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Details
This listing is for the standard edition Blu-ray. The limited edition slipcover (designed by Luke Insect) was limited to 1,000 units and is sold out. The two versions are identical, aside from the slipcover.
Established in 2000 and based in New York City, IFC Films is a leading U.S. distributor of independent film. Its unique distribution model makes independent films available to a national audience by releasing them in theaters as well as on VOD. Partnered with OCN Distribution, IFC will release new titles on home video and revisit past favorites in brand new editions, with many making their HD physical media debuts.
Acclaimed director Claire Denis’s jagged, daringly fragmented and darkest film is a genuinely contemporary film noir inspired by recent French sex ring scandals involving men of wealth and power. Vincent Lindon (Denis‘s Friday Night) stars as Marco, a sea captain gone AWOL to avenge his brother-in-law‘s suicide and to rescue his estranged sister and his teenaged niece (Lola Créton, Goodbye First Love); Chiara Mastroianni (A Christmas Tale) is Lindon’s married lover, who has sold her soul in exchange for the security of her young son; and the remarkable Michel Subor is her husband – a sleazy financier who is the very embodiment of an evil beyond comprehension. Denis takes the viewer into the very heart of darkness in her most unsettling film yet, an unforgettable and thrilling commentary on late capitalism.
directed by: Claire Denis starring: Vincent Lindon, Chiara Mastroianni, Julie Bataille 2013 / 100 min / 1.85:1 / French & English DTS-HD MA 5.1
Additional info:
Region A Blu-ray
New audio commentary with film historian Samm Deighan
Adapting William Faulkner's Sactuary: a new video essay by Alexandra Heller-Nicolas
Archival casting featurette featuring commentary by director Claire Denis
Booklet featuring new writing by Madelyn Sutton
English subtitles
Overall rating: 4.683544 / 5 from 79 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
Bastards, directed by Claire Denis, is a highly atmospheric and captivating neo-noir film, well-received by customers. The Blu-ray release includes new audio commentary, a video essay, and a casting featurette. It features English subtitles and a booklet with new writing by Madelyn Sutton.
"Gorgeous release with a nice slipcover, and a good neo-noir to boot." — Matthew P.
"I’m loving all of these foreign releases especially the French (and French Extremity films!" — Chris S.
"Beautiful release by IFC of an excellent, but emotionally devastating film by the great Claire Denis." — mark a.
Reviews
Bastards
"Bastards. Still relevant today"
— Benjamin P. (5/5)
Film noir
"Entertaining film noir from France. Intricate storyline that deals with family, crime and death. Comes with a handful of extras including the filmmakers commentary with a lot of nifty details about specs related to the film."
— Kresh R. (3/5)
Explosive neo-noir from Claire Denis
"Claire Denis is a master of the slow build and this is a prime example. Tense, disturbing, and unforgettable."
— Jon B. (5/5)
Bastards IFC Films bluray review
"Bastards is a great modern film noir. It deals with sex, suicide, and power. The movie is well acted and very well done. Being from 2013, the movie looks great. The disc comes with a commentary, video essay and featurette. There is an informative booklet and the OCN slip is gorgeous. Check this one out."
— Mark P. (5/5)
Another effective movie by Claire Denis
"A hard-hitting neo-noir by the very talented Claire Denis, with some references to Faulkner's Sanctuary. Vincent Lindon does some great work in this."
— Fabrice B. (5/5)
Can't get enough Denis
"Claire Denis is a filmmaker who always fascinates me and this noir inspired film is top tier for me. The disc features a commentary by Samm Deighan (huge selling point for me), a video essay by Alexandra Heller-Nicolas (another person whose special feature work I enjoy immensely) and an archival commentary from Denis herself. This is a must buy if you are a fan of this filmmaker."
— Trent S. (5/5)
Bastards
"Slow burn, but simmering with tension throughout leading to a very disturbing conclusion that stays with me. Great performances throughout and some nice, informative bonus features."
— Drew G. (4/5)
Denis classic
"Claire Denis’s Bastards (2013) is a brooding, elliptical descent into familial trauma and moral decay, set against the shadowy backdrop of contemporary Paris. Loosely inspired by The Big Sleep, the film follows a merchant marine (Vincent Lindon) who returns home to investigate his niece’s suicide and uncovers a web of exploitation and corruption. Shot with a noir sensibility and scored hauntingly by Tindersticks, Denis crafts a fragmented narrative that resists easy interpretation, favoring mood and menace over clarity. It’s a challenging, uncompromising work—bleak, sensual, and deeply unsettling."
— Tarek E. (3/5)
Slow but engaging downer
"Movie: This is what I call a "sparse" movie. Not a lot of dialogue, and the score doesn't stand out. The tone stays pretty consistent, and there isn't much that stands out visually. The pacing is a little slow, but you have to be paying attention because the plot is being spelled out a little bit at a time and it's easy to miss things because they aren't being _broadcast_ loudly. It also didn't help that I kept mixing up the female leads. This movie is definitely a downer, although more of a slow emotional grind than anything too shocking. Overall it was engaging, although at least after the first watch I feel a little let down by how much I got out of it. I'm hoping the included extras will give me more to chew on. Extras: The "Archival casting featurette" is actually test footage of various things, and didn't seem to be as much about casting per se. The video essay was informative. Book: It's fine. Packaging: Also fine."
— Gideon M. (4/5)
May not be Denis' best
"May not be Denis' best film, but this is the kind of release a film of hers deserves."
— Mike S. (4/5)
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