"Arpète" is a very nice surprise at several levels.
The director Donatien was unknown to me. He directed about 20 movies, only seven being available. He also was designer of settings and intertitles, which are an esthetic success. Donatien also played some characters in his movies, here a priest (he already played one in "my priest among the poor" and "my priest among the rich"). He was in couple with his charming and luminous actress Lucienne Legrand, who played in most of his movies, her dynamic smiling face is unforgettable. "l'Arpète" is sadly their last movie together.
There are many twists in this love story in the environment of high fashion, about a young pretty employee having more and more importance in a worldly well-known high fashion House. She is in love with an admired young painter. Until the first nasty twist, and so on... Very gripping.
The print released is gorgeously restored, no movements of the print and no scratches. On bonus on French Gaumont DVD, a documentary on high fashion and Donatien. A great discovery even for those not fan of silent movies. It's great we still discover forgotten French movies. That 2022 be the best year in never released movies on DVD br.
