Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

Gainsbourg Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov March 9, 2011

Screened at the Tribeca Film Festival, Joann Sfar's "Gainsbourg (Vie héroïque)" (2010) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Optimum Home Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include the film's original theatrical trailer; exclusive Cinemoi interview with director Joann Sfar and actor Eric Elmosnino; second interview with director Joann Sfar; and behind the scenes featurette. In French, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

Je t'aime... moi non plus

Joann Sfar’s Gainsbourg is a dark, witty, and rather surreal mosaic of colorful episodes that offers a glimpse at the strange world of one of the most influential figures in contemporary French culture. It is impossible to tell how much of what the film reveals is true but it does not matter. After all, no one truly knew who Gainsbourg was, not even his parents.

Gainsbourg’s (Eric Elmosnino, Le père de mes enfants) childhood years look like a sexier version of Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth. This is a world populated by strange creatures, Nazis, and beautiful women willing to teach the future legend a thing or two about the art of lovemaking. Music, of course, is everywhere - in the beginning it is mostly classical music, which Gainsbourg’s Russian-speaking Jewish parents loved, then jazz and chansons.

As time goes by, Sfar’s camera becomes more intimate with Gainsbourg. His music gets darker and sexier, the night clubs bigger and more raucous. When he does not play he is surrounded by stunningly beautiful women and garrulous clowns who encourage him to drink even more and try new drugs; the strange creature with the long nose from Gainsbourg’s childhood years also returns, willing to talk to him whenever he feels lonely.

The big affairs look like wet dreams. Juliette Gréco (Anna Mouglalis, Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky), Brigitte Bardot (Laetitia Casta, Nés en 68), and Jane Birkin (the late Lucy Gordon, The Last International Playboy) enter and then abruptly exit Gainsbourg’s world. At times they look satisfied, in love, and proud to be with him; other times they appear overwhelmed and weak. More often than not Gainsbourg’s music excites them, but his eccentricity confuses them.

Predictably, the less dramatic affairs are short and forgettable. Among other things France Gall ( Sara Forestier, L'esquive) is offered a dirty song about lollipops, while Bambou (Mylène Jampanoï, Martyrs) gets her dream savior. There are other women who also come and go, looking for something, offering everything. Most are unsure what attracts them to Gainsbourg but love being with him.

And so do most of Gainsbourg’s demons. For awhile he tries to keep them away but fails and eventually befriends them. It is the darkest and most bizarre period of his life - very little of which is revealed in the film.

Gainsbourg is a fascinating film that sheds plenty of light on the life and career of the French artist. Admittedly, Sfar intentionally omits some of Gainsbourg’s most controversial antics, and gives others a positive interpretation, but his film certainly identifies the exact reasons why he became a cultural phenomenon.

The film’s structure is brilliant. The two parallel worlds, Gainsbourg’s and the real world, are carefully used to link well documented events with myths and legends. For the most part it is quite difficult to separate the two, but this is something that actually works to the film’s advantage because Gainsbourg was very much a surreal figure constantly surrounded by controversy, some real, some manufactured.

The cast is sensational. The little-seen on this side of the Atlantic Elmosnino is perfect as the moody Gainsbourg. The elegant Mouglalis, who plays Greco, and especially Casta, as the legendary Bardot, transform Gainsbourg into a real treat.

Note: Optimum Home Entertainment's Blu-ray release of Gainsbourg contains a new, shorter and preferred by director Sfar version of the film running at approximately 122 minutes. The French theatrical version of the film runs at approximately 130 min.

Gainsbourg Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Joann Sfar's Gainsbourg arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Optimum Home Entertainment.

I was fortunate enough to see Gainsbourg theatrically and this high-definition transfer really is about as impressive as I hoped it would be. Detail is exceptionally strong, clarity very pleasing, and contrast levels consistent throughout the entire film. In fact, some of the nighttime scenes where Gainsbourg and his strange friend are seen talking actually look a lot better than they did in the theater; the clarity and depth are fantastic. It is the color reproduction, however, where the high-definition transfer really shines - the rich blues, variety of warm yellows, greens, reds, and grays are rich and well saturated, looking exceptionally healthy. Furthermore, even though there are a couple of scenes where it looks like edge-enhancement is trying to creep in, it is never an issue of concern; neither is macroblocking. I also did not see any heavy aliasing patterns, aliasing, artifacting or pixelation issues to report in this review. Lastly, when blown through a digital projector the high-definition transfer conveys terrific tightness and fluidity. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).

Gainsbourg Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and French LPCM 2.0 (with portions of English). For the record, Optimum Home Entertainment have provided optional English subtitles for the main feature. When turned on, they split the image frame and the black bar below it.

Gainsbourg demands a top-notch loseless audio track and that is exactly what Optimum Home Entertainment have delivered. The French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is fantastic - Je t'aime... moi non plus, La Javanaise, Nazi Rock, and even Baby Pop sound great. There is a wonderful range of dynamics and the dialog is exceptionally easy to follow. For the record, I did not detect any disturbing pops, cracks, hissings, or dropouts to report in this review.

Gainsbourg Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Behind the Scenes - a standard featurette with raw footage from the pre-production process and shooting of the film. In French, with imposed English subtitles. (10 min, 1080/50i)

• Interview - an exclusive Cinemoi interview with director Joann Sfar and actor Eric Elmosnino, who plays Serge Gainsbourg. In English and French, with imposed English subtitles where necessary. (12 min, 1080/50i)

• Interview - a second interview with director Joann Sfar conducted at the French Institute in London in 2010. In English, not subtitled. (10 min, 1080/50i)

• Trailer - the original the UK theatrical trailer for Gainsbourg. Music only. (2 min, 1080/50i)

Gainsbourg Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Gainsbourg is a magnificent film that brought back plenty of memories for me. It is certainly one of the most unusual biographical films that I have seen, incredibly original, stylish and entertaining. It is a shame that no one bothered to release it on Blu-ray in North America. British distributor Optimum Home Entertainment's release, however, is excellent, and to the best of my knowledge the only English-friendly one currently on the market. Do not miss it. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.