While most have a dark, dreadful vision of a post-apocalyptic world, some still have a keen sense of humor about what happens after everything we know falls apart. In the case of the French film Delicatessen, Co-directors Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro create an off-beat mood that makes you smile despite the nuclear glow cascading in the backdrop.
Initially premiering in France on April 17, 1991, Delicatessen marked the surprising debut of Jean-Pierre Jeunet (who would go on to grander success with 1997’s Alien Resurrection and 2001’s Amélie), matched with Marc Caro (who also worked on Alien Resurrection). Together, they create an amusing mood full of artful and clever scenes. Playing out with several key features that make the film enjoyable, you have humor and horror all under the broader theme of romance. Hard to imagine that each of these aspects can be blended into the other, but it works with Delicatessen, making it a stunningly entertaining motion picture.
Featuring a talented French cast including Dominique Pinon, Marie-Laure Dougnac, Jean-Claude Dreyfus, and Karin Viard, it is impossible to overlook the brilliant cinematography of Darius Khondji. Altogether uniting a pace and rhythm to Delicatessen, there is also a sense of attention to detail in shimmering light and camera angles that tickle your sensibilities.
Truly remarkable, it is no wonder Delicatessen won several European film awards in 1992, including Best Editing, Best Debut, Best Production Design, and Best Writing at the 17th annual César Awards. Deserving of it all, it is essential to take a closer look at the story that holds everything together.
Breaking it down, Delicatessen is set in a post-apocalyptic world, assuming in the afterglow of a nuclear war. In this setting, you are focused on unemployed circus clown Louison (Pinon) looking for a job. Hired to do odd jobs around a decaying apartment building, little does Louison know he is set to be the following special on the ground floor’s deli butcher/owner Clapet (Dreyfus). Keeping his hand relatively close to his chest, the cannibalistic Clapet is buying his time before striking Louison. Still, in the process, the sweet, caring circus worker develops a friendship with Clapet’s daughter, Julie (Dougnac). A pure, innocent romance is growing, but will Louison survive long enough to confess his genuine love for Julie?
A plot that warms your heart, the darker elements of Delicatessen lean more toward a Tim Burton sense of humor, as seen in films like 2005’s Corpse Bride. With all of this in mind, Delicatessen had a chance to find an audience outside of France when it was released in the fall of 1991 in the USA with English subtitles and the added title of Terry Gilliam Presents to help attract attention. From here, it has been made to several home media formats, including a 2006 DVD and 2008 Blu-ray release in North America, and it now arrives in 4K Ultra HD.
Delicatessen’s first-ever 4K Ultra HD release in the North American market arrived on March 25, 2025, through Severin Films as a two-disc set or limited three-disc edition. Explaining what is inside, there is a 4K UHD disc with the feature film, a Blu-ray with hours of extra material such as interviews, and a making of featurette called Fine Cooked Meats for the two-disc set. You get the same for the three-disc set, but a second Blu-ray with the 4K edition of the film, plus a nice booklet and an exclusive slipcover.
With over three hours of new and archival special features, the boldest part of this release is the remarkable 4K Ultra HD transfer. Thanks to modern technology, they could utilize the original camera negative and carefully correct lighting and contrast, adding an extra depth that makes Delicatessen more magical. Done so with supervision from Jean-Pierre Jeunet, it is a 4K Ultra HD treatment you need to see to believe.
A delightful addition to any film lover’s collection, the Severin Films 4K Ultra HD edition of Delicatessen is recommended because Cryptic Rock gives it 5 out of 5 stars.
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