Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.5

Germany, Year Zero Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 22, 2015

Roberto Rossellini's "Germany, Year Zero" a.k.a. "Germania anno zero" (1948) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of the British Film Institute. Also included on this disc is Rossellini's film "L'amore" (1948). In German, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

After the war

Note: Germany, Year Zero is part of the British Film Institute's Rossellini: The War Trilogy three-disc limited edition Blu-ray box set.

The third and final installment in Roberto Rosselini’s War Trilogy, Germany, Year Zero, is set in the ruins of Berlin. It is a raw and very grim film, one that is absolutely impossible to forget.

Edmund Köhler (Edmund Meschke) lives with his family in a building full of survivors. Because his father is seriously ill and cannot work, his sister, Eva (Ingetraud Hinzf), has become a prostitute to help the family make ends meet. The money she brings home, however, isn’t enough to pay for food and electricity.

The young boy also tries to help. He trades family items for canned food on the black market and collects the potatoes that fall off the supply trucks. During slow days, he spends his time amongst the ruins, hoping to find something of value that later on he might be able to sell.

In the heart of Berlin, Edmund meets his former school teacher, Mr. Henning (Eric Guehne), a pedophile who is convinced that the better side has lost the war. Mr. Henning blames people like Edmund’s father for the failure and encourages the boy to confront him. Later on, when the misery overwhelms Edmund, he follows his advice.

Eventually, Edmund rejects his family and seeks peace amidst the ruins. The eerie silence has a profound impact on him and he suddenly realizes the consequences of his actions.

The visuals from the city are nothing short of extraordinary. As the camera slowly moves from one location to another, it becomes clear that the devastation is of truly epic proportions. Occasionally, the city shows signs of normalcy, but more often than not it looks like someone has opened the gates of Hell.

Hundreds of non-professional actors -- actors actually isn’t a term that accurately describes these people as they most certainly do not attempt to act in front of the camera -- were used during the shooting of the film and at times their movement can be somewhat chaotic, but who can blame them? They were weak and desperate, certain that their lives were hanging by a thread.

Moeshke never appeared in another film, but if he did, he would not have been able to match the brilliance of his performance in Germany, Year Zero. Some of the most powerful sequences in the entire film are the ones in which the camera simply moves closer and observes his face.

Rosselini shot the film after the tragic death of his young son, Romano, in 1946. He was assisted by French cinematographer Robert Juillard, who years later also collaborated with Rene Clement on the equally powerful Jeux interdits a.k.a. Forbidden Games.

***

Also included as a bonus on this release is Rosselini's L'amore (1948), starring Anna Magnani, which essentially brings together two short stories. The first, The Human Voice, is based on a script by Jean Cocteau, while the second, The Miracle, is based on a story by Federico Fellini. L'amore was fully restored in 2K by Cineteca di Bologna and CSC - Cineteca Nazionale at L'Immagine Ritrovata laboratory in 2013.

Germany, Year Zero Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Roberto Rossellini's Germany, Year Zero arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of the British Film Institute.

Please note that the screencaptures included with our review appear in the following order:

1. Screencaptures 1-16: Germany, Year Zero.
2. Screencaptures 18-25: L'amore.

The following text precedes the film's opening credits:

"The digital restoration of Germany, Year Zero was based on the original image and soundtrack negatives and a vintage fine-grain print preserved at CSC - Cineteca Nazionale. The restoration work was carried out by Cineteca di Bologna and CSC - Cineteca Nazionale at L'Immagine Ritrovata laboratory in 2013."

Time has definitely left its mark and there are obvious fluctuations -- in some areas there are traces of fading, there are contrast and grain fluctuations, and clarity isn't consistent. However, despite the fluctuations, the Germany, Year Zero actually has a better overall organic appearance than Rome, Open City. Indeed, where the negative was not badly damaged, depth and clarity are excellent (see screencaptures #1, 9 and 15). The high-quality scanning has also ensured that grain is beautifully resolved. The sporadic drops in quality are visible in areas where it is clear that there simply wasn't much room for improvement (you can see such examples in screencaptures #5, 8, and 16). Furthermore, there are no traces of problematic sharpening adjustments. Some work has been done to rebalance the image, but definition remains very pleasing (see screencapture #10). Important stabilization enhancements have been performed as well. As a result, excluding some minor inherited transition issues, the entire film looks far better balanced and more stable than ever before. Finally, torn frames have been repaired and damage minimized as best as possible. All in all, even though Germany, Year Zero may look a bit rough at times -- and this is hardly surprising as the film has always looked very shaky on DVD -- the current presentation is indeed enormously pleasing.

L'amore was restored in 2K by Cineteca di Bologna and CSC - Cineteca Nazionale at L'Immagine Ritrovata laboratory in 2013. Generally speaking, the film looks quite healthy and very stable. Clarity and depth are very good. Some digital work has been done to rebalance the image, but the film has a very consistent and very pleasing organic appearance. Grain is retained and there are no problematic sharpening adjustments. Lastly, there are no large cuts, damage marks, large scratches, debris, or stains. (1080p/Italian LPCM 2.0).

(Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Germany, Year Zero Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Germany, Year Zero comes with German LPCM 2.0 track and optional English subtitles. L'amore comes with Italian LPCM 2.0 track and optional English subtitles.

Despite some minor fluctuations the German LPCM 2.0 track has good depth and pleasing clarity. During the bar sequence, the music is also very crisp and well rounded (see the footage around the 00.15.00 mark). There is some thinning and partial distortions in the high frequencies, but these are clearly inherited limitations (see the exchanges between Edmund and the black marketeer around the 00.19.13 mark). Pops, clicks, and hiss have been removed as best as possible. The English translation is excellent.

The Italian LPCM 2.0 track has very good depth and clarity. There is even a surprisingly good range of nuanced dynamics. The music sounds a bit thin at times, but there are no distracting distortions. The dialog is stable and easy to follow. The English translation is very good.

Germany, Year Zero Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• L'amore (1948) - presented here is Roberto Rossellini's film L'amore, which has been restored in 2K by Cineteca di Bologna and CSC - Cineteca Nazionale at L'Immagine Ritrovata laboratory in 2013. In Italian, with optional English subtitles. (Italian LPCM 2.0/1080P/80 min).

Germany, Year Zero Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Two films are included on this disc: Roberto Rosselini's Germany, Year Zero (1948) and L'amore (1948). Both were recently restored by Cineteca di Bologna and CSC - Cineteca Nazionale at L'Immagine Ritrovata laboratory and I think that these will be remain the definitive presentations of these films on the home video market. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.