'The Comfort Of Strangers,' 'The Complete Films Of Agnès Varda' & More Join The Criterion Collection In August

With films and TV shows constantly disappearing from Netflix, Hulu, and even Disney+, and titles constantly changing streaming platforms as new ones come to take a piece of the Streaming Wars pie, physical media is more important than ever. And when it comes to physical media, there are few things better than a good Criterion Collection release, so it’s a good thing that they’ve just announced their August releases.

Leading the August 2020 class of Criterion is the previously announced 15-disc collection: “The Complete Films of Agnès Varda,” which collects all of Agnès Varda‘s 39 features, as well as the usual plethora of special features Criterion is known for, including an introduction by Varda for each of the films. Of course, with Varda having sadly passed away last year, this is even more of a loving tribute to the acclaimed French filmmaker.

Also deserving a place in your home is “The Comfort of Strangers.” An adaptation of Ian McEwan‘s acclaimed novel, Paul Schrader directed this psychological drama film, which stars Rupert Everett and Natasha Richardson as a couple on holiday who find themselves being lured into a sinister world of intrigue and desire by two strangers, played by Christopher Walken and Helen Mirren. Not only is this release going to look and sound great, thanks to the newly restored 4K transfer supervised by the film’s cinematographer, but the release includes new interviews with Paul Schrader and Walker.

Criterion is also renowned for their restorations of classic and international films, and this August they’re adding to the filmography of famed French director Jean Renoir with a new restoration of one of Renoir’s earliest features, “Toni” which became a huge influence in the French New Wave movement. The film follows an Italian immigrant trying to find his place in the melting pot of Provence, France, while falling for a woman involved in an abusive relationship.