MYLÈNE FARMER: Avant Que L'Ombre. . . à Bercy [2006 / 2008] [Blu-ray] [French Release] The francophonic world's best-selling awesome French singing artist and each album Mylène Farmer releases sells more than a million copies in France alone! Mylène Farmer always creates a dazzling stage show, especially bringing her CD album "Avant Que L'Ombre" to life. The sets were so intricate and the staging so complex and including an amazing curtain of water at the end of the concert! It was decided that in lieu of touring, Mylène Farmer performed for 13 straight sell-out nights at the Paris Bercy concert venue in January 2006. The concerts drew over 200,000 spectators who bought their tickets 9 months in advance, and selling out with every performance and gave it her all and triumphed with yet another career milestone. Here you get to witness one of the greatest live shows ever produced! Afterwards, Mylène Farmer donated set pieces and other ephemera to be auctioned off and the proceeds donated to various charities at the end of the last concert performance.
FILM FACT: In France, the MYLÈNE FARMER: Avant Que L'Ombre . . . à Bercy DVD was sold with a total of 98,000 copies in its first week of release, what constitutes a record. On the French Videos Chart, it debuted at Number 1 for four consecutive weeks and stayed in the top ten for 13 weeks. It managed to remain in the top 40 until 17th November, 2007. The DVD alone was released 15 days after the concert tour had finished, and was the second best-selling French DVD of 2006, and to date, about 450,000 copies were sold.
Artist: Mylène Farmer
Director: François Hanss
Producer: Thierry Suc
Composers: Laurent Boutonnat and Mylène Farmer
Cinematography: Alain Escalle (Director of Photography)
Choreography: Christophe Danchaud, Los Vivancos and Mylène Farmer
Haute Couture: Franck Sorbier
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: French: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
French: 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio
Subtitles: None
Running Time: 136 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Universal Music Group / Polydor / Stuffed Monkey
Andrew's Blu-ray Review: MYLÈNE FARMER: Avant Que L'Ombre. . . à Bercy [2006] Mylène Farmer for a very long time to has been described as "France's answer to Madonna," but that's doing Mylène Farmer a massive disservice and a total insult, as Mylène Farmer has always been and will always been far ahead of the game when it comes to Live Concerts, Videos and of course her CD Albums and as for Madonna and LadyGaga they have always followed by the awesome French singing artist Mylène Farmer and I feel Madonna and especially Lady Gaga are well past their sell by date and are definitely old hat. Because Mylène Farmer has been releasing successful CD Albums and CD Singles for well over Twenty Five years, and her music varies between dance, rock, and melancholy pop.
The ‘Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy’ concert, which translates in English as ‘Before That Shadow ... at Bercy,’ appeared at the Paris Bercy arena in January 2006, you will see an atmosphere before the show was electric in anticipation to say the least. The papers reported that the first fans arrived 12 hours before the doors opened. For the people and of course the fans you see at the Bercy concert, shows you how extremely excited and entertained them all, and of course again for fans especially it was an absolute awesome treat. The dramatic staging of her final number was haunting, unforgettably and totally magnéfique and for the fans it was a totally emotional experience and here is a description of what you would view with this awesome Blu-ray disc, which reads as follows:
Introduction [7:32]
Peut-être toi [MAYBE YOU] [3:22] For Mylène Farmer's entry you have a huge loud "Shut up!" constantly being repeated. Then there is complete darkness! The audience is swept by red spotlights. The music accelerates and amplifies and one soon recognises the song "Maybe you." A sarcophagus or glass coffin appears in the area and is illuminated suddenly. Inside is Mylène Farmer with her eyes closed. Then the sarcophagus is lowered from the arena roof and continues to go down to the centre stage where a shape of a cross is, and then Mylène Farmer and six towering burly men release the sarcophagus from its chains and is then carried to the temple-like stage by the big men in black overcoats. A gigantic bridge comes down to connect the central stage and then a huge door opens, revealing an endless staircase and chandeliers, as well as musicians. The sarcophagus is placed in the middle and then a mechanical device lifts the sarcophagus upright and Mylène finally opens her eyes and smiles to the audience and adoring fans. The upright sarcophagus opens up and Mylène Farmer steps forward and then begins to sing to the audience and adoring fans, who go wild with enthusiasm.
XXL [5:27] By the time the first notes of the song are uttered with 'XXL,' the decor and musicians open up to allow us to see the guitarists and singers. Mylène Farmer then gives great gestures towards the audience with her arms and head and giving it a rockers look and this is the first round with the public. Mylène Farmer greets the audience with a little "Hello" at the beginning. Sometimes Mylène Farmer even complete with the lyrics "We need love" by a "With you, I will!"
Dans les rues de Londres [STREETS OF LONDON] [4:16] Mylène Farmer is still wearing the same outfit and is content to do some traveling while screens behind her materialises and silhouettes are dancing and imprisoned as well as a few handwritten lines to remember that the song is dedicated to Virginia Woolf. The song resembles that of the CD Album, there's just an extra chorus and a musical bridge that lasts a little bit longer. The song is a tribute to this British writer.
CALIFORNIA [5:15] Mylène Farmer removes her cape from the previous outfit, which makes her look even sexier Mylène Farmer is before a massive giant screen at the top of the first staircase and then Mylène Farmer descends to the stage area. The audience is swept by white lights as when a police helicopter pursues an accused. Then we see on the screen the central cross, and Los Angeles night images. This 'California' version is of the song with a mixture of the 1996 and 1999 era. The decor is composed of a variety of exotic trees pictures hanging upside around giant screens and ropes so spider web.
Porno graphique [PORNO-GRAPHIC] [4:07] Mylène Farmer is on a small central platform that rises, and there are four screens behind her to gather to form one screen. The image of Mylene Farmer appears in the middle of a substance that is blood red in appearance. Mylène Farmer always in the same suit and this time performs a special choreography that is slightly insane, but fits the song perfectly. Towards the end of the song, Los Vivandos join Mylène Farmer in front of the screen, but she runs away shouting "You're not a little mojito?" Then the dancers do a long tap dance interlude so that the star Mylène Farmer has time to change her costume.
Sans contrefaçon [WITHOUT COUNTERFEITING] [4:48] Mylène Farmer has finally changed into another costume, and now wears a little black dress with frills, and a ruffled tail like a magpie, with black tights, little boots and a top hat. As for the dancers, they are also with top hats, but accompanied by a jacket with dots of all colours. The choreography is very close to that of the 1989 style. The giant screen behind shows symbols of lots of men and woman. Mylène Farmer with this song sometimes punctuated the words "I am a boy" with "Maybe? "Or" Who knows?"
Q.I. [6:50] Here we see Mylène Farmer take off her tails and hat, and then the dancers also remove their hats, pants and jacket. The I.Q. choreography is completely new; and it is a very classical dance, but it is also totally wild and crazy at the same time.
C'est une belle journée [IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY] [4:14] Mylène Farmer keeps the same suit and begins the choreography that we have seen on television, how rodeo players have their thumbs tucked into their pants. This time, it is only the dancers who will drop back. Meanwhile we can see on the big screens the cross. With Mylène Farmer gives the song its greatest atmosphere for the audience. In the end, the Los Vivandos dancers are dressed in simple trousers and a shirt open to let Mylène Farmer time to change into another costume.
Ange, Parle Moi [ANGEL, TELL ME] [4:32] After the storm, a piano appears in the centre of the stage at the end of the cross. Yvan Cassar is joined by Mylène Farmer with great acclaim from the audience. Mylène Farmer now wears a purple suit including a gauzy top, and consisting of black trousers, covered with purple waders with small heels. This beautiful piano version of the song is about an Angel and was difficult to hear given that Mylène Farmer approached them from the top of the cradle. Finally, it came to rest gently onto the stage at the point of the two branches of the cross and Mylène Farmer and completes her song while the screens and the cross reflects the purple like in church windows.
Redonne-moi [GIVES ME] [5:36] Mylène Farmer is still in her purple suit, and wanders along the cross and slowly approaches the audience. The piano version of this beautiful song is a moment that is a very emotional moment; and we see Mylène Farmer with her first tears of the night. Fans resume this melancholy song with their angel Mylène Farmer. Fans throw soft toys, flowers, etc., onto the stage for the star Mylène Farmer.
Rêver [DREAMING] [7:41] Mylène Farmer gets interpret for the third time during the concert, but this version remains the same, and you feel that there is a great emotion here. The fans see Mylène Farmer in floods of tears, as it is a very emotional song. Anyway, Mylène Farmer had fun making the audience singing twice with the chorus. The piano-voice duo was a very magic moment between Mylène Farmer and her loyal fans, and there is great emotion from everyone.
L'Autre [THE OTHER] [7:25] With this song Mylène Farmer has the same suit and there is no choreography, she just approaches Yvan Cassar at the piano. Many times Mylène Farmer had difficulty to sing the song and that it needed the public's help. This is also the time when a fan had the privilege of going onto the stage with Mylène Farmer and to receive a kiss from Mylène Farmer. It is during this slow and moving song that Mylène Farmer will speak very emotionally repeatedly and declares her love for the public and especially her adoring fans.
Désenchantée [DISENCHANTED] [9:08] Here we have a complete total change of atmosphere at the Bercy concert. The atmosphere is totally psychedelic with purple and other colours and the dancers also show off with their sober purple costumes. This awesome mega techno version of this song lasts up to 15 minutes long which the audience go wild with excitement. Mylène Farmer takes advantage of this moment to present the musicians who are all joined on the centre of the stage.
NOBODY KNOWS [5:36] Mylène Farmer regain]s centre stage, and simply makes a few movements of the arms and head which the fans go wild with excitement. The screens come together to form a sepia image of the sea and fishing nets cover the ceiling. This version of the song remains sober and faithful to the song from the CD Album, and Mylène Farmer finally calms the mood of the room and the audience. Finally, there is a long musical interlude that allows Mylène Farmer to change into another costume.
Je t'aime mélancolie [I LOVE YOU MELANCOLY] [4:47] Mylène Farmer puts on her penultimate costume, with little shorts and thigh-high leather heels, and all in black. Mylène Farmer and the dancers are each on a platform, but at different levels and includes large curtain. This version of 'I love you melancholy' is more rock than the 1996 version. The choreography follows that of a 1991 style.
L'amour n'est rien... [LOVE IS NOTHING] [4:59] Mylène Farmer's song evolves to become more rock and more dynamic. Mylène Farmer plays with singers and musicians and sometimes Mylène Farmer forgets the words. The big colourful curtain opens up in the last choruses.
Déshabillez-moi [UNDRESS ME] [3:54] The recovery of this song is much more rock and is very unusual as it has Mylène Farmer in a much looser style, and laughs and smiles at the audience, and also makes lots of rogue gestures. This is a very memorable moment of the concert.
Les Mots [WORDS] [5:05] With this duo, Abraham Laboriel Jr. (Drummer) and Mylène Farmer sings the duet song that Seal did with Mylène Farmer in the video. The duo is very well received by the audience and fans and is amazed at the vocal performance of the drummer. A giant screens let us see the two singers as through a curtain of rain is unleashed. Finally, Mylène Farmer will reward Abraham with a kiss on the mouth.
FUCK THEM ALL [8:18] Mylène Farmer removes the jacket of her previous outfit, she is sensually dancing with Los Vivandos who are dressed in a very sexy little vest, and the dancers are wearing a purple kimono and branches in their hair. They beat time during the chorus with sticks hidden up their sleeves. You get to view Spanish newspaper pictures and bullfights that scroll across the screens. The song is a great success, and dance steps were added, and removed some of the chorus, and eventually the pace is accelerating more and more. The suspension bridge comes down and Mylène Farmer and her band finally come to finish on the central stage.
Avant Que L'Ombre... [BEFORE THE SHADOW] [7:45] Mylène Farmer now wears a large red dress with white flowers and behind, it looks like a kimono. The large curtain of water which will be served as a screen to reflect the face of Mylène Farmer during the concert opens in its path. At the end, the word "past" belonging to the words of the song written on the water curtain and then falls as rain drop and disappears. Mylène Farmer goes up a long staircase, the curtain closes on it and the silhouette of the poster appears. Mylène Farmer continues to move towards the light and eventually the doors close on the singer, but just before that happens, Mylène Farmer turns round to greet her audience and her adoring fans with a fond farewell gesture with her hands and so neds a spectacular concert.
Générique de fin [CLOSING CREDITS] [3:56]
Throughout the concert, you have gigantic explosions with the faces of the audiences. The show definitely puts us in the eye of the production, which gives u the production value of the concert is so obvious and the attention to details of the surroundings, and the flow of sound with various video projections, on screens, on the floor, or with the famous water curtains which is totally spectacular, and gives us just about everything! It offers us spectators a strong and often unprecedented audio-visual dimension! Even better way to experience of this live theatrical performance by Mylène Farmer has a much more magical and more powerful to give us the immersive art of nature! Besides the wealth of emotions, sad or gay, or both at once, and watching this stunning Blu-ray for well over 136 minutes, it just fly's by in an instant! Everything ends in a sad paroxysm of passion and religion iconic images and the whole audience and me cry as the star Mylène Farmer rises like a goddess atop a huge staircase, decorated with chandeliers worthy of the castle of "Beauty and the Beast" by Jean Cocteau, and is beautiful against the light that draws its silhouette statue frozen in us saying goodbye forever maybe? Then the temple doors close on Mylène Farmer in a loud crash! You will feel totally breathless by the end, and you view the dishevelled audience look up at the cameras with total emotion and a thousand feelings of what we have just witness before our eyes and we feel we have witnessed just something like viewing the most beautiful cinema projection imagery ever and that has been given to us to see and you will never be the same after watcing the stunning and awesome Mylène Farmer performance, who makes other concert artists look totally amateurish and if you have never heard of this French Artist or seen any of her Concerts, then this Blu-ray will be the first step into making you being totally obsessed with Mylène Farmer and you to will become a massive fan of this truly wonderful professional artist, like me, and I know for a fact that Mylène Farmer cannot be beaten, who is so adventurous and advanced with every concert performance and Mylène Farmer paints a picture like an exquisite artist. I know I do not speak or read French, well that doesn't matter, as the stunning images you view and the awesome sounds you hear makes up for it and especially when you view every performance on the stage with Mylène Farmer, you will be instantly hooked, and there is no turning back!
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Blu-ray Image Quality – Amazing visual techniques are captured in an amazing stunning 1080p encoded images, are observed in an amazing ballet of images that is characterised by highlighting a sharp colour that really blows you away, which is displayed together with a rendering of black combined with more than perfect. Without going on about the 1080p HD image, is totally perfect for the Blu-ray format and gives us a lot of surprises, I can freely write that the quality of video production is given to us in a sensation recorded ultra-realism, that is on par with Mylène Farmer's previous Blu-ray release 'Avant Que L'Ombre . . . à Bercy' that will also blow you away with again awesome stunning images, that is the BEST I have ever seen and is the best way to show off stunning effects as a reference Blu-ray images, that cannot be beaten. So all in all I loved all what I viewed and was totally awe struck that what I viewed was the icing on the cake and at the end of concert with the final song, you get a dramatic effect where Mylène Farmer disappears under a massive dry ice sensation and gives the impression of a rocket taking off, that is totally gobsmacking sensation and I should image the audience felt it was even more spectacular being there totally live! Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – The music is presented in 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and will take your breath away. The audio presentation is even more perfect than the post production work and is huge; everything is facilitated by the fact that it is a technically managed show, with some orchestration and the voice of Mylène Farmer is so natural in a concert environment and gives you effect that you are hearing it like if it was an actual studio recording, but even better live! So, all in all it is technically impressive, and as always you get total technical brilliance collaboration with Laurent Boutonnat and Mylène Farmer together, they are perfectionists together. Dynamics is also totally delicious, the voices are well placed (mixing those singers and Mylène Farmer give "body" to all), and I really enjoyed the sound of the brilliant professional musicians and voices in the quiet moments, which really captured the brilliant post production, where we hear perfectly Mylène Farmer singing voice, whisper, breathe, and being live, Mylène Farmer does so brilliantly and especially with total sincerity and empathy with the fans in the audience. Overall, the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track is a totally mind blowing event, but the 2.0 track seemed very simplistic in comparison. Anyway, since you have the choice between 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and the 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo audio is a matter of choice, but I will always go for the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, as this really shows you how a concert should be heard. This Blu-ray is a total must for all aficionados and fans of Mylène Farmer who want to get the best results from a concert of this magnitude and calibre.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Scene by Scene Views Mylène Farmer BERCY 2006 [2006] [1080p] [1.78:1] [18:34] With this featurette, we get to view the following: Autour De La Technique; Du Son and Des Lumières Et Du Décor. We also get interviews with different craftsmen preparing for the concert. Contributors include: Mark Fisher (Décor), Fred Peveri (Lumières), Michel Kintzig (Direction Techniques) and Stéphan Plisson (Son). French without English Subtitles but some English spoken.
Special Feature: LIVE Alternative: Version Alternative: With this featurette, you get to view two alternative songs sung by Mylène Farmer at the BERCY 2006 Concert and they are as follows: Ange, Parle Moi [2006] [1080p] [1.78:1] [6:16] and Avant Que L'Ombre... [2006] [1080p] [1.78:1] [7:36].
Special Feature: L’Ombre Des Autres [2006] [1080p] [1.37:1 / 1.78:1] [34:35] With this featurette, we get to view the making of Dans Les Coulisses De Paris Bercy 2006. At the start we get to view a press conference on the 18th December, 2004 announcing the coming concert for Mylène Farmer by Producer Thierry Suc. Next we go to see the actual L’Ombre Des Autres concert arena at the Palais Ominsport in Paris Bercy in December 2005 being constructed in time lapse photography. Then we get to see all the musicians doing there rehearsals in the run up to the opening night of the first concert performance, as well as an in-depth look at the construction of the stage area in the arena, plus, we get to see all of the dancers in the rehearsal studio. Then, we finally get to see Mylène Farmer with other people involved with the concert checking out the progress of the construction of the sets on the arena stage, as well as seeing the rehearsals of some of Mylène Farmer’s backing performers. On top of all that, we also get to see Mylène Farmer relaxing in her dressing room playing table tennis, as well as getting a final massage from her trainer before Mylène Farmer performs on the stage. But most importantly, we get to view final rehearsals to the run up to the opening night of the concert. But eventually it is the opening night of the concert, and you view the massive crowd eager to be admitted into the area, and of course you see the first lot rushing towards the stage so they are close to seeing Mylène Farmer perform and eventually we get to see the start of the concert and also this is where we get to see the cast and crew getting nervous backstage ready to perform on the stage to a massive crowd eager for the concert to start. This is quite an interesting special feature and especially a look behind-the-scene of how the 2006 Bercy Concert was conceived from start to finish.
Special Feature: Works by Escalle: Portrait of Alain Escalle [2006] [1080p] [1.78:1] [7:39] With this featurette, we get an in-depth interview with Alain Escalle, who is the creator of the computer images for the 2006 Bercy Concert. We also here about his conceptions and ideas on what he wanted the Mylène Farmer concert to look like via his illustrated designs and what he wanted to be projected onto the big video screens that appear when Mylène Farmer performs on the stage. We also get to see all of the spectacular lighting effects to enhance the Mylène Farmer performance on the stage. You also get to see for real the spectacular computer generated images in a video montage. By the way, Alain Escalle works as Filmmaker as much in France as abroad traveling from is personal works to collaborative works on several media outlets. French without English Subtitles.
Special Feature: Haute Couture: With this featurette, we get to view the creation of the work of the Haute Couture Franck Sorbier, and we also get to view two separate features and the first one is as follows: Entretien [Interview] [2006] [1080p] [1.78:1] [6:55] Here we get an up close and personal view of Haute Couture Franck Sorbier who designed and created the costumes for Mylène Farmer and we also get an up close look at the actual Mylène Farmer costumes that Mylène Farmer performs on the stage at the Bercy Concert and at the same time Franck Sorbier explains his conceptual design ideas of how Mylène Farmer should look when performing, and at the same time we get to see a close look at the actual costumes for the dancers and the backing singers. Here is the second feature, looking at a short Franck Sorbier video montage and is entitled: With this featurette, [2006] [1080p] [1.78:1] [4:01] Here again we get an in-depth look at the designs and costumes of Franck Sorbier. We also get to view scenes of Mylène Farmer on stage performing in the different Franck Sorbier costumes and we also get to see the backing singers in the costumes designed by Franck Sorbier.
BONUS: Beautiful designed 24 page Booklet with lots of beautiful photos and info on the concert details. [French wording]
Finally, if you want to experience ‘Avant que l'ombre. . . à Bercy’ concert atmosphere, well I can tell you it is a totally amazing exhilarating tour-de-force when it comes to viewing and hearing this concert that is second to none. Despite all the songs are in French, the whole concert will compensate you 100%, as you will experience why the French really love and worship Mylène Farmer, because the Concert will give you a totally unique experience presentation that is the best you will ever view, you also get a great repertoire song presentation, amazing dancers and the musicians are totally connected with Mylène Farmer. What also makes this Concert an amazing experience is now seeing it how it should be seen in the Blu-ray 1080p stunning image and the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio sound will make you feel you are actually experiencing what the audience is experiencing and once you are hooked on Mylène Farmer there is no going back and as this is the first Blu-ray release of Mylène Farmer this is a massive good start and that is why it is also a massive honour to have this in my Mylène Farmer Blu-ray Collection, as this will blow you away. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
