JE T’AIME, JE T’AIME (1968)
4 stars
Radiance Films. Limited Edition Blu Ray. 24th March
Aka: I Love You, I Love You
I have always had a liking for movies that explore time travel and JE T’AIME, JE T’AIME is certainly one of the more unusual dips into this science fiction sub-genre. Let’s just say, it’s no BACK TO THE FUTURE and is more a drama with SF trappings.
Claude Ridder (Claude Rich) has attempted, unsuccessfully, to kill himself. For some reason this makes him the ideal candidate for a bunch of scientists who have built a machine that can have it’s occupant travel back to their own past. Initially they have succeeded in sending mice back for one minute — so they now need a human subject to see if their findings are accurate. Luckily for him he is reassured that a mouse hasn’t exploded for at least a year!
He agrees to take part and enters the strange womb like contraption. Of course, as is often the case, the machine doesn’t work as intended. As the boffins try desperately to bring him back from his jaunt, Claude finds himself flitting from one incident to another in his life in a fragmented manner. He doesn’t ‘stick’ in one place for very long. Some portions are mere seconds, whereas some are much longer. Scenes start midway — which you would think would be a frustrating viewing experience, but somehow it works, without ever getting annoying. They often repeat but are subtly different each go around or more extended on second or third viewing.
Then, as he flits from one time to another, he makes an admission about his sad girlfriend Catrine (Olga Georges-Picot) that may explain why he attempted suicide. However, you are not sure if it is true — as some of what unfolds appears to possibly be Claude’s imaginings rather than what actually happened previously.
Can the numerous experts tweak the dials and get him back to the present or will he become trapped?
The print looks great on this disc release and it’s a testament to both Director Alain Resnais, scriptwriter Jacques Sternberg in close collaboration with Resnais and the two editors — Albert Jurgenson and Colette Leloup — that for the most part this hangs together. I suppose you could say it’s very French in its depiction of fractured time travel and possibly slightly pretentious. No matter, as it is a captivating viewing experience. Rich is a winning presence and Georges-Picot captures the melancholy nature of his girlfriend.
Steve Kirkham
EXTRAS
3 stars
Interview with critic and David Jenkins (2024) in which he discusses the genesis of the film and it’s legacy (13 mins)
Archival audio interview with director Alain Resnais (2007) about the making of the film (13 mins)
Archival interview with actor Claude Rich (2007) (16 mins)
Interview with screenwriter Jacques Sternberg and film historian and Resnais expert François Thomas (2007) (21 mins)
In the Ears of Alain Resnais – a documentary from 2020 with Resnais, actor Lambert Wilson, writer and actress Agnés Jaoui, critic Michel Ciment and others exploring the director’s work and how he focuses on music and voices (54 mins)
Reversible sleeve featuring artwork based on original poster designs and limited edition booklet featuring new writing by Catherine Wheatley
