La Sapienza Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

La Sapienza Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 14, 2015

There are moments when “La Sapienza” is a hypnotic, gracefully made piece of filmic art, and there are moments when it feels like a parody of one. From writer/director Eugene Green, the feature is a specialized viewing experience that invests in stillness to such a degree, the effort stops moving entirely at times. It’s gorgeously made, with absurdly beautiful cinematography by Raphael O’Byrne, but “La Sapienza” is often caught trying to pass as a sophisticated assessment of loneliness and marital connection, intentionally abandoning the human experience to play out like experimental theater, set within the walls of architectural mastery.

“La Sapienza” is dream-like, combative, educational, philosophical, and has strong opinions about belligerent Australian tourists. It’s Green’s ode to the wonders of a failing marriage, following two characters as their lives are transformed by unexpected time with others, finding therapy in communication and life in exposure to art. However, the helmer has no interest in creating an accessible film. He’s making this one for himself, instructing his cast to deliver dialogue with dead faces, often in POV photography. The droning nature of “La Sapienza” isn’t completely unappealing, especially when taking in sumptuous Italian sights, but it also works against any exploration of emotionality, leaving it more of a technical exercise. On visuals alone, the picture is consistently amazing.

La Sapienza Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "La Sapienza" is a sharp delight, with impressively stabilized cinematography permitting long, unbroken views of the characters and their adventures around intricate architecture. Textures are fully in place, capturing facial particulars and building craftsmanship, permitting viewers plenty of pauseable moments to study. Colors are direct and true, with bright primaries and naturalistic hues, taking advantage of interior decoration and exterior greenery. Delineation is secure.

La Sapienza Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix is intentionally subdued, but what it does handle comes through with absolute clarity and depth. Dialogue exchanges are crisp and direct, offering precise representation of performance and clean, tight silences during pauses. Music isn't used much here, but a club sequence offers a beefy low-end beat, and choral selections are heavenly. Atmospherics deliver interiors with evocative echo, and exteriors communicate wildlife and background activity.

La Sapienza Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet contains ten pages of photos and an essay by Nick Pinkerton.

• Interview (12:51, HD) with director Eugene Green (conducted in English) covers the helmer's intentions with "La Sapienza," discussing acting achievements (instructing his cast to ignore co-stars) and architectural history. Influences are also recounted, with the work of Robert Bresson a major component of Green's artistic vision.

• "Le Signes" (32:37, SD) is a 2006 short film from Green, co-starring Mathieu Amalric and Christelle Prot.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:43, HD) is included.

La Sapienza Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"La Sapienza" is created for the cineaste crowd, earning trust through experimentation and a general disregard for rules. It's not built for casual viewing, as the unprepared viewer will want to snap the BD in half roughly 15 minutes into the feature, especially after witnessing the lead characters carry on in what appears to be some type of ambien haze. For those geared up accordingly, "La Sapienza" is a striking film, with strong thematic and cinematic currents that help the production work past its insistently deliberate ways.