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DVD Review: “Providence” (1977)

Renowned filmmaker Alain Resnais, who passed away on the first of March at 91, had released a new movie. Refer to the article to learn about the DVD Review of Providence.

He created diverse and captivating work throughout his career, from the influential documentary Night and Fog about Auschwitz to the poignant films Hiroshima Mon Amour and Last Year at Marienbad.

Despite being sometimes misunderstood as a creator of obscure art films, Resnais’ Marienbad is a meticulous exploration of memory presented in a visually distinctive and fitting manner.

DVD Review Providence (1977)

Another notable work from Resnais’ middle career is the more accessible 1977 film Providence, featuring a talented cast in a narrative reminiscent of Borges, woven from the imagination of a struggling writer.

The movie’s screenplay, crafted by David Mercer, mirrors the creative thought process of a writer at work, ultimately transforming what may initially appear as a cynical exercise into an uplifting commentary on universal anxieties.

DVD Review: “Providence” (1977)
DVD Review: “Providence” (1977)

Also, see DVD Review: “The Bigamist” (1953)

Alain Resnais directed “Providence” in English with an English-speaking cast. Despite being moderately successful in the United States, it has not received a substantial video release.

Columbia Home Video released it on VHS and Beta, and Tartan Video had a limited release in the UK. The recent DVD release from the French company Jupiter Films is a PAL DVD limited to Region 2 exhibition.

The film revolves around the famous author Clive Langham, portrayed by John Gielgud, who refuses medical help and stays in his country estate, Providence.

He copes with severe abdominal pains by drinking heavily and creating characters and dramatic scenarios in his mind, using his family members as inspiration.

His son Claude, played by Dirk Bogarde, is depicted as an arrogant lawyer prosecuting Kevin Woodford, portrayed by David Warner, who claims to have killed a werewolf.

Clive’s wife Sonia, played by Ellen Burstyn, invites the acquitted Kevin home, teasing Clive with the idea of an affair.

As Clive grapples with pain and resentment, he reimagines and adjusts his fictional characters to mirror his real family, adding a heightened sexual tension to the narrative, including attempted murder and complex relationships.

DVD Review: “Providence” (1977)
DVD Review

Under the direction and editing of Alain Resnais, “Providence” presents a narrative that may be challenging to articulate verbally.

The film reveals the free-flowing ideas from writer Clive Langham’s mind as he effectively “directs” the invented storyline, resulting in a movie that mirrors his direction.

Clive occasionally revisits and reworks scenes throughout the film, repeating dialogue in different tones or settings.

The character of Clive, portrayed as a drunken and suffering individual, grapples with severe physical pain, leading to a narrative filled with unrefined elements, diversions, and unresolved threads.

The story unfolds in a city seemingly under a repressive regime, where people are arbitrarily arrested and confined, possibly symbolizing themes of alienation and forced isolation, particularly in the face of mortality.

The recurring “werewolf” motif also brings Claude’s story to an ironic standstill.

However, like an unfinished draft, Clive’s tale struggles to strike the right chords, with seemingly extraneous interruptions such as graphic autopsy scenes reflecting Clive’s contemplation of mortality and pursuit of a profound image.

“Providence” presents challenging acting opportunities for its stars, each delivering compelling performances embodying Clive’s heightened emotions.

Claude embodies Clive’s disdain for others and yearning for purity, while Sonia seeks to provoke her husband to shake him out of his state.

David Warner aptly portrays the passive Kevin, adapting to provoke Claude in retaliation.

DVD Review Providence
“Providence” (1977)

The surface narrative of “Providence” has provided ample fodder for critics, essayists, and cinema analysts to delve into legitimate references and construct intricate theories about its structure.

Some have drawn parallels between different areas of Clive’s house and parts of his psyche, akin to Leo Marks’ approach in his screenplay for “Peeping Tom.”

Surprisingly, the most striking moments in “Providence” occur outside Clive’s fabricated fictional world.

As Clive grapples with his suffering and alcohol, he harshly criticizes his adult children and even speaks cruelly of his late wife, who are all gathering to celebrate his birthday.

His behavior hints at an impending dramatic confrontation, but the actual birthday gathering unfolds unexpectedly.

The character of Clive Langham resembles the real-life persona of John Gielgud, known for his strong opinions and acidic nature.

Dirk Bogarde, who introduced Resnais and author John Mercer to Gielgud for this purpose, delivers a tour-de-force performance, revealing the man and his acknowledged and subconscious fantasies.

Similarly, Bogarde’s portrayal of Claude presents multifaceted facets of the character, embodying Clive’s articulate speech and cruel superiority.

The other characters, portrayed by Ellen Burstyn, David Warner, and Elaine Stritch, explore potential relationships and dynamics as Clive works through his narrative.

Clive’s inclination towards drama infused with anger, frustration, and sexual aggression becomes apparent through the characters’ interactions, adding depth to the storytelling.

Providence (1977)
Providence

“Providence” held significant importance for Alain Resnais as it marked his return to filmmaking after a three-year hiatus following his previous film, Stavisky.

The film’s designer, Jacques Saulnier, known for his work on Stavisky, returned to create the impressive interiors for “Providence,” including static painted backdrops that seem fitting, reflecting the occupied state of Clive Langham’s mind, akin to the brain-generated ‘realities’ in Philip K. Dick’s novel UBIK.

The film also features a remarkable romantic music score by the renowned Miklos Rozsa. There is a strong need for a high-quality Blu-ray release of “Providence” accessible in all regions.

Jupiter Communications’ Region 2 PAL DVD of “Providence” offers an acceptable presentation, although it does not meet current quality standards.

Jupiter reportedly obtained the rights, restored the negative with a 2K scan, and supervised the color timing to match the original release prints and early video masters.

However, the image appears soft, particularly when viewed on a large screen at home.

Additionally, much of the dialogue is post-synched, lending a peculiar quality to the dream scenes, with odd reverberations added to lines of dialogue, indicating Clive’s influence on the characters’ actions.

This complexity may necessitate multiple viewings for complete comprehension, akin to the film “Synecdoche, New York,” which draws inspiration from “Providence.”

Jupiter has made a comprehensive effort with the DVD’s extras, including video interviews with the cameraman, actor, and designer and an audio interview with Alain Resnais.

The disc offers the original English track, a dubbed French track, and a choice of French or English subtitles, catering to American viewers.

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Ashish Maharjan
Ashish Maharjan
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