7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The lives of two Danish families cross each other, and an extraordinary but risky friendship comes into bud. But loneliness, frailty and sorrow lie in wait.
Starring: Mikael Persbrandt, Trine Dyrholm, Markus Rygaard, William Jøhnk Nielsen, Ulrich ThomsenForeign | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Danish: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English, English SDH, French
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
BD-Live
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Sometimes it's like there's a veil between you and death. And that veil is pulled away when you lose someone near and dear to you. And then you
see death ever so clearly for a brief instant. And then the veil drops back into place. And then you move on. And things get better.
Whether in the famine-ridden Sudan or the idyllic comfort of a middle-class Swedish neighborhood, life shares one thing in common: ever-present
violence. It's everywhere, to varying degrees, of course, but an inescapable truth of life nonetheless, one that manifests itself in many forms. The
brute-force physical violence of Africa and the schoolyard bullying of Sweden alike both leave scars, the former usually more evident -- and more
immediately horrific -- on the outside, the latter taking its toll on the inside, until the rage bubbles over into a physical response. In a Better
World contrasts these two forms of violence, and it's a startling juxtaposition. What breeds the violence, and perhaps more important, what's the
proper response? With the deadly weapons and the advanced medicine of the 21st century, is it satisfactory to retaliate as in "an eye for an eye" or
are there more "diplomatic" resolutions at hand? Does violence understand any response other than equal or greater violence? In a Better
World features four primary acts of violence. In the more obviously brutal Africa, it's met with sternness; in Sweden, it's met with violence twice
and a "turn the other cheek" gesture of goodwill and strength once. Some of these resolutions yield the desired effect -- an end of violence -- and
some don't.
Violence is a two-way street that must be traveled but cannot be ignored. It's how one deals with violence that defines mankind, but as this film
points out, sometimes there are no right or wrong answers in handling it, only lessons learned along the road to becoming a better person.
How will the boys take Anton's message?
The digitally-shot In a Better World sparkles on Blu-ray. This is another in the ever-growing list of first-rate 1080p transfers from Sony, and while it features that same sort of inorganic texture that's inherent to HD movies, the image is nevertheless spectacular within its own parameters. Digital has come a long way in just the last few years, and one glimpse at In a Better World on Blu-ray shows why. Though a hair flat, the image is slick, clean, and incredibly sharp. Fine detail is nothing short of astounding, evident on everything from the slightest stitching on surgical masks to the lifelike texture of the sandy Sudanese desert floor. Colors are equally meticulous and lifelike; even in the dusty African landscape dominated by brownish earth shades, the colorful garb of the local population pops right out of the screen. It's an eye-catching palette to be sure, and it carries over the greener but sometimes also grayer Swedish landscape. Black levels are pristine -- wonderfully dark but free of debilitating crush -- and flesh tones are accurate if not just a hair on the warm side. Aside from a trace amount of banding, there are no other major concerns to note. This is a world-class transfer from Sony.
In a Better World features the Sony-standard DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. While not exactly a high-powered sonic extravaganza, the track is nevertheless as expected: abundantly clear and richly satisfying. Music is precise and so accurate that the speakers seem to vanish in favor of a highly realistic aural sensation. The surround speakers carry a light load in support of the primary music, but the balance is seamless and the presentation is marvelous. The back channels -- and the fronts, for that matter -- carry a marvelous assortment of ambient sounds. When the boys sit atop a silo in chapter six, the sounds of gusting winds, a clanking flagpole, and the din coming from below perfectly set the stage and place the listener right there with the characters. Heavier atmospherics are seamless, too; a scene inside a car features the low-powered rumble of the engine infiltrating the soundstage, not to mention the little clanks and shifting pieces that flop around during the drive. An explosion marking the transition from the second to third act isn't excessively heavy, but it's strong enough to get the job done. Completed by center-focused dialogue, In a Better World's lossless soundtrack is a runaway success.
The Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film deserves more extras, but this Blu-ray release of In a Better World is rather sparse.
Highlights
include an audio commentary track and deleted scenes.
In a Better World is a wonderful motion picture in every facet. Its story is challenging but accessible. The themes are relevant and thought provoking. The acting is faultless and the direction is strong. Despite its rating, In a Better World isn't a bad movie to screen for younger -- but nevertheless mature -- audiences as a means of showing them that life isn't simply black and white but instead a vast and foggy sea of uncertainty. There are often no right or wrong answers, but as Shakespeare once wrote, "to thine own self be true." That's a start. Sony's Blu-ray release of In a Better World features terrific technical specs but fails to offer a thorough supplemental package. Nevertheless, this release comes strongly recommended.
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