6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A greedy, materialistic family attempts to cover-up the embezzlement committed by the son while keeping their other schemes active. They discover there are other, equally conniving players involved.
Starring: Ayako Wakao, Yûnosuke Itô, Hisano Yamaoka, Eiji Funakoshi, Hideo TakamatsuForeign | 100% |
Drama | 53% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Japanese: LPCM 2.0 Mono
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Of all the epochal changes wrought on the Japanese people at the end of World War II, architecture might not instantly spring to top of mind, other than perhaps the obvious aspect that two major Japanese cities had to be rebuilt after the droppings of the atomic bombs. But Tom Mes, who often finds interesting nooks and crannies (speaking of buildings) for his commentaries and other featurettes, offers a rather fascinating supplement on this disc where he talks about post-World War II Japan's home design evolution (if it can properly be called that), one which de- emphasized "communal", often multi-generational, living in favor of what might be termed a more "isolated" Western style.
Elegant Beast is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Radiance Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.35:1. Radiance tends not to provide a wealth of technical information on the provenance of their transfers, and that's once again the case here, with only the following minimal information offered in their insert booklet:
Elegant Beast was restored in 4K by Kadokawa Corporation. Additional colour grading was performed by Radiance Films in 2023.The foregoing doesn't mention the actual source for the transfer (negative? IP?), but as can probably be easily seen in the screenshots I've uploaded to accompany this review, this is often a relatively grainy looking enterprise, though that said, there are no real issues with resolution despite a certain amount of grittiness, especially in some of the more dimly lit material. The color timing struck me as just a tad on the brown side, which may indicate some fading in whatever element was used, but things look decently natural despite this situation. Detail levels are generally commendable throughout, aided and abetted by the claustrophobic confines of the Maeda apartment, which almost necessitates a surplus of close-ups and midrange shots.
Elegant Beast features LPCM 2.0 Mono audio in the original Japanese. There's not a ton of layering to this sound design, with the bulk of the story playing out within the confines of the Maeda apartment, and consisting pretty much entirely of spoken material and some background ambient environmental effects (notably when characters step outside for a moment). Sei Ikeno contributes a score which sounds fine. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.
There's a rather dark undercurrent to Elegant Beast which is rather funny, but also kind of disturbing at the same time. This is an unusually thought provoking piece of Japanese cinema which doesn't seem to be that well known to Western audiences, and which certainly deserves wider renown. Radiance provides a release with generally solid technical merits and some very appealing supplements. Recommended.
Shi no toge
1990
夜の片鱗 / Yoru no henrin | Limited Edition
1964
不散 / Bu san
2003
Antonia
1995
Le plein de super | Standard Edition
1976
Hoří, má panenko
1967
2021
Tulitikkutehtaan tyttö
1990
Music Box Selects
2019
大人の見る絵本 生れてはみたけれど
1932
2011
Nous ne vieillirons pas ensemble
1972
Tui shou
1992
1965
1973
Adua and her Friends
1960
Sedmikrásky
1966
Зоология
2016
「エロ事師たち」より 人類学入門 / Erogotoshi-tachi yori: Jinruigaku nyûmon
1966
幸福の黄色いハンカチ / Shiawase no kiiroi hankachi | Limited Edition to 3000
1977