From My Night at Maud’s (1969) and Claire’s Knee (1970) to A Tale of Springtime (1990), feted French auteur Eric Rohmer has, for over five decades, built an influential career on stylizing modern romance into classical love stories. So, it’s fitting that, for what may well be the 88 year-old Academy Award-nominated director’s last film, he chose as his muse, “L’Astrée”, the 17th century pastoral fantasy by Honoré d'Urfe about a lovelorn shepherd in fifth-century Gaul. In the spirit of lyrical, classical Shakespearean fantasies such as “As You Like it” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the 2008 U.S. theatrical release and Venice Film Festival Golden Lion nominee will make its DVD debut on February 10 for $26.98SRP.
Port Washington, NY -- From My Night at Maud’s (1969) and Claire’s Knee (1970) to A Tale of Springtime (1990), feted French auteur Eric Rohmer has, for over five decades, built an influential career on stylizing modern romance into classical love stories. So, it’s fitting that, for what may well be the 88 year-old Academy Award-nominated director’s last film, he chose as his muse, “L’Astrée”, the 17th century pastoral fantasy by Honoré d'Urfe about a lovelorn shepherd in fifth-century Gaul. In the spirit of lyrical, classical Shakespearean fantasies such as “As You Like it” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the 2008 U.S. theatrical release and Venice Film Festival Golden Lion nominee will make its DVD debut on February 10 for $26.98SRP.
In an enchanted, mythical forest, the shepherdess Astrea (Stéphanie Crayencour) and shepherd Celadon (Andy Gillet, The Man of My Life, Antique), two star-crossed lovers, are kept apart by their feuding families in this idealized, fairy-tale-styled romance, filled with chivalrous notions of love and devotion. After Astrea believes she witnessed Celadon flirting with another at a medieval fete, she regretfully sends him away and asks that he never appear before her again. Surrounded by rivals, nymphs and druids, the two must overcome jealousy, temptations and other-worldly obstacles to keep their once pure and chaste love alive.
Cécile Casseln (O Jerusalem, Head in the Clouds) and Jocelyn Quivrin (Syriana, 99 francs) also star in this film which was an Official Selection of the prestigious Toronto and New York Film Festivals. Says The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, “it’s the rich simplicity of the filmmaking and the seductive sensuality of a bucolic Eden… that makes the romantic frolic so delicious”. And The New York Press says, “Rohmer's 5th-century-set story can be enjoyed for its own sake, but it also means to present basic, universal romantic conflicts...This almost mythological approach gives Astrea and Celadon startling relevance."
The film is presented with a 4 x 3 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital and French with English subtitles.
About KOCH Lorber Films
Dedicated to providing the best in award-winning, classic and contemporary international cinema, documentary features and cultural programming, KOCH Lorber Films is a market leader for high quality releases to both wide and specialized audiences through theatrical, television and home video distribution. KOCH Lorber Films DVD releases include: the classic films La Dolce Vita, The Decline of the American Empire, Teorema and The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, and recent festival hits such as Intimacy, The Girl from Paris, Children of the Century, The Five Obstructions and Save the Green Planet. Visit KOCH Lorber Films online at www.kochlorberfilms.com.
