8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.4 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
A frigid young housewife decides to spend her midweek afternoons as a prostitute.
Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Jean Sorel, Michel Piccoli, Geneviève Page, Pierre ClémentiDrama | 100% |
Foreign | 94% |
Surreal | 17% |
Erotic | 13% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.68:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 16-bit)
Spanish: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 16-bit)
German: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
English, German, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
BD-Live
Region B (locked)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Based on the novel by Joseph Kessel, Luis Buñuel's "Belle de jour" (1967) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Optimum Home Entertainment. Amongst the special features on the disc are an audio commentary with P.W. Evans, Professor of Film at Queen Mary, University of London, the Spanish documentary "The Last Script", two featurettes, a trailer, etc. Region-B "locked".
Belle de jour
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Luis Buñuel's Belle de jour arrives on
Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Optimum Home Entertainment.
This is a very strong transfer that will please a lot of you! Contrast is lovely, detail excellent and clarity pleasing. Aside from some minor pulsations that
I noticed popping up here and there, the color-scheme is also pleasing. Blacks and reds in particular are much stronger than those seen on the DVD
release of Belle de jour included in "The Luis Buñuel Collection" the British distributors released quite some time ago. Edge-enhancement and
macroblocking are most definitely not a serious issue of concern.
The grain structure of the film is intact. Many of the close-ups, for example, reveal terrific organic qualities. There are no traces of excessive DNR
filtering. This being said, I must note that this is not a freshly restored transfer – there are quite a few specks popping up here and there as well as a
few scratches. Still, this is one very strong release, which most definitely deserves your attention. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" disc.
Therefore, unless you have a native Region-B or Region-Free player, you won't be able to access its content).
There are four audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: French: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, German DTS-HD Master Audio
2.0 and Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. I opted for the original French track.
The French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track is of excellent quality. It reveals qualities that I never noticed on my R2 DVD. Many of the unusual sounds
Belle de jour is known for are indeed very easy to hear now. The dialog is crisp, clear and very easy to follow. Additionally, there are absolutely
no disturbing pops, cracks, or hissings. Simply put, the French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track is very convincing.
I quickly tested the English and Spanish dubs to hear how they compare with the French track, and I must admit that they are in fact quite good – the
dialog certainly is very easy to follow. Still, I strongly recommend that you opt for the original French track.
For the record, Optimum Home Entertainment have provided optional English, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, German, Spanish, and Swedish
subtitles for the main feature. They are white and just as I like them – not too big.
Note: The supplemental features on this disc are PAL-encoded. Therefore, if you reside in North America, or another region where PAL is not
supported, you must have a Region-Free player capable of converting PAL to NTSC, or a TV set capable of receiving native PAL data, in order to view
them.
Booklet/case - Optimum Home Entertainment have provided a lovely 20-page booklet. In it, you will find a very informative essay
by Derek Malcom (film critic of the Guardian for 35 years and now critic of the London Evening Standard. He is Hon. President of FIPRESCI, the
international film critics' organization and president of the UK Film Societies). The actual Blu-ray disc is housed in a very elegant case.
The Last Script - an enormously informative Spanish documentary focusing on the life and work of Luis Buñuel. I strongly
recommend that you find the time to see it. Subtitled in English. (PAL, 94 min).
A Story of Perversion or Emancipation? - French sexologist Dr. Sylvain Mimoun discusses the controversial nature of Belle de
jour. Subtitled in English. (PAL, 29 min).
Story of a Film- this is the old French documentary that was available on the R2 French DVD release of the film. It focuses on the
different characters in the film, their strengths and weaknesses. Subtitled in English. (PAL, 30 min).
Audio Commentary - P.W. Evans, Professor of Film at Queen Mary, University of London, who has written extensively on Luis Buñuel
and his films, delivers an enormously informative and entertaining commentary.
Trailer - Subtitled in English. (PAL, 3 min).
BD-Live functionality -
I am very pleased with this Blu-ray release! There are a couple of minor issues in the video department that could have been addressed (a few tiny flecks here and there), but, overall, Belle de jour looks fantastic in high definition. On top of that, the disc also contains some excellent supplemental features. Well done, Optimum Home Entertainment! Very Highly Recommended.
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Trois couleurs: Bleu
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BFI Flipside
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La voie lactée
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Mitt liv som hund / Arrow Academy
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Teorema
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۲۴ فریم
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