L’ATALANTE

Director: Jean Vigo

1934, France, 89

Screenwriter: Jean Vigo

Cast: Jean Daste, Dita Parlo, Michel Simon.

 

L’Atalante, the only full-length film by Jean Vigo, stands out as one of French cinema’s greatest treasures. The touching voyage of L’Atalante is twofold: a trip on a barge along the Seine to Paris, and the journey of a new couple towards intimacy. Vigo’s brilliant mix of reality with expressionistic imagery captures the life of a restless country girl, a stubbornly independent boatman, his crusty first mate, and (at least 9) stray cats. This recent restoration is in 4K HD.