I was interested in seeing SLOGAN when Cult Epics made the announcement of this release. The single disc release was available for rental at my local store. After watching, I had to scratch my head a little because I felt, although it’s a fairly good movie, it did not fit the “Cult Epics” label that I have grown to enjoy over the years. I felt like I was missing something about this movie.

Thankfully, Cult Epics decided to release this 2-disc set which helps fill in some of the information about the film that I was unaware of, mostly surrounding the real relationship of Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin, but this I will get to later.

SLOGAN, directed by Pierre Grimbiat, begins with an over-the-top action sequence of a guy on a train shaving, then quickly jumps off, punches out some guy on a bike, rides into town, beats up people at a convenience store who are waiting in line, jumps over the counter, beats up the clerk, grabs some aftershave and rides back onto the train, jump onto the train and splashes his aftershave, which is called “Scar”. Yes, this is an advertisement. It’s a great one too! I would buy that aftershave.

We are introduced to Serge Fabergé (Gainsbourg) who wins the highest award for advertising. Faberge (presumably a play on the “egg” company) is with his mistress, a young model, when he first spots Evelyne (Birkin) on a passing boat with a man she is with. He is completely taken by her and makes arrangements to meet her. Soon, almost without blinking, they are together. We also discover that Serge is married and has a child.

For most of the early parts of the movie, we see this couple together enjoying the time of their lives; happy, smiling, experiencing life to the fullest.

But the relationship is not without its snags, either. The dilemma is that Serge is twice the age of Evelyne, and so age becomes and issue, as well as the fact that Serge does not leave his wife, nor Evelyne make a complete commitment to Serge.

The relationship between Gainsbourg and Birkin is perfectly captured as we learn that the film was shot when they had first met in real life. It was believed at the time that the film was a vehicle to show of, what was considered at the time, the “Couple of the Year” in France, however, that is not truly the case. It was during the shooting that the couple began to fall in love with each other that eventually culminated into a 15-year marriage.

Cult Epics provides a second disc in this new release that includes new interviews with Jane Birkin, writer Frederic Beigbeder and director Pierre Grimiat (Gainsbourg passed away in 1991). Also are promotional interviews shortly after the film was short with Serge and Jane as well as Pierre. These interviews all help provide the cultural context of the film and the life of Serge and Jane as one of the most famous couples in France at that time.

SLOGAN is a cute film, yet not the greatest film committed to celluloid, but there are its merits. Namely it is more of a piece of popular and cultural significance of time that does not exist today. The comedy is at times subdued to bring out the relationship, to heighten the musical talents, of the then considered one of the greatest musicians in the world, Serge Gainsbourg (who composes the soundtrack), or to draw attention to the drama that ensues. There are no major surprises in the film. The funniest and most creative aspects of the film are the phony ads, such as seeing a naked woman being whipped by 2 Scottish men in kilts for “Skin Scotch”, or thr ad described above for “Scar Aftershave”.

I also want to point out the main theme song of the film, “Je t'aime... moi non plus” (literally translated “I love you…me neither”). This song eventually became a number one hit in France, but was banned due to Jane Birkin, who also sings in the song, sounds as if she was having an orgasm. The government felt it was inappropriate for youngesters as they were the major influence, and so radios were no longer allowed to play the song. This controversy seemed to give more attention to the song than it may have originally deserved. Coupled with the fact that Birkin and Gainsbourg were major media icons at the time, it proved a winning combination.

The DVD extras are rounded out with TV and theatrical trailers as well as commercials directed by Grimbiat.The DVD set does not include an insert (save for a single sheet listing the catalog of Cult Epics titles), I am thankful for the extras on the second disc to help put this movie in its proper historical perspective. SLOGAN was released in 1969 and looks as great as I imagine it ever did on this new release. A very clean picture with clear sound and subtitles in yellow makes this a quality release, this being the films debut on DVD in the US. While SLOGAN may not be for every taste, it is probable that “the youngsters will buy it.

This DVD is currently avaialble in a single-disc edition, and on September 30^th, this new 2-disc Special Edition will be released. For the price, I would wait for the 2-disc set.

For more information, visit Cult Epics.