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Amazon.co.uk Review
Translating Marcel Proust's vast 12-volume novel A la recherché du temps perdu (Rembrance of Things Past) to the screen was never going to be a pushover, and several distinguished film-makers have tried and failed. It fell to the veteran Chilean-born director Ral Ruiz to bring it off better than anyone had a right to expect. Ruiz adopts the strategy of taking as his framework Proust's final volume, in which all the strands of the towering masterpiece are pulled together. Into this autumnal narrative the film weaves intricate flashbacks to events from the earlier volumes, revealing the workings of time itself. Rich and complex, Time Regained presents a sweeping panorama of early 20th century French high society, portrayed with all Proust's ambivalent mixture of mockery and snobbish fascination, while the elegant pans and slow tracking shots mirror his serpentine prose. A matchless cast of actors (Catherine Deneuve, Emmanuelle Béart, John Malkovich) give utterly stylish performances. The film is superbly mounted and visually ravishing, though those not familiar with the original may occasionally feel a little confused. --Philip Kemp
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 0 DVD: LANGUAGES: French ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), English ( Subtitles ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: Marcel Proust (1871-1922) is on his deathbed. Looking at photographs brings memories of his childhood, his youth, his lovers, and the way the Great War put an end to a stratum of society. His memories are in no particular order, they move back and forth in time. Marcel at various ages interacts with Odette, with the beautiful Gilberte and her doomed husband, with the pleasure-seeking Baron de Charlus, with Marcel's lover Albertine, and with others; present also in memory are Marcel's beloved mother and grandmother. It seems as if to live is to remember and to capture memories is to create a work of great art. The memories parallel the final volume of Proust's novel. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Cannes Film Festival, Ceasar Awards, ...Time Regained ( Le Temps retrouvé ) ( Il Tempo ritrovato )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
61 of 62 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Well, I had only ever heard of Proust before this film from a Monty Python sketch of the "Summarise Proust competition" (contestants had to summarise In Search of Lost Time once in evening wear and once in bathing suit). I was worried I might hate this film, not knowing anything about Proust other than he wrote a multi-volumed masterwork about time and memory. Then I saw it...wow! I cannot praise Mr Ruiz enough for what he has achieved. The camera work, sets, and lighting are stunning. As Marcel's memory takes him back and forth through his life, the sets and furniture often move around whilst the scene is played out - all emphasising the fragility and hallucinatory qualities of his memory. And there is the music...wow again. It is never intrusive but always creates the perfect background to what is happening on screen. It is not overly sentimental and never tries to force you into feeling emotion (unlike someone like John Williams/S. Spielberg who tries to ram it down your throat). As for plot, many characters and relationships are never fully explained or revealed. Many reviewers seem offended that a film expects them to display attention and interest, but I feel that they're missing the point. Plot is often not the point of the film, instead it is a film about time and memory (hence the title!). Plot is not allowed to dominate the narrative structure, it is the emotions and memory of Marcel. The most offensive thing that some other reviewers seem to find about this film is that it is novel and original - what a crime!! I had never read Proust before I saw this film, but I have a long enough attention span and an open enough mind to appreciate the sheer beauty of its images and the wonderful originality of its style. I urge anyone remotely appreciative of excellent filmmaking to see this film. It might even, as it has with me, motivate you to read the book. I have since read the whole 4,300 pages and am rereading it now. It is the greatest and most beautifully written novel I have ever read in my life. This film increases in beauty and imagination every time I see it. The sheer detail that links every scene in so many ways (from musical motifs to set details to phrases etc.) is increasingly breathtaking to behold. This is a special and beautiful film. Watch it and see.
38 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Suffice it to say that Chilean-born director/screenwriter Ruiz tackled a monumental assignment. Reducing Proust's lengthy magnum opus (Remembrance of Things Past), to a few hours of screen time would have been beyond the capabilities of most filmmakers. That he has succeeded so well is a great credit to him and to his creative crew.
The film is told in a series of flashbacks as Proust lies on his deathbed. The flashbacks are not sequential, so at points one has to pay attention to follow along. The rewards are numerous, however. This is one of the most beautifully filmed works that I've seen in ages. The director is particularly adept at pan-shots. The moving tableaux are breathtaking, like living impressionist paintings. This is particularly true in a scene of a music recital at a country chateau. The various figures are situated on moving platforms, so in addition to the moving camera pans, the platforms also slide slowly back and forth, which makes for a kaleidescopic montage unlike anything I've seen in cinema. Ruiz and cinematographer Jorge Arriagada are artists in the truest sense.
Ruiz also managed to collect a top notch cast for the enterprise. Marcello Mazzarella is elegantly stoic as Proust. He is the artistic, calm eye of the storm as the hurricane of WWI France swirls aound him. Emmanuelle B?art, is stunningly beautiful, as always. Catherine Deneuve is a perfectly cast Mme De Crecy, though her on screen time is relatively brief. John Malkovich's French sounds pretty fair to my untrained ear. He definitely has the juiciest role as a jaded, decadent Baron of the Boulevard. Pascal Greggory chews up some scenery, as well as a boefsteak, as the gung ho, effete warrior, St-Loup (well named, as the guy really is quite loopy).
The movie is slow going at times, which well befits an adaptation of Proust, who's not exactly known for his frenetic pacing. This is a film to savor with several repeated viewings. The DVD is an excellent transfer and the English subtitles are accurate and legible. Highly recommended.
BEK
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Okay...considering that the film is adapted from a novel that spans 12 volumes it certainly was not easy to cover everything in 2 1/2 hours. Thus it is somewhat confusing at times, especially if you are not familiar with the original books. But - Raul Ruiz has created an visually stimulating and fascinating film with an incredible cast including some of France's best. (Catherine Deneuve, Emmanuelle Beart...) Take the time to watch it maybe more than once and I dare say you will not be disappointed.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
"Romantic, detailed and picturesque..."
Chilean screenwriter, producer, teacher and director Raúl Ruiz` 51st feature film which he co-wrote with French screenwriter Gilles Taurand is an adaptation of the seventh... Read more
Published 18 days ago by Sindri
time regained
interesting movie, somtimes difficult to follow, between the past and the present of the movie.
worth to watch. Catherine Deneuve is devine as always.
worth to watch. Catherine Deneuve is devine as always.
Published 15 months ago by C. Deschuymere
"Lost is of minor importance,The problem is finding oneself"
Taking the concept of less is more ,writer-director Raoul Ruiz,has somehow summarized the 7 books of Proust's magnum opus,Remembrance of Things Past, into a 2.5 hour film. Read more
Published on 12 May 2010 by technoguy
Time Regained
Boringly self-indulgent French crap. I have nothing against french films, as some are in my top list (Jean de Florette, etc). Read more
Published on 3 Jun 2006 by J. Nicholson
A Poor Attempt at the Impossible
A rambling mess of a film, it tries in vain to bring together the crucial scenes from Proust's multi-volume work.
Published on 20 Feb 2006
I envy you.
I saw this film this last summer and was completely taken in by the epic scope of this film. It's vision of time and how one looks back over their life on their deathbed was... Read more
Published on 6 Dec 2000
Possibly the most boring film I have ever seen
I sat through a packed house at Brighton's Duke of York's watching this. The best thing was that as people were leaving the cinema we were laughing out of confusion and amazement... Read more
Published on 11 Nov 2000
Deliciously Intricate
This is not merely a movie, it is an epic. I bought it not realizing exactly how complicated it was, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Read more
Published on 4 Oct 2000
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