well balanced black levels. So the image here has some flaws, but given the material’s age, I think we can overlook the mild softness.
Audio: How does it sound?
This film isn’t very reliant on audio, so the original French mono track is more than adequate. The track seems pretty clean and little harshness is present, which is good for a film of this age. The dialogue sounds great, no evidence of distortion in the least and the vocals seem very crisp at all times. Of course, I don’t speak much French, but I can tell a sharp vocal track when I hear one. The rest of the elements are used in small doses, so this track handles them with no problems in the least. This disc also includes newly created, optional English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The most substantial inclusion is Le Poulet, a fifteen minute short film by Berri, which is a fun watch and should make fans of the director quite pleased. This disc also includes both new & vintage interviews, an excerpt from a French talk show, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
