“Jules and Jim” / “Jules et Jim” / 「突然炎のごとく」, Original Japanese Theatrical Revival Movie Poster 1985, François Truffaut / Jeanne Moreau, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) C276
This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed in 1985 for the memorial Japanese revival release of Jules and Jim (Japanese title: 突然炎のごとく), François Truffaut’s celebrated French New Wave masterpiece starring Jeanne Moreau, Oskar Werner, and Henri Serre.
Issued for the film’s October 26, 1985 Japanese theatrical revival, this poster was produced shortly after the death of François Truffaut in 1984, and carries a distinctly commemorative tone. As such, it is not simply a later reissue, but an evocative Japanese theatrical poster marking the renewed exhibition of one of Truffaut’s most enduring and culturally important films.
Film background
Based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Henri-Pierre Roché, Jules and Jim is among the defining works of the French New Wave. Set across the years before and after the First World War, it follows the intense emotional bond between two friends—Jules and Jim—and the enigmatic Catherine, whose presence transforms both their lives.
The film is widely regarded as one of Truffaut’s signature achievements: lyrical, modern, romantic, and tragic in equal measure. With its fluid camera movement, emotional directness, and unforgettable central performance by Jeanne Moreau, it remains one of the most admired films in postwar European cinema.
Poster design
This Japanese B2 design is strikingly minimalist and elegant, divided into two strongly contrasting halves.
The upper half is a vivid crimson-magenta field, used almost entirely for the typography. Against this rich ground appears the original French title JULES ET JIM in large, faint purple lettering, overlaid by the bold Japanese title 突然炎のごとく in sweeping white characters. Beneath it, in pink, appears the subtitle:
――ジュールとジム――
At the very top, a memorial text honours Truffaut as a master of French cinema who devoted himself to depicting love, and notes the film’s creation with the young Jeanne Moreau.
The lower half presents a beautiful black-and-white production still showing the film’s iconic trio—Catherine, Jules, and Jim—walking together through a wooded landscape. It is one of the most memorable visual motifs associated with the film and gives the poster a strong emotional and cinematic identity.
Below the title block, the poster credits:
名匠 フランソワ・トリュフォー監督作品
“A film by master director François Truffaut.”
The lower central credits also reference the original novel by Henri-Pierre Roché, music by Georges Delerue, and the starring cast. Distributor marks for Herald Ace and Nippon Herald Films appear near the centre.
Collector significance
Japanese revival posters for major European art films often possess a distinct identity of their own, and this example is especially desirable for its memorial-release context, restrained graphic sophistication, and direct association with Truffaut’s posthumous legacy in Japan.
Unlike more crowded commercial designs, this poster relies on space, tone, and balance, giving it an unusually refined visual presence. For collectors of French New Wave cinema, François Truffaut, Jeanne Moreau, or Japanese art-house theatrical posters, it is a particularly appealing example.
Condition
Excellent condition. Please review the photo carefully, as it shows the exact poster for sale.
The poster presents very well, with strong colour in the upper field, clean paper, crisp typography, and an attractive black-and-white photographic image below. Overall, it has an excellent display presence.
This is an original 1985 Japanese theatrical revival poster.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
It is almost 40 years old.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
