8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The intriguing true story of Hossain Sabzian, a semi-employed Iranian who took advantage of a family's kindness by claiming to be a famous filmmaker.
Starring: Abbas KiarostamiDrama | 100% |
Foreign | 84% |
Documentary | 11% |
Biography | 6% |
Crime | 2% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Farsi: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami's "Nema-ye Nazdik" a.k.a "Close-up" (1990) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include an audio commentary with Iranian filmmaker Mehrnaz Saeed-Vafa and American film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum; an exclusive video interview with Abbas Kiarostami; the short film "The Traveler" (1974); "Close-up" Long Shot; and the documentary feature "A Walk with Kiarostami". The disc also arrives with a 16-page illustrated booklet. In Farsi, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
Ali Sabzian - In love with Cinema and Art
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Abbas Kiarostami's Close-up arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.
The following text appears in the booklet provided with this Blu-ray disc:
"This new high-definition transfer was created on a Spirit Datacine from a 35mm print made from the original camera negative. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches, splices, warps, jitter, and flicker were manually removed using MTI's DRS system and Pixel Farm's PFClean system, while Digital Vision's DVNR system was used for small dirt, grain, and noise reduction. Additional restoration was performed with the help of Reliance Mediaworks and its proprietary software."
This is a very strong high-definition transfer. Aside from inherited random minor flecks, scratches and cuts that pop up here and there, the high-definition transfer represents a major upgrade over Facets Video's old R1 SDVD release of the film. Fine object detail, especially early into the film, is excellent. Clarity and contrast levels are also convincing. The color-scheme does not disappoint either - yellows, greens, blues, browns and blacks look natural. The film's grain structure is also intact. Furthermore, neither edge-enhancement no macroblocking are a serious issues of concern. Excluding some minor fluctuations during the documentary footage from the trial, there are no serious stability issues either. All in all, this is a very strong and much needed upgrade of an important film. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).
There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray disc: Farsi LPCM Mono. For the record, Criterion have provided optional English subtitles for the main feature.
The Farsi LPCM track is pleasing. Generally speaking, the dialog is clean, stable and easy to follow. There is some minor background hissing that is present during selected scenes, mostly likely inherited from the 35mm soundtrack print, but there are no serious technical deficiencies to report in this review. The English translation is of exceptionally high quality.
Commentary - an audio commentary, recorded exclusively for Criterion in 2009, with Iranian filmmaker Mehrnaz Saeed-Vafa and American film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum. There is an abundance of excellent information in this commentary addressing not only the unique structure and message of Close-up, but also the socio-political environment in Iran before and after the film was made. Mr. Rosenbaum's comments on Abbas Kiarostami's career as a filmmaker are also terrific.
The Traveler - this film, which the main protagonist in Close-up refers to, was made by Abbas Kiarostami in 1974, and tells the story of a young soccer fan who goes on a unusual trip to see his favorite team. In Farsi, with optional English subtitles. B&W. (74 min, 1080i).
"Close-up" Long Shot - a fascinating film about the principal character in Close-up, Hossein Sabzian. In Farsi, with optional English subtitles. Color. (44 min, 1080i).
Abbas Kiarostami - an exclusive video interview, shot in Marrakech, with Abbas Kiarostami. Here the director discusses Close-up and the impact the film had on his evolution as filmmaker. In Farsi, with optional English subtitles. (28 min, 1080i).
A Walk with Kiarostami - a documentary, shot over the course of two days in 2001, in Galway, Ireland, where Abbas Kiarostami presented a masterclass as part of the annual Galway Film Fleadh. In Farsi, with imposed English subtitles. (32 min, 1080i).
Booklet - a 16-page illustrated booklet containing Godfrey Cheshire's essay "Prison and Escape".
Criterion have put together a competent package for Abbas Kiarostami's thought-provoking Close-up. The distributors have also included the director's intriguing short film The Traveler. Let's hope that Abbas Kiarostami's award-winning Taste of Cherry and The Wind Will Carry Us are not too far behind either. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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