Figures in a Landscape Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

Figures in a Landscape Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 1, 2016

Joseph Losey's "Figures in a Landscape" (1970) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. There are no supplemental features on this release. In English, without optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

The bird in the sky

They are running away from an invisible enemy in an unknown country. The older man (Robert Shaw, The Sting, Jaws) looks more energetic and occasionally reminds the younger man (Malcolm McDowell, Caligula, A Clockwork Orange) that they have to keep moving because “the bird” is somewhere behind them. They can hear it.

When the black helicopter emerges they run as fast as they can and try to hide amidst the rocks or in the bushes. Sometimes they manage to get away for a few hours, but then the helicopter spots them again and the hunt resumes. The whole thing looks like an odd game in which only the scenery periodically changes.

In a small village the two men steal some weapons and canned food. They think that now they have a better chance to get to “the other side” -- a place where they will be safe. Soon after, however, their enemies surround them in a giant cane field, which is set on fire. Once again they manage to escape and head for the mountains. Somewhere up there they will be safe. But the more time passes by, the harder it becomes for them to climb the frozen hills.

This very unusual film from the great director Joseph Losey is literally like a giant surreal dream. It does not make perfect sense if one attempts to describe it with simple words, but while it lasts it seems logical and complete.

The film is based on Barry England’s outstanding book whose story is similarly vague. In it the two fugitives are running through an unnamed but clearly hostile country and trying to get to a place which their enemies cannot enter. The two sides are never identified, but it is clear that they are at war which is fought on multiple fronts.

In the film the focus of attention is strictly on the fugitives and their instincts. This isn’t an original concept -- Cornel Wilde’s The Naked Prey chronicles the hunt for the white survivor in a similar fashion -- but the manner in which they are followed and in the process reality slowly bent is very unusual. What’s the meaning of it all? The film does not force one to pick sides and choose clichés that explain the conflict. Instead, it makes it possible to see -- and in this case also feel -- how utterly surreal war is when it is stripped of the ideas that have created it. Basically, while the hunt lasts the film effectively erases the fine line that separates animals and humans.

The visuals and the atmosphere they create are tremendous. There are numerous segments without any dialog where the fugitives are simply seen desperately trying to find a place where their enemies will lose their tracks. The tension slowly rises and eventually becomes unbearable.

Losey shot the film with three different cinematographers: the legendary Henri Alekan (Jean Cocteau’s Beauty and the Beast, The Lovers of Verona), Peter Suschitzky (Jim Sharman’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show, David Cronenberg’s Naked Lunch), and Guy Tabary.

Figures in a Landscape Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Joseph Losey's Figures in a Landscape arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

There are a few minor transition issues that affect depth and density. In these areas there is also visible color instability. Fortunately, they last only a few seconds and do no become distracting. The rest of the film looks quite nice. Grain is visible and for the most part rather nicely exposed. Obviously, it could be better resolved, but there are no traces of digital tinkering. Even better, there are absolutely no traces of problematic sharpening adjustments. Contrast levels remain stable. Some minor specks and a few blemishes can be spotted. Finally, there are no serious encoding anomalies to report in this review. All in all, there is room for some improvements, but this is a pleasing organic presentation that makes it rather easy to enjoy the film. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Figures in a Landscape Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are not provided for the main feature.

It is quite easy to tell that the audio has not been fully remastered -- there is some minor unevenness and the sound isn't always well rounded. However, clarity is consistently very pleasing and there are no distracting audio dropouts or distortions. Dynamic intensity is limited, but the film has an organic sound design that lacks big audio effects.

Figures in a Landscape Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Most unfortunately, there are no supplemental features to be found on this release.

Figures in a Landscape Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Joseph Losey's Figures in a Landscape was apparently a box office bomb in England that generated plenty of negative reviews, but I think that it desperately needs to be reevaluated. It s a very smart and truly indescribably atmospheric film that plays with the mind in a way some of Stanley Kubrick's films do. Kino Lorber's technical presentation is quite good, but this is a film that deserves plenty of supplemental features. Regardless, if you want to see something different and effective, consider adding it to your collection. RECOMMENDED.