The Young Girls Of Rochefort -1967- Criterion -... ((exclusive)) · No Survey

The film's use of music is integral to its narrative, with catchy songs and dance numbers that have become iconic in the world of cinema. The blend of traditional French folk music, contemporary pop, and innovative filmmaking techniques results in a cinematic experience that is both nostalgic and refreshingly modern.

The Young Girls of Rochefort is not merely a musical; it is a cinematic prayer to chance, art, and the bittersweet optimism of youth. The Criterion Collection’s edition is the definitive home video release, presenting Jacques Demy’s masterpiece with the vibrant, restorative care it deserves. For cinephiles, fans of French New Wave-adjacent cinema, and lovers of Technicolor musicals, this release is essential.

Includes a 1966 French TV interview with Demy and Legrand, as well as a modern conversation with Demy’s biographer and the film's costume designer. Scholarly Essay: A printed essay by renowned film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum The Young Girls of Rochefort -1967- Criterion -...

A lively carnival arrives in town, bringing unexpected romance, dancing, and intrigue, including a subplot involving a local painter (Jacques Perrin) and a darkly humorous storyline about a murderer.

, providing deep analysis of the film’s "musical logic" and its place in French cinema. Film Significance The film's use of music is integral to

First-time viewers are often thrown by the film’s subplot: a murder mystery involving a traveling salesman and an art dealer. Why, in a candy-colored musical, does Demy include a severed head in a suitcase?

Michel Legrand’s score is not background music; it is a character. The main theme, “Rochefort,” is a bright, nervous waltz that modulates key every eight bars, never letting the listener feel safe in a single note. Demy insisted that every line of dialogue be recorded twice: once spoken, once sung. This creates a reality where singing is just an elevated form of conversation. The Criterion Collection’s edition is the definitive home

(Danielle Darrieux), the twins' mother, regrets leaving the love of her life years ago because of his ridiculous last name, completely oblivious to the fact that he has opened a shop just around the corner.