Cleo From 5 to 7 - Criterion Collection

Starring:Corinne Marchand, Antoine Bourseiller, Dominique Davray, DorothÃ©e Blank, Michel Legrand, JosÃ© Luis de Villalonga, Loye Payen, RenÃ©e Duchateau, Lucienne Marchand, Serge Korber, Robert Postec, Anna Karina, Georges de Beauregard, DaniÃ¨le Delorme, Fernande Engler, Eddie Constantine, Yves Robert, Jean-Claude Brialy, Raymond Cauchetier, Jean-Pierre Taste
Director: AgnÃ¨s Varda
Studio: Criterion
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Agnes Varda, the lone woman in the French New Wave boys' club, made her reputation with her second feature Cleo from 5 to 7, a 90-minute drama set in real time exploring the internal turmoil of a flighty young pop singer who awaits the results of a medical examination for cancer. Leaving behind her elegant, almost antiseptic apartment for the bustle of the Parisian streets, she weaves through crowds and watches street performers while struggling with her fears and self-recriminations, confronting her shortcomings and finding hope in a chance meeting with a young soldier. Varda captures the vibrant social world and its easy rhythms in creamy black and white with smooth long takes, bringing an almost tactile quality to Cleo's personal odyssey, punctuated with chapter titles marking the time until her appointment at the hospital. Corinne Marchand's Cleo enters as a spoiled adolescent, but introspective internal monologues and brief encounters with strangers etch a portrait of a woman hiding her fears under a façade of flightiness, only discarding the mask when she firmly embraces life in the face of possible death. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Visionary of the French New Wave, Agnès Varda captures the atmosphere of Paris in the '60s with this portrait of a singer searching for answers as she awaits test results from a biopsy. A chronicle of two crucial hours in one woman's life, Cléo from 5 to 7 is a spirited mix of vivid vérité and melodrama. The film features a score by Michel Legrand (Umbrellas of Cherbourg) and cameos by Legrand, Jean-Luc Godard, and Anna Karina. Criterion is proud to present Cléo from 5 to 7 in a beautiful digital transfer supervised by the director, with the color opening sequence restored.

Customer Reviews:

Cleo 5 to 7.......2007-06-27

With "Cléo," photojournalist-turned-filmmaker Varda (wife of Jacques Demy) composes an effervescent visual homage to the City of Lights and the modern harried woman, beautifully capturing the faces of everyday Parisians as well as the giddiness of big city life. Over the course of one day, we watch Cléo (real-life model/pop-singer Marchand) negotiate the hustle of modern-day Paris streets and boutiques, collaborate with songwriters (one of whom, Michel Legrand, is the film's composer), visit with friends and a fortuneteller, all the while feeling the gnawing anxiety of her expectant diagnosis. One of the most dizzyingly romantic works of the early New Wave, "Cléo" will sweep you right off your feet. (Also look for brief cameos by Jean-Luc Godard and Anna Karina in the comic silent-film segment.)

Eh, Seen Better, Seen Worse.......2005-06-05

Not a whole heck of a lot happens in the 90 minute film in which a woman wanders through the streets of Paris as she anxiously awaits a medical appointment at which she will receive the results of a test. She buys a hat, meets up with a friend, talks a walk in the park etc. The events all unfold in real time and the early 60's mostly black and white cinematography is nothing short of gorgeous but on the whole this one comes across a little too self consciously arty for its own good. Nice, at times, but hardly profound. Perhaps this was more compelling back in 1962.

2 1/2 stars.

a film which hits home for me.......2004-05-26

This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film. As a cancer survivor, I feel for the woman in this movie.

This film occurs in almost real-time like the TV series 24. The 90 minute film covers the events between 5 and 7 PM as a woman awaits the results of a biopsy. She goes through town and meets various people. The film has great acting and has a full-color sequence at the beginning of the film when cleo is seeing a Tarot card reader in an attempt to predict what will happen to her. The original French title of the film is "Cléo de 5 à 7"

The Criterion DVD does not have any special features which is rather unusual for a Criterion Collection DVD.

Cleo's afternoon worries; a genuine cinematic experience..........2004-04-09

Cleo (Corinne Marchand), a successful singer, fears the result of a biopsy as she is anxiously anticipating the results of her test. While waiting, Cleo has a fortuneteller read her cards, which predict death. This leads Cleo to expect that she will die from cancer. The film depicts Cleo's two hour long wait for the results of the biopsy as she is restlessly searching for a meaning. As she searches she discovers our own self-importance and insignificance in the world. Agnès Varda directs a superb vision of Cleo's wait and pursuit, which is in the true spirit of French New Wave. An example of the realism of French New Wave is the opening scene, shot in color that fades into black and white, which visually enhances the psychological undertones of the film's theme. Another example is the crude camera work that becomes apparent as the camera pans and moves with Cleo elevating the cinematic experience to a genuine event. It is this genuine feel that makes this cinematic experience amazing and it leaves the audience with something to ponder.

Cinematic Tour de Force.......2004-03-20

Even if French New Wave Cinema of the 1950's and 1960's is of no interest to you, don't be put off seeing this incredible film. If you do have an interest in films from this period and you haven't yet seen "Cleo" then make a promise to yourself to see this film now. Director Agnes Varda made a movie back in 1960-61 that rises above language, time, place and fashion to be a masterpiece in world cinema. In some respects this is a neglected masterpiece as it is seldom spoken in the same breath as films like "400 Blows", but that makes the pleasure of discovering it all the more sweet. Amongst the highlights - a gorgeous and clever score by Michel Legrand who makes a wonderful appearance as "Bob, the Pianist"; astonishing camerawork throughout - innumerable sequences that make you wonder "how did they do that?". Varda is such an assured filmmaker that she can turn what at first appear to be momentary lapses of energy and inspiration into ever more revealing and moving climaxes. One of the great movies. You won't regret spending a summer evening in Paris with Cleo.

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