The Soft Skin

Another great, classy Criterion's treatment, covering a powerfully accomplished movie about a tragic love story, told with formidable grip, and sensibility, by master Francois Truffaut, here just following up one of his most well known masterpieces ("Jules et Jim"), with what would seem at first, somewhat of a smaller, more intimate movie. It is instead one of those films slowly growing on you, while, becoming more and more affecting, beautifully photographed in black and white, and truly moving, thanks also to a solid, and, extremely seriously well written, highly modern script. It should also be considered, and remembered, that "The Soft Skin" still lives so wonderfully intense, thanks also to the extraordinary, touchingly realistic performances of its leads, Jean Desailly, and, especially from the wonderful, tragic, and late Francoise Dorleac, always a memorable, and truly magnificent presence in Films, and, a great looking young woman to watch over and over, actually in all of her movies shot throughout her unfortunately way too brief career (she died suddenly at only 26 in a horrible car crash over the coast of the French Riviera, while trying to hurry to Paris, in order to make a flight, that was supposed to taking her to London to complete some final work on Ken Russell's Cold War's visionary thriller "Billion Dollar Brain" opposite Michael Caine, and, a great International cast, released in 1968). Highly recommended!

To start off with I do not know much about French cinema, and I purchased this film because it is one of the very few films to own that has Francoise Dorleac in it. After watching her performance in this film over and over again, it makes me miss the films that she would have done. Over all, knowing her fate does make me feel sad, and the film is a sad story as well. But I must admit I get lost in her each time I watch it. I had the DVD playing the other day, and also had some Erik Satie on the stereo at the same time, and the TRIOS GYMNOPEDIES (1,2,3), came on, and these three short pieces really fit the action and feel of the film to a tee, in my opinion. I had the French dialog turned down, and pressed repeat for the three pieces of music to play over and over, and well, something came over me that was different from the regular viewing experience. Just to let you know , if you go to youtube and enter Francoise Dorleac, there are numerous photo montages of her set to a piece of music. most of her photos are quite stunning, plus there is also a POP SONG live video by her singing "MARIO J`Ai MAL" to experience. A year ago I did`nt even know who she was, and now I miss her terribly. My objectivity is gone, sorry to say.

Francoise Dorleac, older sister of Catherine Deneuve, died in a tragic accident at age 25 but, luckily for us, Francois Truffaut had chosen to celebrate her beauty and talent in this film. His expertise with Black and White in collaboration with his cinematographer, Raoul Coutard, is amazing. The supporting actors are also excellent and cast appropriately for their roles but Dorleac is given the best serious role of her career in this drama.

Not fully appreciated when it first came out in 1964 this fine film now felt to be one of Truffaut's strongest efforts. Must see for anyone interested in French New Wave or European Art House cinema.

A classic Trouffaut movie. Most people remember this director for Jules and Jim and Day for Night. This is a love story about a successful older professional man falling for an intelligent young woman--and the complications that ensue, especially when his wife finds out. One moreal of the story--don't keep hunting rifles in your bedroom closet--bad idea!

Both intriguing and frustrating - the latter because you want to reach into the screen and slap the protagonist on the side of the head. The plot seems to go mostly nowhere, yet is thoroughly engrossing. Character development is not thorough, but situational development is both thorough and meticulous. A great psychological exposition. Unfortunately, almost no extras.

This film was ahead of its’ time. The perfect mix of suspense and style.

One of my Truffaut's favorite with the common theme in any society throughout. Perhaps, that's what makes this film longlasting.

Best edition, great special features also big Françoise Dorléac super FAN.

Having been influenced by fellow Amazon customers to buy this, I had two categories of problems. The first was that it's just not compelling cinema. Even speeding through a lot of parts it was interminable. The second category of problem was technical and I'm not sure who to blame for this. But due to the complexities of living in the Czech Republic and having this delivered to a friend temporarily working in the UK, I'm stuck with it. The technical problem was that the dvd stuck in about six locations of the movie. Usually I had to completely exit the film and come back to a rough approximation of a spot beyond the sticking point. Maybe I was very unlucky and got the only bad copy. Maybe there are a few more bad ones. Having this kind of problem is my main fear of buying used. But I've never had a problem with used dvd films.

Édition Artificial Eye.Excellent transfert de ce très beau film de François Truffaut qui doit beaucoup il faut le dire, à la présence lumineuse de la merveilleuse Françoise Dorléac, étoile filante dans le ciel du cinéma français.Image finement restaurée et son excellent. Un blu-ray de grande qualité.En bonus, la présentation du film par Serge Toubiana; commentaire du film par Jean-Louis Richard, scénariste ; bande-annonce originale. Mon « Truffaut » préféré, pour Françoise Dorléac, et pour son atmosphère un peu hitchcockienne, surtout dans certains plans, certaines scènes.Par rapport au scénario, on peut se demander, un peu comme dans Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne, ce que cette belle jeune femme, indépendante (Nicole - Françoise Dorléac) peut trouver à Pierre (Jean Desailly), homme mou, indécis et veule. Malaise surtout présent dans certaine scène où elle est délaissée et honteusement humiliée. Si ce n’est l’image qu’il lui renvoie d’elle-même. Un amour bancal dès le début. Mais les femmes ont la part belle dans ce film, car la femme de Pierre elle aussi, Italienne, a du caractère pour deux.Souvent sous-estimé car mal reçu à sa sortie, je pense que ce film a une grande qualité : celle de pouvoir être vu et revu, sans jamais lasser.

A tale of adultery with Francoise Dorleac as an air hostess who begins an affair with Jean Desailly, but his wife finds out and determines to put an end to it. The plot is OK. but I found it difficult to accept that these two would have an affair. He plays a much older man than her and even wears a black homberg hat a lot of the time (unusual for the sixties) which underlines the difference.Dorleac is a beautiful young woman (a great loss to French cinema as she died so young) and you can't understand what her character sees in Desailly's character.Not one of Truffant's better films as the main story didn't ring true for me (he was co-scriptwriter) but it does have a surprise ending

This beautifully crafted film perfectly illustrates the hazards - nay foolishness - in an older man's infatuation with a younger woman, especially one from a completely different background. I only have to think of the soundtrack for eyes to get teary. I won't say more for fear of spoiling the plot, but I just love the film and having worn out my VHS, I have finally invested in a Blu Ray. No problems with the quality or soundtrack. What a master Truffaut was!