New York film distributor, Rialto Pictures is set to start 2025 with the release of a restored 4K version of Jean-Luc Godard’s 1961 musical-comedy, A Woman Is a Woman (Une femme est une femme). Starring French icons Anna Karina, Jean-Paul Belmondo, and Jean-Claude Brialy, the film will hit select U.S. theaters on February 7, 2025.
This latest restoration, which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival, was crafted from the original 35mm negative by Paris-based post-production company Hiventy. The project was led by Studiocanal, with support from France’s National Center of Cinema (CNC). This ensured that Godard’s unique vision could be experienced in the best quality by a new generation of people.
A Woman Is a Woman follows Angéla (Karina), an exotic dancer who dreams of having a baby. Her boyfriend Émile (Brialy), however, does not care much about having a baby. This leads Angéla to consider pursuing his best friend, Alfred (Belmondo), to make her boyfriend jealous. Godard blends the wit of a neorealist musical, creating a film that is both a tribute and critique of American musical comedies. With Raoul Coutard’s cinematography and Michel Legrand’s music, the film is a mix of emotional depth, love, and humor.
Rialto Pictures, known for its dedication to classic films, has restored other films. This year, they saw success with their 75th-anniversary re-release of The Third Man, as well as the 4K restorations of The Conversation and Army of Shadows. According to Rialto Co-President Adrienne Halpern, who spoke to Variety at the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon, these titles have drawn impressive attention from audiences across the U.S.
Une femme est une femme is considered one of Godard’s warmest films, offering both an homage to Hollywood musicals and an exploration of love, jealousy, and relationships. Rated 69% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is a blend of wit and visual storytelling, enriching Godard’s reputation as one of the most innovative filmmakers of his time.
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