The Young Girls Of Rochefort -1967- Criterion -... ((top)) -

In the pantheon of movie musicals, there are the stone-cold classics of the Golden Age ( Singin’ in the Rain ), the gritty rock operas of the 1970s ( Tommy ), and then—suspended in a bubble of pure, phosphorescent joy—there is Jacques Demy’s ( Les Demoiselles de Rochefort ).

If The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) was Jacques Demy’s tragic opera in candy-colored pastels, then The Young Girls of Rochefort (Les Demoiselles de Rochefort) is his euphoric American musical dropped into the heart of provincial France. Released in 1967 and now preserved in stunning high-definition by the Criterion Collection, this film is a dazzling celebration of chance, coincidence, and the unstoppable rhythm of life.

Michel Legrand’s score is the lifeblood of the film, and the uncompressed monaural audio track delivers it flawlessly. The brass sections blare with clean, punchy resonance, while the intricate vocal harmonies of the ensemble numbers remain perfectly balanced against the instrumentation. Essential Supplemental Features

The Criterion Collection, known for its laser-focused restoration and scholarly extras, has not merely released a film; they have resurrected a world. Here is why the 1967 Criterion release is the gold standard and why The Young Girls of Rochefort remains a vital, necessary work of art. The Young Girls of Rochefort -1967- Criterion -...

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Jacques Demy’s 1967 film The Young Girls of Rochefort is a stylized, pastel-colored musical that operates as both a joyous tribute to and a subversive take on the Hollywood musical tradition, set against a backdrop of complex human connection and fleeting chance. Despite its vibrant, romantic exterior, the film, starring sisters Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Dorléac, explores underlying themes of existential anxiety, missed connections, and the somber realities of life, often described as a "darkly French" comedy. For more insights into this classic, visit the Criterion Collection .

To understand the film, one must first understand the context. In the mid-1960s, France was changing. The stifled conservatism of the post-war era was giving way to the revolutionary fervor that would explode in May 1968. Yet, in the port town of Rochefort (filmed on location), Demy saw not politics, but possibility. In the pantheon of movie musicals, there are

Criterion includes crucial documentaries by Demy’s widow and fellow New Wave titan, Agnès Varda. Her retrospective documentary, The Young Girls Turn 25 , looks back at the lasting impact of the shoot on the town of Rochefort, offering an emotional look at the enduring love the locals held for the production decades later.

The film also features an early appearance by legendary filmmaker (Demy's wife), who appears briefly as a nun and later documented the film's impact. Plot: A Weekend of Missed Connections

In a brilliant coup, Demy cast Gene Kelly as Andy Miller. Kelly, who was 54 at the time, embodies the effortless, athletic grace of the American studio musical. Watching Kelly dance down a pastel French street, swinging around lampposts, feels like a direct passing of the torch from An American in Paris to the French New Wave. His presence validates Demy’s cinematic fantasy. The Supporting Masters Michel Legrand’s score is the lifeblood of the

: A 1993 documentary by Agnès Varda (Demy’s wife and fellow filmmaker) that revisits the town of Rochefort 25 years later, featuring interviews with cast members and locals.

The narrative architecture of The Young Girls of Rochefort is a brilliant exercise in romantic geometry. The plot takes place over a single weekend during a town fair. Everyone in Rochefort is searching for an idealized, poetic love, and remarkably, their perfect matches are all walking the exact same streets.

Detailed writing that deconstructs the film’s place within the French New Wave and its deconstruction of standard Hollywood tropes. The Darker Subtext: Joy Tinged with Reality

The film stars Catherine Deneuve and her real-life sister, Françoise Dorléac, who bring an authentic, dynamic chemistry to the roles 1.2.4 . Tragically, Dorléac died in a car accident shortly after the film's release 1.2.4.

The Young Girls of Rochefort: Nearly Utopia - Film International