I have to confess that upon seeing Boudu, I immediately watched and read several others’ comments about the film. I normally make an effort to formulate my own opinion first before subjecting myself to the thoughts of others. But here, I just couldn’t wait. I saw the film and was bewitched and bewildered by it. If you watch the film uncarefully, you will be struck by the slew of clichés, grotesquery and outright predictability. This can’t Renoir’s L’Atalante? But still. There is something about this film. Something special. But how to articulate it? Watch it again. Or, watch the supplements, right away.

The Criterion edition has a recent interview with Jean-Pierre Gorin, a French filmmaker and critic and a 1967 discussion with Eric Rohmer and film critic Jean Douchet. Both are very informative. They point out many of the wonderful cinematic moments in the film, which one may have missed on first viewing. In addition, they offer valued insight into Renoir’s methods and Michel Simon’s performance. Anyway, these supplements are well worth a look.

The liner essay by Christopher Faulkner is amazingly useless except for one memorable notion: the idea that Boudu is “summoned” by the “my pipes are weary” Lestingois as some sort of a Viagra in human form. Interesting. But useless notion.