The Young Girls Of Rochefort -1967- Criterion -... !full! -
: A feature-length 1993 documentary by Agnès Varda (Demy’s widow). It revisits the town of Rochefort for the film's 25th anniversary, featuring interviews with stars like Catherine Deneuve and behind-the-scenes stories from the production. Behind the Screen
The film is a time capsule of 1960s elegance, anchored by the luminous presence of the Deneuve-Dorléac sisters. The Young Girls of Rochefort -1967- Criterion -...
Jacques Demy’s 1967 film The Young Girls of Rochefort is a stylized, pastel-colored musical that operates as both a joyous tribute to and a subversive take on the Hollywood musical tradition, set against a backdrop of complex human connection and fleeting chance. Despite its vibrant, romantic exterior, the film, starring sisters Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Dorléac, explores underlying themes of existential anxiety, missed connections, and the somber realities of life, often described as a "darkly French" comedy. For more insights into this classic, visit the Criterion Collection . : A feature-length 1993 documentary by Agnès Varda
Recently restored and gleaming in the Criterion format, Les Demoiselles de Rochefort is more than a movie; it is a vaccination against cynicism. Sixty years after its release, this candy-colored confection has not aged a day. For collectors searching for the definitive edition, the release (Spine #318) is the gold standard. But why does this specific film, at this specific runtime (120 minutes), continue to captivate audiences who claim to “hate musicals”? Let’s dive into the harbor of Rochefort. Jacques Demy’s 1967 film The Young Girls of
Michel Legrand’s score is not background music; it is a character. The main theme, “Rochefort,” is a bright, nervous waltz that modulates key every eight bars, never letting the listener feel safe in a single note. Demy insisted that every line of dialogue be recorded twice: once spoken, once sung. This creates a reality where singing is just an elevated form of conversation.