Arrow Blu-ray Film Review

‘The Films of Olivier Assayas’ (1986–2002) • Blu-ray [Arrow Video]

A review of the box-set containing ‘Disorder’, ‘Winter’s Child’, ‘Irma Vep’, and ‘Demonlover’

Olivier Assayas is one of the most inconsistent directors to come out of post-New Wave French cinema. Unpredictable may be a kinder way to put it because one never knows what to expect from his films. They’re usually intriguing, sometimes astonishing, often disappointing, but always worth the risk. They’re likely to veer off into a totally different genre from their starting point and must be a nightmare to market. A couple of things that remain constant are an impeccable musical taste, showcased in scores that perfectly meld with the visuals, and the impression we’re seeing exactly what Assayas intends for us to see. For better or worse.

He’s sometimes lumped in with the so-called New French Extremity wave, and was probably a spark for the style now notorious for its unflinching cruelty and violence, along with sweaty, awkward sex that lacks any element of eroticism. Think Xavier Gens’ Frontière(s) (2007), Pascal…