“We Won’t Grow Old Together” is an entertaining drama about two people who are don’t deserve to be a couple. Two people in a dysfunctional relationship but portrayed on film in a unique fashion by filmmaker Maurice Pialat. A captivating film full of blow-ups and reconciliation, “We Won’t Grow Old Together” is recommended!
TITLE: We Won’t Grow Old Together
FILM RELEASE: 1972
DURATION: 106 Minutes
BLU-RAY DISC INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, 1:68:1 Aspect Ratio, French 2.0 DTS-HD MA, English Subtitles
COMPANY: Kino Lorber
RATED: Not Rated
Release Date: August 12, 2014
Written and Directed by Maurice Pialat
Based on the novel by Maurice Pialat
Produced by Maurice Pialat, Jean-Pierre Rassam
Associate Producer: Jacques Dorfmann
Cinematography by Luciano Tovoli
Edited by Bernard Dubois, Arlette Langmann
Starring:
Marlene Jobert as Catherine
Jean Yanne as Jean
Christine Fabrega as Mere de Catherine
Patricia Pierangeli as Annie
Jacques Galland as Pere de Catherine
Maurice Risch as Michel
Harry-Max as Pere de Jean
Muse Dalbray as La grand-mere de Catherine
Macha Meril as Francoise
Maurice Pialat’s We Won’t Grow Old Together is the “ultimate bad break-up movie” (J. Hoberman), a combustible portrait of a couple whose love tears them apart. Pialat’s (AÌ€ nos amours) second feature was a hit in France upon its release in 1972, won actor Jean Yanne Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival, and screened at the New York Film Festival, but it never opened in the United States (and is here receiving its U.S. home video premiere). Jean (Jean Yanne, Weekend), a married 40-year-old filmmaker, and his young working class lover Catherine (MarleÌ€ne Jobert, Masculin FeÌminin) engage in a circular series of spectacular blow-ups and tentative reunions, their mutual desire a fire that burns them again and again.
Before Maurice Pialat directed “To Our Loves”, “Under the Sun of Satan” and “Loulou”, there was his 1972 drama film titled “Nous ne Vieillirons pas ensemble” (We Won’t Grow Old Together).
Best known for its fascinating structure of going against traditional forms of filmmaking and not giving the audience any breathing room thanks to the film’s editing and lack of timeline, “We Won’t Grow Old Together” has always been one of Pialat’s fascinating films due to its portrayal of a dysfunctional couple, which was based on Pialat’s former relationship.
Wanting to create a film that showcased Maurice Pialat and his former flame Catherine’s life with one another through their breakup, Pialat would cast actress Marlene Jobert (“Masculin Feminin” “Rider on the Rain”,”Swashbuckler”) and actor Jeanne Yanne (“Week End”, “Le Boucher”, “Brotherhood of the Wolf”).
And now, We Won’t Grow Old Together” will be released on Blu-ray and DVD courtesy of Kino Lorber.
The film revolves around a married filmmaker named Jean (portrayed by Jean Yanne) who has had a relationship with another woman named Catherine (portrayed by Marlene Jobert). While the two love each other and have great sexual chemistry, Jean tends to mistreat Catherine quite often.
Having a hot temper, he often screams at her, slaps her, kicks her out of his home or hotel room. While Catherine has tried her best to put up with Jean and his temper, but despite loving him, she is slowly losing her love for him and doesn’t think she can be with him any longer due to how he has mistreated her.
But as these two have major blow-ups and reunite, how much longer can these two be with each other?
VIDEO:
“We Won’t Grow Old Together” is presented in 1080p High Definition (1:66:1 aspect ratio). While the film is made in 1972 and does show it’s age, the film does look very good as there is no major damage. There is a good amount of grain, good detail for closeups and for the most part, the film looks fantastic (not pristine) in HD, as there is now white specks or damage for the entire film.
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
“We Won’t Grow Old Together” is presented in French 2.0 DTS-HD MA. Dialogue is clear and understandable, while English subtitles are easy to read. I didn’t notice any hiss or any problematic audio during my viewing of the film.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“We Won’t Grow Old Together” comes with the following special features:
- Video Appreciation – (3:46) Alex Ross Perry’s audio overview of the film.
- Interview – (19:58) An insightful interview with Marlene Jobert about the film and how it mirrors the actual events in Maurice Pialat’s life.
- Theatrical Trailer – (3:54)
EXTRAS:
A four-page insert about the film by New York-based writer and film programmer Nick Pinkerton.
“We Won’t Grow Old Together” is a fascinating drama that will captivate you entirely due to its unpredictable, dysfunctional couple.
Based on the life of Maurice Pialat and his former girlfriend named Catherine, the film documents an intense relationship that was rife with arguments, violent blow-ups followed by constant reunions between the couple.
While actor Jeanne Yanne had to play an unlikeable protagonist who is seen beating his girlfriend, yet often visiting his wife that truly loves him but yet Jean never divorces her, you can’t help but think about how problematic the relationship truly is.
Catherine loves Jean, waits to see if their relationship will get any better but slowly starts to realize with each blow-up, with each reunion, that perhaps they were never meant to be.
Marlene Jobert as the beautiful Catherine is no doubt captivating in this film. Much younger than Jean, her ranging emotions from sadness to happiness, love to whatever emotion she is feeling, you can’t help but wonder why she has stayed with Jean, the ultimate jerk that does not know how to treat her any better.
Part of you is stuck watching because you can’t help but watch this dysfunction relationship get worse and want to see Catherine end it and how she will end it. And quite often, you are wondering how many chances she can give to Jean as the two often get into big fights and later reunite.
There is no film like it. While there are films that are about a breakup, “We Won’t Grow Old Together” holds up quite well in 2014 because these people or types of couple exist. No matter the hardship brought towards an individual, somehow one in the relationship is unable to let go.
As for the Blu-ray release, the picture quality looks good for a 1972 film. The film doesn’t look too aged, but due to the clothing of the time, the film does slightly look its age but yet retains its color, the grain of the film and detail is evident in character close-ups.
As for special features, you get an insightful overview by Alex Ross Perry but also a fascinating interview with Marlene Jobert about the film and how it relates to Maurice Pialat’s own personal life.
“We Won’t Grow Old Together” is an entertaining drama about two people who are don’t deserve to be a couple. Two people in a dysfunctional relationship but portrayed on film in a unique fashion by filmmaker Maurice Pialat. A captivating film full of blow-ups and reconciliation, “We Won’t Grow Old Together” is recommended!
