7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
One of the most important films of the Czech New Wave 60s, which was ranked among the top ten domestic films of all time. The feature debut by screenwriter and director Ivan Passer. It is his only feature-length film shot in Czechoslovakia. In this original sad comedy in a small town two classmates encounter each other again after 10 years - both musicians: one is a member of the regional symphony orchestra, the other became the director of the local music school puts family villa, playing at funerals...
Starring: Vlastimila Vlková, Jan Vostrcil, Zdenek Bezusek, Karel Blazek, Miroslav CvrkForeign | 100% |
Drama | 62% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.37:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
Czech: LPCM Mono
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Ivan Passer's "Intimate Lighting" (1965) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British label Second Run. The supplemental features on the disc include an archival video interview with the director and the short film "A Boring Afternoon". The release also arrives with a 20-page illustrated booklet featuring new writing on the film by Trevor Johnston, and an essay by critic Philp Bergson. In Czech, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
Two friends and a bottle of brandy
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Ivan Passer's Intimate Lighting arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Second Run.
The release is sourced from a new 4K restoration that was completed by the Czech National Film Archive. The basics are solid, but while viewing the film I spotted a couple of different areas where some really odd blotches pop up and create smeary effects that I would typically associate with problematic digital work. I don't know what their origin is but I could see them and my guess is that other people with larger screens or projector will as well. You can see an example in screencapture #9 where details are lost in the forehead. Elsewhere clarity and density remain quite pleasing. The grading is also good, but again I see effects of digital work that has affected overall balance (see screencapture #4). Image stability is excellent. There are no large damage marks, cuts, stains, or torn frames to report. My score is 3.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: Czech LPCM 2.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.
The audio must have been remastered during the restoration because clarity, depth, and overall stability are excellent. The original sound design incorporates a wide range of organic sounds and noises and as a result overall dynamic intensity is predictably modest. There are no audio dropouts or digital distortions to report.
In the West the conventional take on Ivan Passer's directorial debut, Intimate Lighting, has been that it is a key film from the Czech New Wave that is very effective as a lighthearted comedy. I agree only with the first half of this description. There is a good dose of humor in it, but it masks the bizarre reality in which so many people from the former Soviet Bloc were caged and, while often closely monitored, left to build their lives. Second Run's Blu-ray release of Intimate Lighting is sourced from a recent 4K restoration that was completed by the Czech National Film Archive, and also includes a remastered version of Passer's first short film, A Boring Afternoon. RECOMMENDED.
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