Le Beau Serge (Criterion Collection)

Renowned auteur Claude Chabrol's directorial debut is a somber tale about two friends that's recognized as one of the first films of the French New Wave. Jean-Claude Brialy stars as a man who returns home after 10 years to a small village in France only to find his lifelong pal (Gérard Blain) resigned to a deplorable life as an alcoholic in a troubled marriage, and that any attempts to help may result in despair. Michèle Méritz and Bernadette Lafont co-star. 94 min. Soundtrack: French PCM mono; Subtitles: English; audio commentary; "making of" featurette; bonus footage; theatrical trailer; booklet. In French with English subtitles.