Cold War Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		5.0

Cold War Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 7, 2019

Winner of Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival, Pawel Pawlikowski's "Cold War" (2018) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Curzon/Artificial Eye. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; interview with the director; making of featurette; music video; and more. In Polish, with optional English and Engish SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

The man who they said betrayed them

True love can never be corrupted. It can be tested, but when it is, it only gets stronger. Pawel Pawlikowski’s new film, Cold War, is about that kind of love -- pure, indestructible, eternal.

The location is the director’s homeland, Poland, a little over a decade after WWII has ended and the communists have started building their workers’ paradise. Deep into the countryside, two ethnomusicologists are recording unique folk tunes that later on will be examined and considered for use by a big troupe. The best ones will be arranged by Wiktor (Tomaz Kot), a brilliant pianist, composer, and conductor, who is in charge with the project and has the final word on what is worth preserving and using.

During an audition, Wiktor meets Zula (Joanna Kulig), a beautiful singer whose vocal range and ability to effortlessly move through different styles instantly separates her from the rest of the performers. By the end of the audition Wiktor realizes that Zula also has a fearless soul and she captivates his imagination. When later on she joins the troupe and rehearsals are officially initiated, the two begin a secret affair. But like everyone else in the troupe the two are constantly monitored by known and unknown government informers who are always on the lookout for ‘traitors’ and ‘foreign spies’, which further complicates their already very difficult relationship.

Two crucial events permanently alter the nature of this relationship. The first occurs after Zula makes a shocking confession but Wiktor refuses to walk away from her. The second comes after the already very successful troupe is invited to perform at a prestigious international festival in East Berlin where communist leaders and high-ranking officials from all across the Soviet Bloc have gathered to promote the virtues of the proletariat. Wiktor reveals to Zula that on the night of their final stage appearance he plans to cross into the French sector and asks her to join him, but even though initially she agrees the two never meet and he exits the Soviet sector alone.

Pawlikowski breaks the narrative into multiple episodes that sometimes cover rather large chunks of time, but the progression of Wiktor and Zula’s relationship does not feel rushed. The current structure actually prevents the film from becoming too melodramatic and in some crucial areas too sympathetic to the evolving feelings of its two protagonists. The movement from Poland to Paris to Yugoslavia and back to Poland also makes it quite easy to sense that very specific stillness in the air that the Cold War introduced, and because of it the contrasts between the realities of life on the opposite sides of the Wall could not be any more striking.

Music has a particularly important role in this film. Much like Wiktor and Zula’s relationship it goes through different cycles and at times barely survives the madness. For example, in Paris, where Wiktor settles down, in the night clubs brilliant jazz musicians ignite the crowds with spectacular improvisational skills, while back in Poland powerful apparatchiks are seen clamping down on artistic expression and demanding that the arts are used to support the Party’s agenda. (There is a particularly grotesque but actually incredibly authentic segment early into the film where a clueless high-ranking apparatchik reveals that he has finally figured out what makes traditional Polish music special, and later on he becomes one such ‘innovator’ that demands that Wiktor finds a way to incorporate the Party’s message in his work with the troupe).

The use of the 1.37:1 ratio introduces a vintage quality to the visuals that is most appropriate. On top of this, Pawlikowski is such a gifted stylist that it feels like nearly every other frame of his film was meant to end up in a special magazine highlighting the work of a brilliant photographer. This isn’t an exaggeration, as the lensing truly is quite incredible.

*This writer also liked how the film remains slightly introverted, leaving the impression that bits of Wiktor and Zula’s story were spared from the public’s eye. Whether intentional or not, it feels right because Pawlikowski dedicated the film to his parents, whose story was apparently just as special.

Cold War Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Pawel Pawlikowski's Cold War arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Curzon/Artificial Eye.

I am going to speculate and say that the master that is being offered to various distributors to license and use in their respective territories was likely approved by Pawel Pawlikowski and maybe even his cinematographer Lukasz Zal because Cold War looks remarkable in high-definition. Yes, it is a new film and most new films look strong in high-definition, but this master looks extra special to my eyes. On my system delineation, depth, and fluidity are of what I would consider to be 'reference quality'. The grading also allows for outstanding ranges of blacks, whites, and grays to emerge and produce a breathtaking period atmosphere. Quite predictably, image stability is excellent. All in all, this is one seriously impressive technical presentation of a gorgeous recent film that was an incredible treat to see at home. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Cold War Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: Polish DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Polish LPCM 2.0 (with portions of French, German, and Russian). And audio descriptive track is also included as LPCM 2.0. Optional English and English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed the film with the 5.1 track and did not test the 2.0 track. Clarity, depth, balance, and fidelity are outstanding. There is also a fantastic range of dynamic nuances that allow the film's lovely soundtrack to further enhance the period atmosphere. In fact, there are such good contrasts that I think some people will be very pleasantly surprised when they sit down to view the film. There are no audio dropouts or digital distortions to report.

Cold War Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - an original theatrical trailer for Cold War. Music only, with English text. (2 min).

• The Sound of Cold War - Featurette - in this featurette, director Pawel Pawlikowski and composer and piano virtuoso Marcin Masecki discuss the narrative structure of Cold War and the use of music throughout the film. There are particularly good comments about the different type of arrangements that were done, as well as some of the digital tricks that made it possible for Tomasz Kot to do the crucial music scenes. In English, not subtitled. (9 min).

• Behind the Scene - in this featurette, director Pawel Pawlikowski discusses the production of Cold War and his very close relationship with Lukasz Zal, as well as his work with Joanna Kulig and Tomasz Kot. Also, the director addresses the nature of the story that his film tells and the period environment that is recreated in it. In English and Polish, with English subtitles where necessary. (14 min).

• Lyric Video - presented here is the lush night club track that Joanna Kulig's character, Zula, sings in the film. With English text. (2 min).

• Behind the Music - in this short interview, director Pawel Pawlikowski discusses the important role that music has in Cold War. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

Cold War Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There was so much in Cold War that I was instantly able to relate to that at one point it actually felt a bit eerie. Yes, all of the praise that the film has received since its premiere at Cannes is deserved because it is a visual stunner, but it also very accurately recreates an ugly period that should never be forgotten. Most people that see the film will rightfully be captivated by the two brilliant leads, but the large supporting cast and especially the folks that worked on its soundtrack deserve just as much credit because their contributions are equally good. Cold War is now available on Blu-ray with a deserving top-notch technical presentation courtesy of the folks at Curzon/Artificial Eye. If you reside outside of a Region-B territory and want to have the release in your collection, keep in mind that it is Region-B "locked". VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.