The Two of Us (DVD)

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Though Michel Simon is one of the most famous French actors of all-time, "The Two of Us" represented a much needed comeback for him. He had an accident in 1957 involving an allergic reaction to contaminated make-up which left him partially paralyzed and generally unemployable for the next decade. By 1967, he was viewed as either too old or simply irrelevant to modern French cinema, but Berri´s film rejuvenated his career until his death in 1975. By contrast, "The Two of Us" was Alain Cohen´s first film credit, and he delivers one of the better performances by a child actor. Confident but never too enamored of himself to become an irritant, Cohen helps make Claude a realistic and complex young boy, alternately serious and playful, both blissfully ignorant and all-too-knowing. Cohen did not go to an extensive film acting career, but he would serve as Berri´s cinematic alter ego two more times in "Le cinéma de papa" (1970) and "La première fois" (1976).

The film was also the feature debut for Claude Berri, a late-comer to the Nouvelle Vague though he had already won an Oscar for his short film "Le Poulet" (1962). Berri´s career skyrocketed following his remarkable debut and he has continued to produce films all the way to the present day. Some of his highlights include "Jean de Florette" (1986), "Manon of the Spring" (1986), and "Uranus" (1990). "The Two of Us" is largely an autobiographical film based on Berri´s own experiencing hiding out during the war with a new family under an assumed name.

Video

The film is presented in an anamorphic 1.66:1 widescreen aspect ratio. It´s Criterion, so it´s a great transfer, maybe just a shade below their very best work since there are moments where the image quality is less than absolutely perfect and merely qualifies as very good.

Audio

The film is presented in Dolby Digital Mono. Optional English subtitles support the French audio.

Extras

The best of the lot is Berri´s Oscar-winning short film "Le poulet" (1962, 15 min.) which feels like a condensed version of "The Two of Us." A wide-eyed young boy grows fond of the chicken his parents have just bought for supper, and uses every trick he can think of to convince them to spare the poor chicken´s life.

There are three interviews with Claude Berri, one recorded for Criterion in 2007 (9 min.), and one from a 1967 episode of the French program "Cinéma." The third is an excerpt from a 1975 talk show "The Jewish Children of Occupied France" (6 min.) in which Berri and Mrs. Letournel, the woman who helped hide him during the war, speak of their experiences.

Interviews with Michel Simon (from 1967, 2 min.) and Alain Cohen (from 2005, 12 min.) round out the extra features.

The 30-page insert booklet includes a new essay by David Sterritt, the original review written by Truffaut (a real gem), and an excerpt from Berri´s memoirs "Autoportrait."

Film Value

"The Two of Us" may seem like an odd bird; a gentle, mostly conflict-free story about a young Jewish boy during the Nazi occupation. But Berri´s humanist instincts led him to create a quietly powerful film that manages both to capture a very specific sense of time, place, and character, and also to resonate for today´s audiences. A lovely and deceptively complex film.