Customer Reviews

Vivre Pour Vivre / Live for Life - (Russian Import - PAL DVD)

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When, OH WHEN, will this long lost 1967 French film from director Claude
LeLouch have a Region 1 DVD release with the original French dialogue
and ENGLISH subtitles, and in the proper widescreen format???? I have
waited and wondered for this longer than I can remember. I have the gor-
geous soundtrack by French composer Francis Lai (who did several film
scores for LeLouch including the smash hit "A Man And A Woman") in both
vinyl and cd formats. I even had a friend download and create a DVD copy
for me after I got tired of waiting for it to be officially released, which
STILL hasn't happened yet. Starring Yves Montand as a married journalist
(who can't keep his zipper closed very long), Annie Girardot, and an abso-
lutely RAVISHING young Candice Bergen as a visiting fashion model in Paris
who falls hard for Montand's character. For me, the thing that makes this
film so stunning is the way the fabulous music is matched with the frequent
silent scenes of the 3 main actors and their dramatic and romantic roles.
Lelouch is an absolute MASTER at this - "A Man And A Woman" is another
classic example of his brilliant style using sweeping images and scenes tied
with gorgeous music. Warner Brothers Archive Collection recently released
"A Man And A Woman: 20 Years Later" on DVD (with English subtitles and
also directed by Lelouch, but it's not as good as the original movie) after
being available only on VHS many years ago. Hopefully, the same thing will
happen with "Live For Life" soon (the original "A Man and a Woman" was
finally released on DVD (region 1) with English subtitles several years ago
after only being available in a HORRIBLE English dubbed VHS version). "Live
For Life" IS available in several European DVD PAL formats, but with NO
English subtitles. This classic film needs a PROPER region 1 DVD release
for its many fans who want this. Candice Bergen and the music ALONE is
worth it. It's a French cinematic masterpiece that was nominated for Best
Foreign Language Film. Bravo to director Claude Lelouch and composer
Francis Lai for "Live For Life" - a hauntingly beautiful time capsule from a
long-gone era (the same can be said for "A Man And A Woman", which, in-
credibly, was made by Lelouch when he was ONLY 29 - "Live For Life" came
out one year later). Mature, sophisticated art from a true master. They
don't make them like this anymore.

Update: I located a French PAL region 2 dvd copy of "Live For Life" on
AmazonFrance a few months back - still no English subtitles, but there is
a great documentary (in English!) on the making of "Live for Life" in the
special features section, along with several other items, including an in-
terview with LeLouch (in French). Again, since it's a PAL region 2 import
dvd, you will need an all-region dvd player to watch it. I've had one for
many years now, and it works great. I obtained the dvd from an online
French dealer called MovieShow for around $40 - worth every cent to me.

P.S. Watch for the scene towards the end when Candice Bergen rides a
white horse in a New York City park by herself. I've NEVER seen a horse
do THAT in ANY major motion picture release!

**** 1967. Co-written and directed by Claude Lelouch. Earned the 1968 Golden Globe in the Best Foreign Film category. Shot right after A Man and a Woman, which brought the director international recognition, this film is mainly about the cowardice of men when they have to tell the truth to women. Yves Montand meets Candice Bergen, spends a few weeks in Africa with her and decides then to tell Annie Girardot, his wife, that it's over between them. But it's not so easy for him. Recommended.