7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Based on Juliusz Słowacki’s 19th-century play Mazepa but relocated to 13th-century France, Blanche tells the story of the beautiful young wife of a nobleman many decades older. As innocent as her name suggests, Blanche becomes the unwilling centre of attention in a power struggle between her husband, the visiting King and his page, the latter a notorious womaniser.
Starring: Michel Simon, Georges Wilson, Jacques Perrin, Ligia Branice, Denise PéronneForeign | 100% |
Drama | 59% |
Period | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.65:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
French: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Walerian Borowczyk's "Blanche" (1972) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Arrow Video. The supplemental features on the disc include an introduction by director Leslie Megahey; new video program featuring interviews with first assistant director Andre Heinrich, second assistant director Patrice Leconte, camera assistant Noel Very, and associate producer Dominique Duverge-Segretin; archival interview with the Polish director; and new video interview Peter Graham and his short film "Gunpoint" (1972). The release also arrives with reversible sleeve with Walerian Borowczyk's original poster design for "Blanche". In French, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
Bartolomeo and Blanche
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.65:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Walerian Borowczyk's Blanche arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Arrow Video.
Exclusively restored in 2K, Blanche looks beautiful on Blu-ray. Because of the unique use of light and color, the film has a notably subdued look. Both detail and clarity, however, are very pleasing. Some minor sharpness fluctuations exist, but it is easy to see that they are part of the original cinematography (see the forest footage early into the film). There are absolutely no traces of problematic degraining or sharpening corrections. Predictably, from start to finish the film has a wonderful and very solid organic appearance. There are no serious stability issue to report in this review. Lastly, there are no large cuts, damage marks, or stains, but a few small specks occasionally pop up here and there. All in all, this is a wonderful restoration and presentation of Blanche, which will likely remain the definitive presentation of the film on the home video market. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location. For the record, there is no problematic PAL or 1080/50i content preceding the disc's main menu).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: French LPCM 1.0. For the record, Arrow Video have provided optional English subtitles for the main feature.
The lossless track is excellent. The period music sounds lush and well rounded, while the dialog is clear and stable. Dynamic intensity is limited, but this is hardly surprising considering the fact that the film's budget was quite small. There is no hiss, crackle, pops, audio dropouts, or digital distortions to report in this review. The English translation is excellent.
I have now viewed all four feature films and the short films in Arrow Video's new Camera Obscura: The Walerian Borowczyk Collection Blu-ray box set and can comfortably state that it is without a shadow a doubt the most unique release we have seen on the home video market in quite a while. I can also comfortably state that the box set will accomplish its goal -- Walerian Borowczyk and his work will be rediscovered and more importantly reevaluated by many people around the world. Congratulations Arrow Video on a job well done. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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