Product Details

• Format: Box set, Black & White, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: French (Dolby Digital 1.0)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 6
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Criterion
• DVD Release Date: August 15, 2006
• Run Time: 480 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000FUF7CQ
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,552 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Eric Rohmer's Six Moral Tales (The Criterion Collection)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

The multifaceted deeply personal dramatic universe of Eric Rohmer has had an effect on cinema unlike any other. Gently existential hyperarticulate character studies set against vivid seasonal landscapes Rohmer's audacious and wildly influential series defined a genre. A succession of jousts between fragile men and the women who tempt them the Six Moral Tales unleashed onto the film world a new voice one that was at once sexy philosophical modern daring nonjudgmental and liberating.Six-disc box set includes the films: The Bakery Girl of MonceauSuzanne's CareerMy Night at Maud'sLa collectionneuseClaire's KneeLove in the AfternoonFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NR Age: 715515019125 UPC: 715515019125 Manufacturer No: CC1640DDVD

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh boy!, August 26, 2006

By 

Thomas Plotkin (West Hartford CT, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Eric Rohmer's Six Moral Tales (The Criterion Collection) (DVD)

Criterion has provided us with the nicest French cinema bonanza since their Antoine Doinel cycle set of a few years ago. These Rohmer chat-fests are a litmus test for cinephiles. American Nouvelle Vague-inspired '60's director Arthur ("Bonnie and Clyde") Penn had mouthpiece Gene Hackman say in Night Moves: "I saw a Rohmer film once. It was like watching paint dry." On the other hand, Rohmer is Quentin Tarantino's favorite director. (Weird as that seems, they share a love of discursive dialog). These movies basically follow a formula -- deeply confused men, snared up in conflicts between flesh and spirit (usually represented by the two women in their lives), work out their confusions through marathon conversations. Like the much-used Henry James analogy, the viewer will either find these moral pilgrimages-though-talk tiresome or transcendant, depending on your attention span. Meantime, stunning cinematography (usually by natural light wizard Nestor Alemndros) pin-points seasonal changes with subtle shadings. These are connisoeur's works, and if you dont know 'em, sample some on Netflix before buying unseen based on reputations. Like Henry James' novels, you either reject 'em out of hand, or else become addicted. This reviewer is an addict, of course.

39 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Criterion's Biggest set yet, September 10, 2006

By 

Ted "Ted" (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Eric Rohmer's Six Moral Tales (The Criterion Collection) (DVD)

This release is the largest to be released by the Criterion Collection to date. It contains six major films by Eric Rohmer and several short films too. It also contains a novelization of the 6 main films in the release.

Disc 1 contains the film "The Bakery Girl of Monceau" originally released in France as "La Boulangère de Monceau" which is about a man who patronizes a bakery in Paris and befriends a young woman working there. The special features are the short film "Presentation, or Charlotte and Her Steak" "Présentation ou Charlotte et son steak" in French, and "Moral Tales, Filmic Issues" a conversation between Eric Rohmer and Barbet Schroeder.

Disc 2 contains the film "Suzanne's Career" released in France as "La Carrière de Suzanne" which is about two friends who meet a young woman and fall in love with her. The special features are Rohmer's short film "Nadja in Paris" in French as "Nadja à Paris"

Disc 3 contains the film "My Night at Maud's" known in France as "Ma nuit chez Maud" which is about a Cathoic man who falls in love with a woman he meets at Mass and them meet a woman named Maud who he has a long talk with. The special features are a theatrical trailer for the film, "On Pascal" known in France as "Entretien sur Pascal", and an episode of the French program "Télécinéma" featuring interviews with one of the actors and some other people.

Disc 4 contains the film "La Collectionneuse" which is about two friends who go on vacation inthe French Riviera. They share a room with a young woman. The special features are a theatrical trailer Rohmer's short film "A Modern Coed" known in France as "Une étudiante d'aujourd'hui", and an episode of the Canadian television program " Parlons cinema" interviewing Rohmer about the film

Disc 5 contains the film "Claire's Knee" known in France as "Le Genou de Claire" which is about a diplomat who become obsessed with the knee of a teenage girl named Claire. The special features are a theatrical trailer, Rohmer's short film "The Curve" known in France as "La Cambrure" a scene from the French TV program "Le journal du cinéma" with interviews of some of the film's actors.

Disc 6 contains the film "Love in the Afternoon" known in France as "L'Amour l'après-midi" and also known as "Chloe in th Afternoon" which is about a married man who can't take his mind off another woman. The special features are a theatrical trailer Rohmer's short film "Véronique and Her Dunce" known in France as "Véronique et son cancre", and an afterword with Neil LaBute.

This box set is comprehensive and contains many good films.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Own for Rohmer fans and cinephiles, September 1, 2006

By 

JPT (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Eric Rohmer's Six Moral Tales (The Criterion Collection) (DVD)

First, for those unfamiliar with Rohmer's work, I strongly recommend renting or Netflixing "My Night at Maud's" or "Claire's Knee".

In my personal opinion, everyone should love Rohmer's style, but I will admit, from personal experience, that it may take a couple viewings before you become hooked. Rohmer's style is the epitome of subtlety. You won't find flashy jump cuts, over-the-top sound tracks, or beams of light piercing through a window casting the lead actor in a wash of bright light at the "moment of revelation".

Rohmer's style demands some commitment on the part of viewers--especially those of use who have been raised on standard Hollywood fare. But, oh, that commitment is rewarded hundred-fold once you become accustomed to the intimate style and subtle pacing of Rohmer's movies. He is one of the great masters of cinema.

Now to those who are already familiar with Rohmer's works . . .

I am one of those people who already owns DVD copies of most of Rohmer's films. One of my big gripes through the years has been the off-handed production of these DVD sets. Often it seems the movies have been rushed onto DVD with minimal restoration. Enter Criterion.

The Criterion set of "Six Moral Tales" is well up to their high standards of video and audio restoration. The visual look of these films is quite likely in line with what the original prints must have looked like when these movies first received theatrical release. I understand that Rohmer himself was involved in the restoration, which I'm sure didn't hurt.

In my opinion, the restored films are reason enough to get these sets. However, Criterion makes sure to lavish this box set with a treasure trove of bonuses. In addition to some fine Rohmer short films spanning the director's career, there are also some archival interviews, and other bonuses. The box set also contains a bound copy of the "Six Moral Tales," and a separate booklet which compiles some very good essays about Rohmer's work (including one essay by Rohmer himself).

My only gripe--and it is a greedy one--is that I wish these sets also contained an audio commentary track. I understand that Rohmer has done a "master class" on some of his movies, and it certainly would have been a welcome addition to have some additional background into the making of these films (e.g. decision on casting, reasons for certain shots, and other bits of trivia).

For the price though, this box set offers tremendous value. I recommend the "Moral Tales" box set without hesitation. Now let's hope Criterion offers a similar treatment of Rohmer's later works!