Journey to Italy Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

Journey to Italy Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 6, 2013

Roberto Rossellini's "Journey to Italy" a.k.a. "Viaggio in Italia" (1954) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include a new video interview with Italian critic Adriano Apra; new video interview with director Martin Scorsese; audio commentary by filmmaker and theorist Laura Mulvey; Pia Lindstrom's documentary film "Ingrid Bergman Remembered"; Adriano Apra's documentary film "Rossellini Through His Own Eyes"; visual essays by Tad Gallagher and James Quandt; and more. The release also arrives with a 86-page illustrated booklet featuring essays by Richard Brody, Dina Iordanova, Elena Dagrada, Fred Camper, and Paul Thomas; letters between Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini; a 1950 article by the Italian director; and two interviews with the director, from 1954 and 1963. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Alone

Note: Journey to Italy is part of Criterion's upcoming 3 Films by Roberto Rossellini Starring Ingrid Bergman Blu-ray box set.

A wealthy English couple arrives in a small town near Naples to arrange the sale of a beautiful villa they have inherited from a deceased uncle. They don’t know how long it would take to find a buyer, but hope to have a good time and enjoy each other’s company.

While spending time together, seemingly for the first time in years, Katherine (Ingrid Bergman, Stromboli, Europe ’51) and Alex (George Sanders, All About Eve, Rebecca) begin to realize that they don’t truly know each other. At first the discovery surprises them, later on it frustrates them.

Inspired by the natural beauty of the area, Katherine decides to be spontaneous and entertain herself in ways that encourage Alex to suggest that perhaps she is to blame for their frustration. Shortly after, the two proceed to hurt each other in ways that prove to be surprisingly effective.

Before they can find a buyer, Katherine and Alex conclude that a divorce is imminent. However, in front of their hosts they continue to be as polite with each other as they were on the day when they arrived at the villa.

Journey to Italy, arguably Roberto Rossellini’s best film, is a fascinating study of a relationship tested by honesty. It is also a film about the magical power of nature’s beauty and the way people respond to it.

The film is divided into two contrasting halves. In the first the focus of attention is on the gradual collapse of a seemingly perfect marriage between two people who have mastered the art of communication. The exchanges between Katherine and Alex are always respectful, constructive, free of tension. But the more the camera observes their interactions, the clearer it becomes that their words are deceiving. They are a facade hiding frustration and disappointment.

The second half is dedicated to Katherine and Alex’s relationship with nature. Taken out of their comforts zones for the first time in years, the two begin to rediscover emotions and feelings that have been suppressed by their marriage. The raw beauty of nature then slowly forces them to reevaluate their lives.

The attention nature receives while Katherine and Alex struggle to understand how they truly feel about each other is what makes Journey to Italy such a difficult film to categorize. On one hand, it is a very modern film whose characters’ authenticity is unquestionable. On the other hand, as the gap between Katherine and Alex widens nature effectively becomes the third important character in the film and almost succeeds in shifting its focus elsewhere.

Journey to Italy was initially criticized and dismissed by Italian critics, but outside of its home country it was greeted as a groundbreaking film. In France, after seeing the film director Jacques Rivette proclaimed: "The arrival of Journey to Italy has suddenly made all other films look 10 years older".

Note: Criterion’s Blu-ray release of Journey to Italy uses as a foundation a new restoration of the film undertaken by Cinecitta Luce, the Cineteca di Bologna, the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, and the Coproduction Office. The release also reintroduces the original English-language opening credits which have been meticulously restored.

Journey to Italy 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 Journey to Italy arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the booklet provided with this release:

"This digital master was produced from a restoration undertaken by Cinecitta Luce, the Cineteca di Bologna, the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, and the Coproduction Offica. For their restoration, a digital transfer was created in 4K resolution on an ARRISCAN film scanner from the original 35mm camera negative. Criterion has, for the first time, restored the original English-language credits, which were taken from an archival 35mm duplicate negative stored at the Harvard Film Archive. The original monaural soundtrack was remastered at 24-bit from the original 35mm sound negative and restored by L'Immagine Ritrovata.

Restoration by: L'immagine Ritrovata, Bologna, Italy."

The new restoration has truly given the film a new life. Detail and image depth are particularly impressive, especially during daylight close-ups (see screencapture #2). But the nighttime footage also boasts very good depth and contrast stability (see screencapture #1). Clarity is consistently very pleasing. Furthermore, there is an excellent range of very healthy grays, while the blacks and whites are well balanced. It is also easy to see that various stabilizations have been performed to rebalance the image. (I did a few quick comparisons with the BFI's R2 DVD release of Journey to Italy and was immediately able to see the improvements during numerous frame transitions). Grain is beautifully resolved throughout the entire film. Also, there are no problematic sharpening corrections. Finally, large debris, cuts, damage marks, and stains have been removed as best as possible. To sum it all up, Journey to Italy is the best looking of the three films in Criterion's 3 Films by Roberto Rossellini Starring Ingrid Bergman Blu-ray box set. I also believe that this presentation of the film will likely remain its definitive presentation on the home video market. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).

Journey to Italy Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. For the record, Criterion have provided optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature.

The lossless English track opens up the film where it matters the most (see the ceremony at the very end). The dialog is also stable and crisp, always easy to follow. It is also free of pops, crackle, sudden spikes in dynamic activity, and distortions. Overall dynamic intensity, however, is quite modest.

Journey to Italy Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Blu-ray 1

• Introduction - in this short video introduction, Roberto Rossellini quickly addresses the production history of Journey to Italy and recalls his first encounter with Francois Truffaut, at the time a critic for Cahiers du Cinema. The introduction was shot for Roberto Rossellini Presents, a 1963 French television series that broadcast his films. It was directed by Jean-Marie Coldefy. In French, with optional English subtitles. (3 min, 1080p).

• Adriano Apra - in this video interview, Italian film critic Adriano Apra discusses the clash of cultures in Journey to Italy, the film's visual style, the differences between the film and Stromboli and Europe '51, and its reception by the critics. The interview was conducted exclusively for Criterion in 2011. In Italian, with optional English subtitles. (11 min, 1080i).

• Ingrid and Isabella Rossellini - in this interview program, Ingrid and Isabella Rossellini, the daughters of Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini, recall what it was like growing up in a family of filmmakers. The interviews were conducted exclusively for Criterion in March 2013. In English, not subtitled. (32 min, 1080p).

• Martin Scorsese - in this new video interview, director Martin Scorsese discusses the unique qualities of Roberto Rossellini's Stromboli, Europe '51, and Journey to Italy. The interview was conducted by critic Kent Jones in June 2013. In English, not subtitled. (12 min, 1080p).

• Living and Departed - a visual essay written, produced, and narrated by critic Tad Gallagher, author of The Adventures of Roberto Rossellini: His Life and Films. In English, not subtitled. (23 min, 1080p).

• Surprised by Death - in this visual essay, film critic James Quandt discusses the artistic style of the films included in Criterion's 3 Films by Roberto Rossellini Starring Ingrid Bergman, as well as some of the key similarities and differences between them. The essay was produced exclusively for Criterion in May 2013. In English, not subtitled. (39 min, 1080p).

• The Rossellinis on Capri - archival footage from the Rossellini family's first visit to Capri. In Swedish, with optional English subtitles. (5 min, 1080i).

• Audio Commentary - this audio commentary by filmmaker and theorist Laura Mulvey initially appeared on the BFI's R2 DVD release of Journey to Italy. It was recorded in 2003.

Blu-ray 2

• Rossellini Through His Own Eyes - this archival documentary film directed by Adriano Apra focuses on the life and legacy of the acclaimed Italian director. It was produced in 1992. In Italian, with optional English subtitles. (63 min, 1080p).
  
  1. Action!
  2. Early documentaries
  3. The War Trilogy and freeing film from scripts
  4. From Magnani to Bergman
  5. Stromboli and rejecting rational thinking
  6. On the sets of Europe '51 and Journey to Italy
  7. Historical films and a new approach to reality
  8. The last and first films

• Ingrid Bergman Remembered - this documentary film focuses on the life and career of Ingrid Bergman. It was produced in 1996, and it is narrated by Pia Lindstrom, daughter of the legendary actress. In English, not subtitled. (51 min, 1080i).
  
  1. Fated to be an actor
  2. Beginnings
  3. A driving force
  4. A career in Hollywood
  5. Roberto Rossellini
  6. Anastasia
  7. A family reunion
  8. Another new start
  9. Plans unfulfilled
  10. Final role

• G. Fiorella Mariani Interview - in this new video interview, G. Fiorella Mariani, Roberto Rossellini's niece, recalls her relationship with Ingrid Bergman. Also included in the interview are the actress' little seen home movies. The interview was conducted exclusively for Criterion in Rome in March 2013. In Italian, with optional English subtitles. (15 min, 1080p).

• My Dad is 100 Years Old - an unusual short film/tribute to Roberto Rossellini directed by Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin and staring Isabella Rossellini. In English, not subtitled. Black and white. (17 min, 1080p).

• The Chicken - Roberto Rossellini directed this short film starring Ingrid Bergman in 1953. Initially, the short appeared in Siamo donne a.k.a Of Life and Love, which also features segments directed by Luchino Visconti, Luigi Zampa, Alfredo Guarini, and Gianni Franciolini. In English, not subtitled. (16 min, 1080p).

• Booklet - 86-page illustrated booklet featuring essays by Richard Brody, Dina Iordanova, Elena Dagrada, Fred Camper, and Paul Thomas; letters between Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini; a 1950 article by the Italian director; and two interviews with the director, from 1954 and 1963.

Journey to Italy Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Journey to Italy, the third and final film in Criterion's 3 Films by Roberto Rossellini Starring Ingrid Bergman box set, is also the best looking one. Recently restored, the film looks remarkably healthy and vibrant. It also comes with the most impressive selection of supplemental features. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.