Love in the City Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		2.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.0

Love in the City Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 1, 2014

Imagined as the start of an Italian cinema magazine, 1953’s “Love in the City” brings together a class of neorealist filmmakers to help explore the true price of passion. Through the POV of Carlo Lizzani (“Love for Money,” 11 minutes), Michelangelo Antonioni (“Attempted Suicide,” 22 minutes), Dino Risi (“Paradise for Three Hours,” 12 minutes), Federico Fellini (“Marriage Agency,” 16 minutes), Francesco Maselli (“Story of Caterina,” 27 minutes), and Alberto Lattuada (“Italians Turn Their Heads,” 14 minutes), an omnibus exploration was born -- a picture that has little patience for the warmth of the world.

Instead of capturing the ecstasy of romance, “Love in the City” takes a look at the downfall of such weaknesses, spotlighting the dreary life of prostitutes, suicidal types, and those who can’t meet the responsibilities of parenthood. There’s pronounced darkness throughout most of the chapters, with the chipper “Italians Turn Their Heads” saved for the finale, studying the casual but persistent ogling of local women. Created with a docudrama feel, “Love in the City” isn’t fearful of pain, working to understand the psychological drive toward behavioral severity and the fight for daily survival, with “Love for Money” a particularly engrossing look at the secretive business of streetwalkers (though emphasis on how many pairs of shoes one subject goes through seems to be missing the point of the segment).

Love in the City Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The VC-1 encoded image (1.36:1 aspect ratio) presentation has a host of problems, including a print with visible damage, with judder and warping issues. This isn't a filmic experience, with artifacts present throughout the viewing event, offering large pockets and streaks of noise, while banding is constant. Detail isn't strong, favoring softness, leaving little texture to enjoy. Contrast struggles, with solidification on black levels.

Love in the City Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 LPCM sound mix is a little unsteady, with hiss and pops throughout the listening experience. Dialogue is clear but unremarkable, offering thickness that identifies its age, though nothing is lost. Scoring provides slightly shrill extremes, working best in patient support mode, with orchestral power registering with force, but not clarity.

Love in the City Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet offers 20 pages devoted to essays, appreciations, and restoration notes.

• Commentaries are included for every segment, with participants Carlo Lizzani, Mimmo Calopresti, Mario Brenta, Francesco Maselli, Guido Chiesa, and Silvano Agosti.

• Interview (13:13, SD) with Paolo Mereghetti covers the craft of the film.

• Interview (23:39, SD) with Luca Bandirale discusses the picture's musical score.

• Interview (15:04, SD) with Angel Pasquini inspects screenwriting efforts.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (3:10, SD) is included.

Love in the City Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Love in the City" presents iconic directors carrying out a thematic mission that doesn't always jibe with their personalities. It's an unusual collection of misery, but a few of the films, especially "Story of Caterina," are haunting and painfully humane, striving to understand the fried headspace of its subjects. "Love in the City" is expectedly uneven, but retains insight and awareness, tinkering with verite touches while maintaining its cinematic posture.