: A 2014 conversation between Demy's biographer and the film's costume designer, focusing on the iconic "pastel paradise" of the wardrobe. Theatrical Trailer : The original promotional trailer for the film. Printed Essay
The visual pop of Rochefort relies entirely on the precision of its colors. Criterion’s high-definition digital restoration, supervised by Demy’s widow and fellow New Wave icon Agnès Varda, ensures that the pastels are blindingly beautiful without being washed out. The grain structure is preserved, keeping the organic feel of the 35mm film stock intact while cleaning up the dirt and damage that plagued older home video releases. Uncompressed Audio
Because Michel Legrand’s score is half the experience, the uncompressed monaural (and optional stereo) audio tracks are vital. The brass sections roar, the woodwinds sparkle, and the vocal tracks sit perfectly in the mix, allowing viewers to appreciate the complexity of Legrand's arrangements. Essential Supplements
The Young Girls of Rochefort serves as a bridge between French New Wave cinema and the Golden Age of Hollywood. The casting of Gene Kelly—a legend of the American musical—opposite rising French stars creates a magical friction. Kelly’s presence grounds the film in the tradition of MGM musicals, while Deneuve and Dorléac represent the chic modernity of swinging sixties Europe. The Young Girls of Rochefort -1967- Criterion -...
The film's heartbeat is the legendary score by Michel Legrand. Unlike Cherbourg , which was entirely sung-through, Rochefort utilizes traditional musical numbers interspersed with spoken dialogue. Legrand mixes cool French jazz with big-band American swing, creating an infectious soundtrack. The opening sequence on a transport ferry instantly sets the tone, turning a mundane commute into a thrilling showcase of athletic choreography. A Bitter-Sweet Subtext Under the Sunshine
The Criterion release allows modern audiences to appreciate the film’s most poignant subtext: the real-life bond between the two leads. Françoise Dorléac was a blazing talent—edgier, more cynical, and more volatile than her younger sister, Deneuve. Off-screen, they were inseparable. On-screen, their chemistry is electric, a genuine shorthand of sisterly exasperation and adoration.
The Young Girls of Rochefort (The Criterion Collection ... - Amazon.com Amazon.com : A 2014 conversation between Demy's biographer and
Jacques Demy Starring: Françoise Dorléac, Catherine Deneuve, Gene Kelly, Michel Piccoli, and George Chakiris Label: The Criterion Collection
Criterion is famous for its supplements, and the Rochefort release does not disappoint:
Criterion includes crucial documentaries by Demy’s widow and fellow New Wave titan, Agnès Varda. Her retrospective documentary, The Young Girls Turn 25 , looks back at the lasting impact of the shoot on the town of Rochefort, offering an emotional look at the enduring love the locals held for the production decades later. The brass sections roar, the woodwinds sparkle, and
Criterion packs the release with contextual features that deepen the appreciation of Demy's work:
As a traveling fair arrives in the town square, a complex web of romantic missed connections spins out of control. The twins' mother, Yvonne (Danielle Darrieux), laments the fiancé she abandoned years ago due to his ridiculous last name; Simon Dame (Michel Piccoli), a music shop owner, pines for a lost love without realizing she lives just down the street; Maxence (Jacques Perrin), a poetic sailor, paints portraits of his ideal woman, who happens to look exactly like Delphine; and Andy Miller (Gene Kelly), an American composer visiting the town, falls instantly for Solange after a chance encounter.