The Transcendental Radiance of Hiroshima mon amour (1959): The Criterion 1080p Blu-ray Experience Alain Resnais’ 1959 masterpiece, Hiroshima mon amour
The uncompressed monaural soundtrack ensures that Georges Delerue and Giovanni Fusco’s haunting, modernist score balances perfectly with the whispered, poetic cadence of Riva and Okada’s dialogue. 5. Enduring Legacy
Here are the technical specifications in a clear, easy-to-read format: Hiroshima.mon.amour.1959.1080p.Criterion.Bluray...
Politics and ethics
For those who own the 2003 Criterion DVD (spine number 196), the upgrade is stark. The DVD was non-anamorphic, meaning it letterboxed a widescreen image into a 4:3 frame, reducing effective resolution to roughly 480 lines. The new Blu-ray, by contrast, uses the entire 16:9 screen with pillar-bars on the sides for the 1.37:1 image. The DVD also suffered from edge enhancement (halos around objects) that are completely absent here. The Transcendental Radiance of Hiroshima mon amour (1959):
Quick bibliography starters
This film helped start the French New Wave movement. It proved that movies could be as deep and complex as great literature. By looking at the scars of war through a personal lens, it created a timeless poetic message about peace and human connection. Share public link The DVD was non-anamorphic, meaning it letterboxed a
When she looks at her Japanese lover in the present day, his sleeping hand triggers an instant, unannounced flashback to the dying hand of her German lover. Resnais does not use traditional cross-fades or ripples to signal a flashback; the past simply collides with the present. The high fidelity of a 1080p Blu-ray print ensures that these rapid, smash-cut transitions maintain their emotional and visual impact without losing detail in the darker shadow gradients of the Nevers sequences. Why the Criterion Treatment Matters
The film relies heavily on its stark, poetic cinematography by Sacha Vierny and Michio Takahashi. The 1080p high-definition presentation breathes life into the film’s rich grayscale.
LPCM mono track; reviewers note exceptionally clear dialogue and a "unique and wonderful" score by Giovanni Fusco and Georges Delerue.
Form and editing