“Why do you like me so much?”

Charles loves Laura. I mean, he really loves her. So much so that it’s painful. But…when we meet Charles (John Heard), he’s no longer with Laura (Mary Beth Hurt). Their short love affair that blossomed while Laura was separated from her husband ends when she decides to go back to the ex-quarterback turned successful business man, Ox (Mark Metclaf) and her step-daughter. Charles, more than heartbroken, is unable to move on. In fact, her leaving him only intensifies is undying love for her and is determined to get her back. But is this really love or is it obsession?

Much like her own description of coining the film as “a kind of weird romantic comedy,” Joan Micklin Silver’s Chilly Scenes of Winter can definitely be described as an odd, almost outlier, in the romantic comedy genre. It fits and doesn’t fit into that category. Why? Because, in theory, it has many of the classic ingredients of a romantic comedy, but it doesn’t possess the normal cute and silly tone that relies more on the comedic aspect than anything else. No, this film does way more.

Smartly written with wonderfully imperfect and relatable characters, Chilly Scenes of Winter displays a kind of emotional intelligence that you don’t get from most average rom-coms. Yes, it does have its adorable and silly moments when Charles takes us through his flashbacks when he and Laura’s relationship was still fresh, but that isn’t the entire tone of the film. In reality, the tone itself is a lot darker though Charles’ smirk and charm might lead you to believe otherwise.

The whole film, dark comedic moments and all, is about Charles’ obsession with not Laura herself – who, by the way, doesn’t exactly have the best opinion of herself and frankly, has no idea what she’s doing (I love that) - but rather an idealized version of Laura. And while the obsession comes across as sweet and endearing, it turns emotionally possessive and violent in moments that are really striking and almost alarming. There are scenes that start funny but quickly turn serious just with the power of just one perfectly placed and executed line.

And then we have the ending. Upon initial release, when the movie was forced to sport the name Head Over Heals because the studio was marketing the film as a classic romantic comedy – which, by now I hope you’ve deduced that (thank God) it isn’t – it had a wonderful happy ending. (Yes, I’m sure you can guess what happens). But after getting re-released a few years later, the film was recut and Micklin Silver’s desired ending was put in. Now, with this wonderful release from the Criterion Collection, you can see the happy ending in all its glory as part of the special features. BUT! Let me tell you now: the ending with this cut of the film is WAY BETTER. No, it isn’t as happy. Does that make my little soft heart sad? Maybe a little. But Micklin Silver’s ending makes more sense. It’s more satisfying. It’s honest and true. There is a sense of freedom for not only Charles but maybe even Laura as well. But I guess you can decide which ending you want.

Home Video Distributor: Criterion
Available on Blu-ray - March 28, 2023
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Audio: English: LPCM Mono
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

The trailblazing Joan Micklin Silver—one of only a handful of women to direct a film for a major Hollywood studio in the 1970s—digs fearlessly into the psychology of a thorny relationship in this anti–romantic comedy, based on Ann Beattie’s best-selling novel, about lovelorn civil servant Charles (John Heard) and his married-but-separated coworker Laura (Mary Beth Hurt). Months after their affair has ended, Charles is haunted by memories as he desperately attempts to rekindle a love that perhaps never was. Switching deftly between past and present, Micklin Silver guides this piercing deconstruction of male wish-fulfillment fantasy beyond standard movie-romance tropes into something more complicated and cuttingly truthful.

Video

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, the new digital transfer that was created in 4K resolution from the original 35 mm camera negative looks impeccable. There’s almost no signs of aging with the absence of any dirt, scratches or imperfections. The color is balanced well with everything from skin tones to furniture giving a nice, natural look. Everything looks goo here!

Audio

This isn’t exactly a picture that is able to show off anything impressive in terms of sound, but the original monoaural soundtrack that was remastered from the 35 mm magnetic track sounds good and healthy. Dialogue, ambient noises, soundtrack and most everything else comes in crisp and clear.

Supplements:

Lots of wonderful insight in the making of the film (the good and the bad) and Micklin Silver’s career. Plus, you get to see the ending of the film at the time of its original release – I would say that then you get to decide which ending you want.

Commentary:

• None

Special Features:

• New program featuring producers Griffin Dunne, Mark Metcalf, and Amy Robinson
• Documentary from 1983 by Katja Raganelli about director Joan Micklin Silver
• Excerpts from a 2005 Directors Guild of America interview with Micklin Silver
• Original ending of the film, cut by Micklin Silver for its rerelease in 1982
• Trailer
• PLUS: An essay by scholar Shonni Enelow

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: PG.
Runtime: 95 mins
Director: Joan Micklin Silver
Writer: Ann Beattie' Joan Micklin Silver
Cast: John Heard; Mary Beth Hurt; Peter Riegert
Genre: Comedy | Romance
Tagline: Loves does strange things to people. And Charles is a little strange to start with
Memorable Movie Quote: "What do you want from a child her age? She never even went to Woodstock!"
Theatrical Distributor: United Artists
Official Site: https://www.criterion.com/films/29145-chilly-scenes-of-winter
Release Date: October 19, 1979
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: March 28, 2023
Synopsis: Digs fearlessly into the psychology of a thorny relationship in this anti–romantic comedy, based on Ann Beattie’s best-selling novel, about lovelorn civil servant Charles (John Heard) and his married-but-separated coworker Laura (Mary Beth Hurt). Months after their affair has ended, Charles is haunted by memories as he desperately attempts to rekindle a love that perhaps never was. Switching deftly between past and present, Micklin Silver guides this piercing deconstruction of male wish-fulfillment fantasy beyond standard movie-romance tropes into something more complicated and cuttingly truthful.