L'Argent [Blu-ray]

A forged banknote leads to a tragic chain of events that culminates in murder, in Robert Bresson’s superb swansong. Based on a short story by Tolstoy, L’Argent is Bresson’s uncompromising last word on sin, chance and salvation, themes that he explored with such power and force throughout his 40-year career. Shot in the director’s imitable austere style, the film won the Best Director prize at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival and is widely regarded as one of his great masterpieces. Restored from the original negative and presented in High Definition Style, Anti-style and Influence (2022, 22 mins): an on-stage discussion between Geoff Andrew, Jonathan Hourigan and Nasreen Munni Kabir on the films of Robert Bresson. Filmed at BFI Southbank Looking at L’Argent (2022, 9 mins): Jonathan Hourigan, former assistant to Robert Bresson, introduces and examines two clips from L’Argent The Root of All Evil (2022, 19 mins): writer Michael Brooke considers Bresson’s late masterpiece in this newly commissioned video essay Jonathan Hourigan on L’Argent (2007, 27 mins, audio only): the film scholar – who assisted in the making of L’Argent – speaks about the production Value For Money (1970, 22 mins) David Blest’s dreamlike, experimental short film, featuring Quentin Crisp, visualises coin-operated connections between money and religion Theatrical trailer **FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Illustrated booklet with new essays by Dr Martin Hall and Jonathan Hourigan, an original review and full film credits