Product Details

• Actors: Catherine Deneuve, Daniel Auteuil, Marthe Villalonga, Jean-Pierre Bouvier, Chiara Mastroianni
• Directors: André Téchiné
• Writers: André Téchiné, Pascal Bonitzer
• Producers: Alain Sarde
• Format: PAL, Color, HiFi Sound, Widescreen, Import
• Language: French
• Rated: Unrated
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Le Studio Canal (Collection Grand Ecran) France
• Run Time: 122 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004RP8E

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A troubled family, living in genteel, suburban comfort in the south of France is jolted by the deteriorating health of their elderly grandmother and the reappearance of an absented sibling. Catherine Deneuve plays Emilie, a disillusioned parent and frustrated wife, who finds herself drawn away from her unimaginative husband toward her brother, a jealous and charismatic neurosurgeon. Structured like a novella with four chapters, Téchiné's film is riddled with long stretches of ponderous, often humorless, philosophical dialogue. Deneuve's Emilie remains inexpressive and remote; she occupies the moral center of the film, but her characterization isn't generous enough to grant us access to her motivations. Daniel Auteuil fares better as brother Antoine--his odd features and intelligent eyes communicate fathomless restlessness and longing. Spectacular, jaw-dropping footage of Southern France provides a gorgeous backdrop for many scenes, lending a depth and resonance that might otherwise be lacking. Bonus: Marcello Mastroianni's daughter Chiara portrays Emilie's daughter; she's a delight to watch and she acquits herself marvelously. --Miles Bethany

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, May 19, 2009

By 

PHIL "Phil" (madison wi usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: André Téchiné Four-Film Collector's Edition (Hôtel des Amériques / J'embrasse pas / My Favorite Season / Wild Reeds) (DVD)

PLEASE READ THIS!!!!!!!!!!! I've tried to order this set 4-5 times in the last few months both from Amazon and third party sellers/new and used and each time I received sets containing two disc#2's and no disc#1.There's a bad run of this thing out there and no one is checking on this.Be sure to contact a seller and ask specifically if disc#1 is PRESENT in the set before attempting to make a purchase.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Penetrating look at familial bonds, obligations, and love, June 1, 1999

By 

Daniel Galeza "galezadx" (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Favorite Season [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The uneven but always intriguing director Andre Techine has crafted an extremely involving tale of a middle-aged brother and sister (Catherine Deneuve and Daniel Auteuil) who must deal with their elderly mother's deteriorating health. As a result, old wounds are reopened and family relationships are all strained to the breaking point. And brother and sister begin a self-examination that will take them on a rocky (and always beliveable) journey toward what it means to be family. The story, such as it is, rambles and changes focus from time to time, but that's the point. The characters, dialogue and situations are all thoroughly realistic and anyone who has come through any kind of family crisis will find plenty to identify with here. On the cinematic side, Techine has exquisitely captured the beauty of the French countryside, and his use of widescreen is surprisingly effective for such an intimate piece. Deneuve (who's even more beautiful than she was 30 years ago, if that's possible) does some of her best work, and the ever-underrated Auteuil is equally good. Highly recommended for those with a taste for quiet human drama.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent and Wonderfully Brilliant Cinema, February 17, 2004

By 

L. Shirley "Laurie's Boomer Views" (Huntington Beach,CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: My Favorite Season (DVD)

This review refers to the Fox Lorber DVD edition of "My Favorite Season"....

"My Favorite Season" is a wonderful piece of French filmmaking.The intelligent and subtle screenplay, the brilliant cast, the beautiful setting of the French countryside,marvelous music, all under the expert direction of Andre Techine, had me hanging on every word,left me wanting more of this exquiste film, and thinking about it for quite some time afterwards.

Catherine Deneuve and Daniel Auteuil, work beautifully together as Emilie and Antoine, brother and sister trying to cope with a very dysfunctional family life, their own troubled relationship and the declining health of their aging mother.This is a family that tries very hard to just like one another, and with the passsing of each season,the changes in their lives run a gamut of emotions. Deneuve, Auteuil, and the rest of this outstanding cast will draw you in with their intuitive performances.It is a film that will involve you from the first frame to the last.

Fox Lorber has a knack for selecting and bringing to DVD some of the best international works out there. "My Favorite Season" is among the best of those. Overall, the DVD presents a nice clear picture in widescreen. The film is in French with subtitles in English. I did not see any way to delete the subtitles though. A trailer, and biographies are also included.

A wonderful emotional drama, and fine piece of filmmaking...enjoy...Laurie

also recommended:
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Les Choses De La Vie (Original French Title)

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