I saw this film at release and have seen it several times since and this motion picture still holds up, a seemingly complex story that unravels steadily
throughout the film. Resnais uses every dramatic device available to tell what becomes a moving and tender portrait, not least visual puns, particularly a
sequence where Dirk Bogarde drives across "town", in which a very simple
montage predates digital morphing as seen in current commercials, smoothly
linked through the activity of the character. All good Resnais films include an examination of the minds of his characters and this is a superb twist-and-turn reality that involves us completely. The acting of course is flawless and includes a wonderful pairing of the great Elaine Stritch and Ellen Burstyn. David Warner, a personal favorite, is actually given the opportunity to act and steps up to the plate and compliments Dirk Bogarde's cool and wooden portrait. I regularly look for this release on DVD and am consistently disappointed. Could someone
publish it soon?
