Diaries, Notes & Sketches: Walden Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Diaries, Notes & Sketches: Walden Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 16, 2015

A collection of experiences from the “Diaries, Notes, and Sketches” series, directed by Jonas Mekas, 1969’s “Walden” is an offering of avant-garde filmmaking that defies most description, perhaps best left unexplained for those who prefer their cinema impenetrable. Mekas surveys the world as he sees it, wandering through years of observation and participation. The goal here isn’t truth, but submersion, with the helmer using abrasive audio and visual methods to capture chaos as a way to express the circle of life. It’s raw and, at three hours in length, demanding, but there are select moments of beauty that remain for those tough enough to endure an extended sensory assault.

Structure isn’t valued in “Walden,” though some sense of time is provided by changing seasons, with Mekas and his 16mm camera following developments in snowfall and summer activities to help position viewers before returning to the wilds of his imagination. Parts of “Walden” are actually a travelogue of sorts, with the helmer visiting various weddings, a circus, New York City streets, and parks where families enjoy some sledding time. Glimpses of the city as it once was give the effort time capsule appeal, and Mekas offers a few surprises, including a climatic encounter with John Lennon and Yoko Ono during one of their famous “bed-ins.” However, these focused encounters are few and far between, as much of the movie is concentrated on disorientation, with the director employing sped-up footage and industrial sounds. It’s a play for artful cinema hypnosis that’s up to individual viewers to appreciate, but Mekas deserves credit for sustaining his interest in noise over an extraordinary amount of screentime.

Diaries, Notes & Sketches: Walden Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation employs both color and black and white cinematography, and balance remains intact. Shot on 16mm, "Walden" provides supportive hues, favoring reds and outdoor greenery, while skintones remain in step with film quality. Source encounters a consistent display of scratches and debris, revealing age and wear and tear. Definition is handled well, finding more patient shots offering an appropriate level of detail, and delineation is comfortable.

Diaries, Notes & Sketches: Walden Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix is difficult to assess, as much of it contains various sources of noise. There's urban grind, guitar feedback, and rubbed microphones to endure, which carry intended volume. Voiceover efforts are as secure as the original recording allows, with fluctuating levels and accents to manage, but the track does the best that it can. Music selections are more encouraging but not uniform, also offered with source issues. Hiss and pops are present, but could very well be premeditated.

Diaries, Notes & Sketches: Walden Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (14 pages) contains an essay by Ed Halter.

• Commentary features Jonas Mekas.

• Short Films include "Cassis" (5:50, HD), "Notes on a Circus" (12:46, HD), "Hare Krishna" (4:49, HD), and "Report from Millbrook" (11:41, HD).

Diaries, Notes & Sketches: Walden Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Moments of clarity keep "Walden" interesting, including audio snippets of conversations and inner thoughts, which mercifully break up scenes where it sounds like Mekas is simply fumbling around with his microphone. Beauty is also intermittent here when Mekas shows interest in stability, capturing changes in weather and urban touring with defined curiosity. "Walden" is obviously intended for a specific audience, making outside appreciation difficult. However, as cinematic experimentation goes, the effort preserves its mission with reassuring confidence, as Mekas never strays too far from his ultimate goal: to go where the day takes him.