In a world where excess seems to equate success, it is easy to see why Walerian Borowczyk's movies are finally gaining him the recognition he deserves. True, in many cases, what was once considered "smut" by the viewing public is now regarded as erotic masterpieces, and many of Borowkzyk's films, 'The Beast', 'Immoral Tales', even his art-nunsploitation flick 'Behind Convent Walls', seem to be gaining widespread acclaim. This is thanks, in part, to critics like Mark Kermode, who presented 'The Beast' uncut on the FilmFour channel, and also DVD houses such as Cult Epics, who have released beautifully remastered versions of many Borowczyk films. However, words almost fail me when it comes to the availability of 'Blanche'. This beautiful film, a medieval fairytale-cum-tragedy, is worlds away from erotic fare such as 'The Beast', and is Borowczyk's finest hour. And yet, whilst there is a 3-disc special edition of the latter title, 'Blanche' has never received anywhere near as much care and attention. In fact, apart from a mid-90's VHS version (which seemed to drop out of the shops as quickly and quietly as it had dropped in, but now fetches a fairly excessive price on ebay), 'Blanche' is practically impossible to find anywhere. It doesn't even have its own page on Wikipedia! Surely this is a crime against all cinema lovers, and to Borowczyk himself, who deserves to be remembered as the great filmmaker that he was, and not just a creator of interesting erotica.
