Desire Will Set You Free Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Desire Will Set You Free Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 19, 2017

Art and individuality collide in “Desire Will Set You Free,” which presents a charged snapshot of Berlin’s underground scene, with its performance art, musical acts, and flavorful gay community. Co-writer/director/star Yony Leyser aims to braid his experiences in Germany with a story of personal awakening, supporting the journey with cameos from creative forces, a thumpy soundtrack, and a point of view that gives “Desire Will Set You Free” a distinct fingerprint other picture of this ilk lack.

“Desire Will Set You Free” captures upheaval in the lives of Ezra, who has a dream to be a writer, and Sasha, who’s new to Berlin, having recently left Russia to experience life as a transgender man. The characters intertwine, but they also carry on their own personal mission of creative and sexual expression, interacting with a community of friends and performers, most making each moment of their lives ring out with artistic vibration. Leyser has a vision for “Desire Will Set You Free,” and the feature gets surprisingly far on sheer energy, capturing the wilds of the city, its club music, and citizens.

Desire Will Set You Free Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation is a bright and bold look at the HD cinematography of "Desire Will Set You Free." Colors are precise, delivering vivid primaries throughout, with a special boost from costuming, which really offers significant hues. Skintones are ample and natural. Detail is striking, offering fresh close-ups that pick up on facial particulars, and city visits are crisp, handling decoration and distances. Source is clean.

Desire Will Set You Free Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix handles with a heavy EDM thump, handling soundtrack selections with wonderful definition and generous low-end activity, boosting the immediacy of club sequences and montages. Dialogues exchanges are equally crisp, preserving performance nuances and group activity. Atmospherics are welcoming, offering a feel for outdoor adventures and varied spaces. Surrounds are generally subtle, but push out music with care.

Desire Will Set You Free Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "A Conversation Between Yony Leyser and Rosa Von Praunheim" (27:15, HD) catches up with the filmmaker and one of his inspirations (who also appears in the movie), where they discuss gay culture in Berlin through the years, the war between love and sex, and Leyser's artistic and tonal intent for "Desire Will Set You Free." It's a slightly odd chat with a wandering camera, but it adds necessary perspective to the picture.

• "Hannalore" (2:35, HD) is a music video from Peaches.

• Photo Gallery collects 35 images from the production.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:02, HD) is included.

Desire Will Set You Free Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Not everything comes together as well as it could in "Desire Will Set You Free," with Leyser himself not up to the acting challenge required to pull off the character's ambition and desperation. In fact, the cast is largely disappointing, but they're covered by sincerity, as the tale soon finds its position as a journey of acceptance (albeit one with an abrupt ending) and Berlin tourism, making for a colorful ride of introspection and declaration.