Blu-Ray Review – Life of Riley (2014)
The film world mourned the passing of French New Wave director Alain Resnais last year but he continued working to the day he died and his last film Life of Riley has fittingly been added to the Masters of Cinema range. Unlike his contemporary Jean-Luc Godard who has gotten increasingly pretentious in his old age, Resnais became increasingly humanistic. Despite it’s humanistic leaning it still has glimmers of his surrealism which was prevalent in his films.
The film’s most surrealistic aspect is the fact it’s set in Skipton in West Yorkshire but was shot in France in surreal sets and of course is in French. It starts with some signs and location which I believe were shot by another unit in the Yorkshire but I could be wrong about it. This film as far as I known is the only film set in Skipton ever made, it’s based on a play by English playwright Alan Ayckbourn who Resnais was a great fan, this was his third adaptation of his work.
The title character is never shown on-screen but this presence is certainly felt throughout. Riley gets terminal cancer and has 6 months to live and his circle of friends get him to act in a play which invigorates his livelihood and asks different woman who join him on a holiday much to the annoyance of their husbands. The sets are all gardens and the character’s houses are symbolised by multicoloured curtains.
It’s certainly the film of an old man, Resnais was 90 when he made it but that’s not a criticism. It’s a charming intelligent film on the ageing process and mortality with a witty screenplay which was adapted by Jean-Marie Besset, Laurent Herbiet and Resnais. The film spouts an ensemble cast Resnais regulars like Sabine Azéma, Michel Vuillermoz and André Dussollier. It’s aesthetically interesting and emotionally engaging and very funny in places and you know you are in the hands of a master filmmaker.
The disc includes a interview with critic and scholar Geoffrey O’Brien along with interviews with the casts and the film’s theatrical trailer. The release is Dual-Format with blu-ray/dvd along with a booklet on the film as usual with Masters of Cinema
[rating=4]
Ian Schultz
Genre: Comedy, Drama | Distributor: Eureka! Entertainment | BD Release Date:25th May 2015 (UK)| Rating:12 | Director: Alain Renais | Cast:Sabine Azéma, Michel Vuillermoz,André Dussollier| Buy: Dual Format (Blu-ray & DVD)
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