Mirage de la vie

This film is now available (curiously without opening credits) as a supplement in the fantastic Carlotta Films (France) Douglas Sirk box. It is essentially cuttings from a pair of interviews with Sirk -- and his wife Hilda Jary -- just three years before the great director's death. It is filled with wonderful Sirk-ly feeling, some fascinating insights into philosophy and revealing comments on Sirk's film-making processes. The interview is conducted in German, but, rather than systematically subtitled, it is at times voice-overed in French, more often subtitled (rather sketchily) in French -- or not translated at all! -- and for longish stretches. One makes the best one can of it, but it is rather a shame. I guess I'd better really learn German. Recommended, if you're buying the box anyway (and there are many reasons to do so). But at 70 euros, if this is the main reason you're going to buy it, think twice. On the other hand: how will you resist?