Other French New Wave Vol. 1 (Blu-ray)

Three trailblazing classics from the dawn of Quebec’s cinematic revolution.

THE CAT IN THE BAG - On the cusp of adulthood, Claude loses faith in society and commits to a state of revolt, which strains his relationship with Barbara and leads him on a path to isolation. Featuring an original score by jazz legend John Coltrane, Gilles Groulx’s experiment in “spontaneous cinema” is a timeless exploration of youthful disillusionment that brought new audacity to Quebec cinema.

THE MERRY WORLD OF LEOPOLD Z - On Christmas Eve, snowplow driver Leo (Once Upon a Hunt’s Guy L'Ecuyer) races to clear the streets of Montreal and complete his holiday shopping in time for midnight mass. The feature directorial debut of celebrated filmmaker Gilles Carle, The Merry World of Leopold Z is an offbeat holiday treat that builds to a disarmingly resonant conclusion.

YUL 871 - During a weekend visit to Montreal, a Parisian engineer (The Bride Wore Black’s Charles Denner) has a romantic fling, befriends a young girl, and rethinks his war-fractured past while navigating an unfamiliar new world. An early breakthrough for prolific auteur Jacques Godbout (The Mob), YUL 871 is an artfully directed, deceptively breezy convergence of cultures.