The Confession (1970) Criterion 1080p BluRay x264 DTS-SARTRE + Extras

This Costa-Gavras thriller stars Yves Montand as an East European government functionary, inexplicably imprisoned by his Communist superiors. He is not told why he has been arrested, nor has his wife (Simone Signoret) been informed of his fate. Undergoing psychological torture, Montand is grilled about his wartime activities. At the end of his rope, Montand agrees to sign several papers that are thrust before him. He eventually discovers that he's to be a defendant in a "show trial" conducted by his government. He never knows the whys and wherefores of the whole affair -- nor does the audience. The Confession was based on the true story of loyal Communist Arthur London's unjustified purge trial of 1951. Despite the film's confusion, Costa-Gavras' Kafkaesque view of the world, in which the individual is overwhelmed by events that he can't possibly begin to understand, struck a responsive chord in the chaotic early '70s.

STARS.........: Yves Montand, Simone Signoret, Gabriele FerzettiDIRECTOR......: Costa-GavrasWRITERS.......: Jorge Semprún, Artur London, Lise LondonGENRE.........: Drama | ThrillerRATING........: 8.0/10 2,067 votesIMDB LINK.....: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065439RUNTIME.......: 2h 18mnSIZE..........: 5.09GBVIDEO CODEC...: x264 (High@L4.0)RESOLUTION....: 1792x1080BITRATE.......: 5000 Kbps (3-Pass)FRAMERATE.....: 23.976 fpsAUDIO.........: French DTS 1.0 255kbpsSOURCE........: The.Confession.1970.Criterion.Collection.Blu-ray.1080p.AVC.LPCM.1.0SUBTITLES.....: EnglishCHAPTERS......: YesEXTRAS........: YesENCODED BY....: SartreENCODE DATE...: 2016-03-10

BluRay Extras


- You Speak of Prague - The Second Trial of Artur London: Presented here is an archival documentary which filmmaker Chris Marker (La Jetée/Sans Soleil) shot while working as a still photographer during the production of The Confession. Included in it are archival interviews with Yves Montand, director Costa-Gavras, and writers Artur London and Jorge Semprun. Yves Montand discusses the dilemmas his character faces and the terrible political reality in which he exists. Artur London also explains how the October Revolution changed his life and his political views and discusses the erosion of trust within the Party after the end of the war. The film originally aired on French television on March 5, 1970. In French, with English subtitles. (32 min, 720p).

- Costa-Gavras at the Midnight Sun Film Festival: Presented here is a filmed conversation between Costa-Gavras and film scholar Peter von Bagh which was recorded at the 1998 Midnight Sun Film Festival in Sodankyla, Finland. The acclaimed director discusses his life, career (in France), and work. In English, with English subtitles. (65 min, 720i).

1. Childhood/Greece
2. Film school/Jacques Demy
3. Rene Clair and Rene Clement
4. The Sleeping Car Murders
5. The thriller
6. Early politics and communism
7. Shock Troops
8. Z
9. Yves Montand
10. The Confession
11. State of Siege


- Portrait London: Presented here are excerpts from the program Portrait London in which Artur London and his wife discuss their experiences as political prisoners. (Artur London was born in 1915 in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia, and joined the Young Communist League at the age of 14. In 1936, he joined the International Brigades/Brigadas Internacionales and fought in Spain. In 1940, he joined the French Resistance and a few years later deported to Mauthausen. In 1949, he became deputy minister of foreign affairs of Czechoslovakia. In 1951, he was arrested with Minister Clementis, and judged at the "Trial of the Anti-State Conspirational Center Led by Rudolf Slansky". He was sentenced to hard labor for life, and rehabilitated in 1956. His novel, The Confession, chronicles his unusual life and political activism). The program was original broadcast on January 21, 1981. In French, with English subtitles. (12 min, 720p)

- Yves Montand: In this archival video interview, actor Yves Montand discusses Artur London's novel, the shooting of The Confession, and the type work he did to prepare for the character he plays in the film. The interview aired on French television on May 10, 1970. In French, with English subtitles. (8 min, 720p)

- Francoise Bonnot: In this brand new video interview, Oscar-winning film editor Francoise Bonnot discusses her professional relationship with director Costa-Gavras. Francoise Bonnot edited nine Costa-Gavras films, including Z, State of Siege and The Confession, as well as Jean-Pierre Melville's Les Enfants Terribles, Bob Le Flambeur and Army of Shadows, Henri Verneuil's Any Number Can Win, Roman Polanski's The Tenant, and Volker Schlöndorff's Swann in Love, amongst others. The interview was conducted exclusively for Criterion in Paris in January 2015. In English, forced subtitles. (18 min, 720p)

- John Michalczyk: In this video interview, writer and filmmaker John Michalczyk, author of Costa-Gavras: The Political Fiction Film, discusses the style and unique qualities of The Confession, the differences and similarities between The Confession and Z, Costa-Gavras' political image, and the effects of the Soviet oppression during the Stalin era. The interview was conducted exclusively for Criterion in Boston in December 2014. In English, forced subtitles. (8 min, 720p)