Director Luis Buñuel's Diary of a Chambermaid -- an acidic indictment of post-World War II French fascism -- is many things: scathing, fantastical, erotic, realistic, satirical, horrific, brilliant, silly, and more. After viewing The Criterion Collection's DVD of the film, "gorgeous" could also be added. The new widescreen transfer, properly shown in its original Franscope aspect ratio of 2.35:1, has been struck from a 35 mm fine-grain master positive from the original negative. The high-contrast print is stunning and is definitely the best this film has ever looked on home video and possibly even better than it did when it was originally released in 1964. Blacks are black and the whites are luminescent without blurring. The images are defined throughout and really give the film a sharpness it had previously lacked. No evidence of compression artifacts and very little grain or lines are evident. The picture has been enhanced for 16 x 9 TVs. The film is available in French mono only with "new and improved" English subtitles. The English translation has been given an uplift as well. The mono soundtrack is very nice and there are only a few crackles and wear on it if any. Criterion's disc has only a few extras, but what is included is very nice. The lengthy video interview with screenwriter and frequent Buñuel collaborator Jean-Claude Carriere is informative and gives a brief insight into Buñuel and Carriere's ideas concerning adapting Octave Mirbeau's scandalous novel into the film, working with the legendary Jeanne Moreau, and more. The disc also includes a great trailer, wherein Moreau attempts to coyly describe the film to the viewing audience. The DVD also comes with liner notes, including an interview with Buñuel cribbed from a book of interviews with the infamous Spanish director, as well as an essay concerning the director's cinematic obsessions. A must-own disc for lovers of classic international films.