35 Shots of Rum Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.5

35 Shots of Rum Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Stephen Larson January 20, 2024

Gestures, glances, and feelings are what matter the most to co-writer/director Claire Denis in her quietly observant drama, 35 rhums (35 Shots of Rum, 2008). The film reminds me of some of the works by Denis's late compatriot Bertrand Tavernier. Like Tavernier's period piece, Un Dimanche à la campagne (A Sunday in the Country, 1984), not that much happens over the course of 35 Shots of Rum's narrative. Of greater consequence is the characters and the ways they immerse themselves into the rhythms of everyday realities. Take, for example, Lionel (Alex Descas) and Josephine (Mati Diop). They live together in a middle-class apartment in a housing projects area on the outskirts of Paris. Lionel and Jo say little to each other because they seem to mutually understand the other's non-verbal cues. They enjoy using the rice cooker and sautéing onions for dinner. Denis underplays their interactions and yet, there's a sensual and erotic undercurrent to their exchanges. The viewer may see them as in a spousal relationship (as I initially did) but they're actually father and daughter. The film is also about their neighbors: Gabrielle (Nicole Dogué), a chain-smoking taxi driver and former flame of Lionel's, and Noé (Grégoire Colin), a young businessman and possible boyfriend to Jo. Gabrielle would love to romantically connect with Lionel again but he is unsure. He's still in mourning over the untimely death of his wife and more connected with his coworkers at the Paris RER where he works as a train engineer. Jo is studying anthropology at the local college and working part time at a record shop. While she takes a liking to Noé, she may not want the same type of relationship that he does. When Gabrielle's car stalls during a rainstorm on the way to a concert, the characters' feelings become more open when they congregate at a bar. As they dance to The Commodores’ Night Shift, their preferred partners (and jealousies) also become clearer.

Denis has said that 35 Shots of Rum is inspired by her familial experiences and in part by Yasujiro Ozu's Late Spring (1949), which is also about a father/daughter kinship. But whereas Ozu's style is more rigid and symmetrical, Denis's is more free flowing and spontaneous. 35 Shots of Rum also reminds me of Hou Hsiao-hsien's Café Lumière (2003), an Ozu-inspired drama I was very keen on when it came out. Passing trains are a recurring visual in that picture as they are in this Denis work. Also, characters spend a lot time in interior spaces conversing but also in deep thought and contemplation. Like Hou's work, 35 Shots of Rum is a film you'll want to revisit again and again to uncover additional layers.

35 Shots of Rum Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

35 Shots of Rum was issued on DVD in 2009-10 in France by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (as ARTE ÉDITIONS), in the UK by New Wave, and the US by Cinema Guild. I didn't see any of those transfers so I can't comment how the image compares to the Blu-ray here. I would place a safe bet, though, that Cinema Guild made a new 2K scan from the Kodak Vision2 500T 5218 35 mm negative. The film appears in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 on this MPEG-4 AVC-encoded BD-50. The cinematography by frequent Denis DP Agnès Godard looks immaculate. Colors are always well-defined. (Check out the reds on the rice cooker and CD stand in Screenshot #s 2 and 16.) Facial detail is exquisite (see frame grab #s 3, 8-10, 14). Background depth is outstanding. See how well pronounced a character's skin tone is in long shot and behind a pot in screen capture #21. The lower-lit scenes accent grain and texture (see Screenshot #s 5, 11-14, and 25-26). C.G. has encoded the feature at an average video bitrate of 35563 kbps.

The 101-minute feature receives about ten chapters.

35 Shots of Rum Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Cinema Guild has supplied a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo mix (1572 kbps, 16-bit). The film is spoken in both French and German. This is about as good a matrixed stereo track can sound on Blu-ray. Speakers are perfectly balanced between the fronts and rears. Beyond the murmurings, delivery is crisp. The original score by British band Tindersticks is most instrumental (literally) to the film's success. I was fortunate to find the score album, which is part of the five-CD box set, Claire Denis Film Scores 1996-2009 that was released in 2011 by Canadian record label Constellation. When one hears the opening and closing cues, it sounds like a cross between a harmonica and accordion. This is a melodica performed by co-composer David Boulter. The melodica also reappears during the tracks "Train Montage 1" (the standout on the album and in the movie) and the reprised variation, "Train Montage 2," which also incorporates the flute. Tindersticks establishes a perfect rhythm for the train scenes. The beats sync well with the train's movement and the non-static POV of Lionel. Tindersticks employs three different guitars: acoustic, bass, and electric. The main theme is most often played on at least one of the guitars. The ondes martenot, an irregularly used instrument which sounds like a theremin, accompanies the opening to the film and "The Necklace." Music on the DTS-HD MA is evenly split between the fronts and surrounds. The Commodores' "Night Shift" on the diegetic track is given a lively rendition.

The optional English subtitles appear in a white font that's smaller than most fonts used on BDs and UHDs these days but is still readable. It appears unobtrusively near the bottom (see screen capture #27).

35 Shots of Rum Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Cinema Guild DVD included a 20-minute interview with Claire Denis from 2009 on 35 Shots of Rum, an over hour-long conversation with Denis from 2004, a production gallery, and a booklet essay by Rob White. None of these extras appear on this package. C.G. has recorded a recent interview with the director and culled archival programs from different venues.

• NEW A Dance of Feelings: Claire Denis on 35 Shots of Rum with Eric Hynes; interpretation by Nicholas Elliott (2022) (28:10, 1080p) - this interview was shot over a year ago at the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, NY. Denis is in conversation with film curator Eric Hynes, with assistance from interpreter Nicholas Elliott. Denis initially speaks in English. Hynes asks all his questions in English. Denis seems to understand them well judging by her body language and the fact she doesn't ask for any translations. The director gives long, extended answers to each query. She describes in depth and detail the Parisian community she filmed 35 Shots of Rum in. She also recounts how she wanted to seek an actor from Martinique to play a character based on her grandfather. Denis delivers interesting stories about how actor Alex Descas had to learn the movements of a train conductor and how he patterned them off subway engineers he observed. Denis additionally delves into the movie's Ozu connections. When Elliott isn't verbally translating, which is most of the time (although he takes copious notes during Denis's answers), English subtitles are displayed on the screen. This interview appears specially produced for this Blu-ray. (There is no live audience present.)

• Claire Denis: Unpredictable Universe: A Dialogue and Retrospective at the Walker Art Center (2012) (26:57, 1080i) - held on November 17, 2012, this "Regis Dialogue" with Claire Denis is introduced and moderated by New York film critic Eric Hynes. The abridged program starts with a brief intro by Hynes, who gives an overview of her career that's augmented with stills from Denis's films. Some scenes from 35 Shots of Rum are played prior to the discussion. Denis describes the scenes and takes questions from the audience. She speaks about her collaboration with Jean-Pol Fargeau, her other films, dealing with doubt as a filmmaker, and working with actors. Denis speaks in English.

• An excerpt from Talking with Ozu (6:45, 1080p) - this extract is taken from Kogi Tanaka's 1993 documentary short, which initially appeared in full on Criterion's 2003 DVD of Tokyo Story. Denis recalls her experience first seeing an Ozu film (An Autumn Afternoon) at the Cinémathèque française. She also remembers watching Late Spring. (A clip is shown.) Denis also reads excerpts from a book on Ozu. In French with English subtitles.

• Theatrical Trailer (1:45, 720p) - Cinema Guild's official trailer for 35 Shots of Rum appears in its native ratio of 1.85:1 and comes with a Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo mix. This is struck from a cinema print, which looks very good. The English subtitles are burned in.

• NEW Booklet - a slender eight-page booklet that features a recent essay about 35 Shots of Rum by Blair McClendon.

35 Shots of Rum Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

35 Shots of Rum was one of 2008's best films. It earned favorable comparisons to Olivier Assayas's Summer Hours (2008). While I have not yet seen that French picture, I've read that it shares several similarities with Denis's work so if you enjoyed the Criterion release, you'll want to lap this one up, too. Cinema Guild's transfer is practically impeccable. Tindersticks' original music has been burned into my mind days after seeing the film. It is well-represented on the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo track. The most substantial new extra is an extended conversation with Claire Denis that you'll want to see after watching the film. While I would have liked Cinema Guild to retain its old bonus features, I still ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECOMMEND this package!