Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #75651 in DVD
• Released on: 1998-01-14
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Color, Dolby, DVD, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: French
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 127 minutes

Amazon.com
A troubled family, living in genteel, suburban comfort in the south of France is jolted by the deteriorating health of their elderly grandmother and the reappearance of an absented sibling. Catherine Deneuve plays Emilie, a disillusioned parent and frustrated wife, who finds herself drawn away from her unimaginative husband toward her brother, a jealous and charismatic neurosurgeon. Structured like a novella with four chapters, Téchiné's film is riddled with long stretches of ponderous, often humorless, philosophical dialogue. Deneuve's Emilie remains inexpressive and remote; she occupies the moral center of the film, but her characterization isn't generous enough to grant us access to her motivations. Daniel Auteuil fares better as brother Antoine--his odd features and intelligent eyes communicate fathomless restlessness and longing. Spectacular, jaw-dropping footage of Southern France provides a gorgeous backdrop for many scenes, lending a depth and resonance that might otherwise be lacking. Bonus: Marcello Mastroianni's daughter Chiara portrays Emilie's daughter; she's a delight to watch and she acquits herself marvelously. --Miles Bethany

Customer Reviews

Penetrating look at familial bonds, obligations, and love
The uneven but always intriguing director Andre Techine has crafted an extremely involving tale of a middle-aged brother and sister (Catherine Deneuve and Daniel Auteuil) who must deal with their elderly mother's deteriorating health. As a result, old wounds are reopened and family relationships are all strained to the breaking point. And brother and sister begin a self-examination that will take them on a rocky (and always beliveable) journey toward what it means to be family. The story, such as it is, rambles and changes focus from time to time, but that's the point. The characters, dialogue and situations are all thoroughly realistic and anyone who has come through any kind of family crisis will find plenty to identify with here. On the cinematic side, Techine has exquisitely captured the beauty of the French countryside, and his use of widescreen is surprisingly effective for such an intimate piece. Deneuve (who's even more beautiful than she was 30 years ago, if that's possible) does some of her best work, and the ever-underrated Auteuil is equally good. Highly recommended for those with a taste for quiet human drama.

Intelligent and Wonderfully Brilliant Cinema
This review refers to the Fox Lorber DVD edition of "My Favorite Season"....

"My Favorite Season" is a wonderful piece of French filmmaking.The intelligent and subtle screenplay, the brilliant cast, the beautiful setting of the French countryside,marvelous music, all under the expert direction of Andre Techine, had me hanging on every word,left me wanting more of this exquiste film, and thinking about it for quite some time afterwards.

Catherine Deneuve and Daniel Auteuil, work beautifully together as Emilie and Antoine, brother and sister trying to cope with a very dysfunctional family life, their own troubled relationship and the declining health of their aging mother.This is a family that tries very hard to just like one another, and with the passsing of each season,the changes in their lives run a gamut of emotions. Deneuve, Auteuil, and the rest of this outstanding cast will draw you in with their intuitive performances.It is a film that will involve you from the first frame to the last.

Fox Lorber has a knack for selecting and bringing to DVD some of the best international works out there. "My Favorite Season" is among the best of those. Overall, the DVD presents a nice clear picture in widescreen. The film is in French with subtitles in English. I did not see any way to delete the subtitles though. A trailer, and biographies are also included.

A wonderful emotional drama, and fine piece of filmmaking...enjoy...Laurie

also recommended:
Three Colors Trilogy (Red / White / Blue) [Import](All-region)(Remastered)

Les Choses De La Vie (Original French Title)

Dangerous Liaisons

Oridnary Lives, Extraordinary Film
Ma Saison Preferee takes the viewer into the seeming world of any ordinary modern French family, dealing with ordinary problems. However, Techine does such an excellent job developing the three dimensional aspects of his characters that one is left clamoring for more. Deneuve is wonderful, and Auteil is absolutely hilarious at times as her somewhat mal-adjusted, yet brilliant brother.

The story, while exploring the frailty of human relationships, gives one hope. In spite of all of our dysfunctionality, we do live and we can love.

While I enjoyed Auteil's performance in Un Coeur en Hiver, I liked his work in this film much more. His character is much more light-hearted and not so severe.

Enjoy!