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An Autumn Tale [1998] [DVD] [1999]

Marie Rivi re (Actor, Host), B atrice Romand (Actor, Host), Eric Rohmer (Director, Host) Rated:
Unrated
Format: DVD
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 21 ratings
IMDb7.4/10.0
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DVD —
1
$27.92
$27.92 $26.84
DVD
June 27, 2005 		—
1
—
— $12.98
Genre Comedy
Format PAL, Widescreen, Anamorphic
Contributor St phane Darmon, Matthieu Davette, Autumn Tale, Yves Alca s, Alexia Portal, Eric Rohmer, B atrice Romand, Conte d'automne, Marie Rivi re, Aur lia Alca s, Autumn Tale ( Conte d'automne ) ( An Autumn Tale ), Didier Sandre, An Autumn Tale, Alain Libolt See more
Language French
Runtime 1 hour and 47 minutes
Playback Region 2 : This will not play on most DVD players sold in the U.S., U.S. Territories, Canada, and Bermuda. See other DVD options under “Other Formats & Versions”. Learn more about DVD region specifications here
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Product Description

Eric Rohmer's light-hearted romantic comedy, set amongst the vineyards of the Rhône Valley, concludes his film cycle THE TALES OF THE FOUR SEASONS. Best friends Magali, a widow, and Isabelle, a happily married bookshop owner, have known each other since childhood. Although Magali enjoys her life as a wine grower, she admits that she would relish some male companion- ship; a confession that prompts Isabelle to secretly find her friend a man. After placing a lonely hearts ad, Isabelle chooses a suitor, but finds that things don't quite go according to plan...

Product details

  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ Unrated (Not Rated)
  • Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.1 x 5.42 x 0.58 inches; 2.88 ounces
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Eric Rohmer
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ PAL, Widescreen, Anamorphic
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 47 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ June 27, 2005
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Marie Rivi re, B atrice Romand, Alain Libolt, Didier Sandre, Alexia Portal
  • Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
  • Producers ‏ : ‎ Autumn Tale ( Conte d'automne ) ( An Autumn Tale ), Autumn Tale, Conte d'automne, An Autumn Tale
  • Language ‏ : ‎ French (Dolby Digital 2.0)
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Artificial Eye
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0007MSQ84
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 21 ratings

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
21 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Jane Dixon
4.0 out of 5 stars Why not on DVD?
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2019
Verified Purchase
Found this an excellent film but can't play it anymore because my VHS player broke and I replaced it with a DVD player. If I could get it on DVD without paying a fortune I'd buy it.
One person found this helpful
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Glenn R. Urbanas
5.0 out of 5 stars Encore bonheur!
Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2001
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The most droll of romances yet from a great storyteller. Nothing seems lacking, nothing seems excessive in plot or characterization. The subtle refinement of the dialogue leaves one smiling with delight. The craft of this piece of art, the beauty of the Rhone valley (slowly being spoiled with industry), the sunswept fields, the wind, and that, acts on the heart like the last drops of a fine wine on the palate. I somewhat doubt that anyone much under forty can fully appreciate the bittersweet qualities of this tale, but for those who have lived enough to have found themselves solitary at an age when stoic resignation is considered a virtue, and dedication to career is seen as a cure, the universality of Magali's cri de couer is full of poignant charm. As so often before Rohmer emphasizes the contingency of romantic attachment while creating two of the most appealing and deserving heroines. The fact that they are the most mature women he has yet depicted suggests that, like Magali's vintage, he feels that one can't really appreciate life until it's been allowed time to ripen.
16 people found this helpful
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John J. Dillon
5.0 out of 5 stars Rohmer has done it again
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2012
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Eric Rohmer has done it again! Wonderful to see a continuation of his Tales of the Four Seasons series, equally wonderful to see one of his favourite actors Beatrice Romand front and centre again, with an added maturity only enhanced by her years. Always immediately recognisable by her diction and ease of delivery, as well as her posture and gestures, she brings a poignancy and realism to a sweet little romantic film, ably supported by Marie Riviere and Alain Libolt. For those unable to understand French, don't worry, as excellent facial expressions and vocal tones, together with great body language make the good subtitles a non essential item. Definately one not to be missed.
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Stuart Blumenstock
5.0 out of 5 stars Review
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2021
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This item was wrapped with great care.

Arrived when expected.

This film is not easy to find. I loved it, and I am 100 percent satisfied!
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Nicholas K.
4.0 out of 5 stars Weakest of the 4 Seasons, but worth the watch
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2015
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The weakest of the 4 Seasons, but still enjoyable. Took me a couple of DVD players before I found one that played PAL, but now I can play anything.
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Carno Polo
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting dynamics from the pre-internet age!
Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2012
I won't repeat what others have said about the cast and the style of the director. It is a good movie overall, entertaining and amusing. I bought this movie as part of a series about wine. I was a little disappointed to find out it has only a bit to do with wine: French vineyards provide the background of the story and that's about it. Yes Megali does talk about her wine and her relationship with the land, but she could have played the same role in the film if she were growing olive trees.

Nonetheless I found it a great movie because it highlights the dynamics of match-making and dating in the pre-internet era. That was the time when there were no online dating sites and instead people wrote ads in papers. There was no email (though at one point in the film one can see a Minitel monitor) and if you were interested in someone you had to call. (Or write to a PO address.) I very much enjoyed living through what millions must have experienced while trying to find a partner in those times. The story is far from predictable however, and I won't tell it here...
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Patricia L. Eastman
5.0 out of 5 stars Autumn Tale
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2006
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Letusbegin are as they say they are. The video is new and it arrived in 2 days. It was expensive, but worth it. However, there is an announcement "Property of... Not for sale..." that flashes on the screen six times during the running of the video that is annoying. However, this video was not available elsewhere and is better than being in a long queue for a well-worn library copy. Thanks for the quick turnaround time.
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burneyfan@btinternet.com
4.0 out of 5 stars Into the realm of middle-aged romance.
Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2001
Isabella, played by Marie Riviere, a happily married book-seller, has sympathy for the lonely plight of her best friend Magali, played by Beatrice Romand, a wine grower. Deciding to do something about it, she advertises in a lonely heart's column and, pretending to be Magali, goes on her first date with Gerald,
charmingly played by Alain Libolt. Two weeks and several pleasant dates later she confesses her deception, explains her reason for it, and invites him to her daughter's wedding where she tells him he can meet the real Magali - as if by accident. He accepts the invitation and he and Magali have a lovely encounter in which each makes a very promising impression on the other. But the euphoria she feels does not last. Only moments later she is bitterly disappointed to learn from her son's girl friend that he and Isabella have been meeting in secret. Her disappointment turns to resentment when she catches them behaving in a more than friendly fashion.
But it seems to me that what she sees is a plot contrivance put in to add drama and tension to the story line. Without it there would be no film. But it is still a central flaw which undermines the films reality. In one brief minute, in contradiction of everything she has said and that we know about her, Isabella comes on to Gerald and seems to be trying to seduce him. It seems so out of character that you wonder what on earth she is playing at. And at that moment, without either of them noticing who it is, the door is opened by Magali who seeing them together feels that all her hopes for happiness have been shattered. She feels betrayed. Isabella's subsequent explanation that it was only a peck on the cheek to thank him for liking her friend doesn't hold water, and flies in the face of what we remember. And then she has to face the ordeal of being driven home by Gerald, and her struggle to suppress her rage and inner turmoil is superbly acted. She fails of course and leaves him abruptly, convinced that all now is lost.
The ending of the film is a little inconclusive, leaving the question hanging; was Isabella coming on to Gerald or not? and if so what does it portend for the future of all three? But that is another film.
This one is typically Rohmer; warm, intimate, a film in which nothing much happens but in which considerable pleasure is to be derived from listening to the charming character's very real conversations and watching their very subtle and ever changing facial expressions. Just to be in their company is enough.
8 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Client d'Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars bon film.
Reviewed in France on September 2, 2020
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j'adore plot.
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technoguy
4.0 out of 5 stars An Autumn Tale
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 12, 2009
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This was a thoroughly enchanting addition to his canon.The sensitivity of the leading actresses, Rivierre and Romand especially, as two female friends 'of a certain age'.The way the story,simple in itself is drawn out.The use of landscape and scenery complements the enactment of hesitation,doubt, unhurried judgement, with people at ease with their environment,who yet are self aware enough to know of making wrong decisions or not knowing the real truth behind the polite lies,evasions and facades people hide behind.This was a charming tale well told.
2 people found this helpful
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Phil
5.0 out of 5 stars First Class
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 27, 2012
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A light-toned movie with standout performances from two Rohmer veterans, Marie Riviere (Isabelle) and Beatrice Romand (Magali). The rolling wine growing landscape features early on, with birdsong and breezes to the fore on the soundtrack, but Rohmer's camera also picks out the twin cooling towers of the Tricastin power plant for his characters to talk about. And while there is much talking--after all, talking is what Rohmer's characters are created to do--it's never tiresome, and always adds to our understanding of the characters. Mention must also be made of the lovely performance from Alain Libolt as the lonely-hearts-ad gentleman Isabelle chooses for Beatrice. The feel-good closing segment (with live music!) is the icing on the cake. All in all, delightful.
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L. Davidson
3.0 out of 5 stars Middle Aged Romance in Rural France
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 15, 2008
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"An Autumn Tale" is a pleasant but quickly forgettable film that is the concluding part of Eric Rohmer's "Four Seasons" series.It tells the story of two middle aged women living in the French countryside ,one of whom secretly puts an ad in a lonely hearts column on behalf of her widowed friend who is seeking some male companionship.This woman's potential daughter-in-law also tries her hand at a spot of matchmaking for her with a different man,one of her college teachers. Which one will the widowed vine grower choose by grape harvesting time ? "An Autumn Tale" is relatively plot free and I didn't find it to be a particularly gripping film to watch. The characters are fairly weak and unmemorable also.It is not a bad film, but not nearly as good as "A Winter's Tale", the best of the "Four Seasons" series.
2 people found this helpful
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Rofrano
3.0 out of 5 stars Not my tasse de the
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 23, 2018
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I thought this was a rather typical French film - a lot of talk and not a lot of action. Not much charisma in the cast either as far as I was concerned. Not my tasse de the.
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