[The News Bot]

Reviewed by Chris McEneany, 4th October 2009
Difficult, repetitive and magical, Last Year At Marienbad revels in confounding you.

It is a terrific film to admire, then, but a hard one to love. It is precisely this kind of movie that critics, historians and buffs cite as “important”, “challenging” and “brave”, before insisting that you aren't a proper film-fan if you haven't got it in your collection. But whilst I, for one, am happy to have two versions of it on Blu-ray, I would not seek to presume that there are many out there, who are not either already aware of the film, or are a fan, anyway, that would warm to it. Resnais' dream-affair requires patience and a willingness to just allow its imagery, sensations and mood wash over you and, being as I am the only person I know who actually likes the film, this may well be asking a lot from too many people.

But, if you are willing to take the plunge and do so in the knowledge that this is most definitely not playing by any of the conventional rules, then I think you will be amply rewarded by a decidedly clever and insidious piece of filmmaking. The atmosphere evoked is superlative. Seyrig is utterly bewitching. And the fact that it positively demands further viewing means that booking-in to this limbo-locked palace ensures that you become one of the guests equally ensnared by Resnais' bizarre fable, as well.

A great all-round package from Optimum that almost rivals Criterion's may be slightly let down by the transfer, but there is still very little to complain about with this scintillating image.

Last Year At Marienbad, as perplexing and as unforgiving as it is, comes highly recommended.

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