Blu-ray Release: Three Films starring Romy Schneider

Blu-ray Release Date: June 16, 2020
Price: Blu-ray (Double Feature) $34.99, Blu-ray $22.99
Studio: Film Movement

Film Movement Classics delivers a trio of European star Romy Schneider’s films to Blu-ray, digitally restored from original elements.

Two Films by Sautet/Schneider features 1970’s Les Choses de la Vie—the first of five of Schneider’s collaborations with César-winning and Oscar-nominated director Claude Sautet—and César et Rosalie from 1975. Also available separately 1975’s L’important c’est D’aimer, for which Schneider captured the newly created César Award as “Best Actress.”

In Les Choses de la Vie, Pierre (Michel Piccoli, Belle de Jour), a middle-aged engineer, has his life flash before his eyes after being involved in a horrific car accident. While falling in and out of consciousness, he reflects on the recent events that have transpired between him and estranged wife, Catherine (Lea Massari), and his young lover, Hélène (Romy Schneider).

In César et Rosalie, sometimes two and two make three. Rosalie and David… Rosalie and César… César and David…. After her marriage ends in divorce, the beautiful Rosalie (Romy Schneider) begins dating César (Yves Montand, Grand Prix), a wealthy playboy and businessman. But when her old flame, David (Sami Frey, Black Widow), unexpectedly re-enters her life, the two men simultaneously vie for her affections.

Finally, Romy Schneider delivers a César Award-winning performance as a down-on-her-luck actress in L’important c’est d’aimer (That Most Important Thing: Love). In the film, Nadine Chevalier (Schneider) is forced to earn a living by accepting demeaning roles negotiated by her erratic husband. While working, she encounters tabloid photographer Servais (Fabio Testi, Letters to Juliet) on the set of her latest film. Desperate to win her affections, Servais secretly uses money borrowed from a shady associate to bankroll her next project, a production of Richard III with Nadine starring opposite a maniacal Klaus Kinski-like German actor, portrayed by, of course, Klaus Kinski (The Soldier).