Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

Polytechnique Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 21, 2010

Named Best Canadian Film by the Toronto Film Critics Association, Denis Villeneuve's "Polytechnique" (2009) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Canadian distributors Alliance. The supplemental features on the disc include a TV program hosted by Alain Gravel; an extract from a TV program discussing the film and the tragic events it depicts; and trailers. In French and English, with optional French SDH and English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

A cold day in Montreal

On December 6th, 1989, Mark Lepine walked into a classroom of Montreal’s Polytechnique School carrying an automatic rifle. He separated the female from the male students and asked the latter to leave. When they did, he fired point-blank at the female students. Lepine killed 14 women and seriously wounded another 13 before he took his own life.

Denis Villeneuve’s film attempts to reconstruct the tragic events that took place at the Polytechnique School based on descriptions provided by some of the survivors. Notes the killer (Maxim Gaudette, Without Her) left prior to the massacre are also referenced.

The main characters in the film are a young woman, Valerie (Karine Vanasse, My Daughter, My Angel), who is getting ready to interview for an important internship, and a young man, Jean-François (Sébastien Huberdeau, Battle of the Brave), who is amongst the students in the classroom when the killer first appears. Before the massacre, director Villeneuve tells us a little bit about their lives.

The killings are shown from two completely different angles - as experienced by Valerie and Jean-Francois. The focus of attention, however, is primarily on Valerie and Jean-Francois’ thoughts and feelings during and after the killings, not on the killer and his actions.

Shot in black and white – and simultaneously in French and English - Polytechnique does not offer any serious insight on the killer’s motives. Aside from the fact that he apparently loathed feminists, there is little else the film makes perfectly clear.

Polytechnique is an incredibly disturbing and, as odd as it many sound, notably poetic film. Large portions of it are beautifully lensed and devoid of sound. The camera often follows the victims from afar, almost as if not to disturb them because they have only a few precious moments left to live. The presence of Death, however, is suffocating. Even during the serene images from the Canadian countryside, it is unbearable.

The acting is exceptionally strong. Vanasse, who is also one of the film’s producers, delivers a bone-chilling performance, which I guarantee you will remember. There are a number of close-ups with her beautiful eyes that are incredibly powerful.

Huberdeau is equally impressive. His words and actions feel genuinely authentic. His eyes also convey a lot that words cannot. Indeed, in the grand scheme of things, absolutely nothing about the character he plays is overdramatized.

Gaudette does look like a madman. The few scenes where the camera actually shows his face are seriously unsettling. Out of respect for the victims from the Polytechnique School, the killer’s name is never mentioned in the film.

Pierre Gill’s (Outlander) cinematography is breathtaking. The fluid camera movement, in particular, is absolutely perfect (there are some very interesting stylistic decisions during the second half of the film as well). Benoit Charest’s (The Triplets of Belleville) minimalistic score is also exceptionally strong, perfectly fitting the tone of the film.

Note: In 2009, Polytechnique was named Best Canadian Film by the Toronto Film Critics Association. The film was also screened during Quinzaine des Réalisateurs at the Cannes Film Festival.

Polytechnique Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Denis Villeneuve's Polytechnique arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Canadian distributors Alliance.

This is a very strong high-definition transfer. Fine object detail is excellent, clarity superb and contrast levels consistent throughout the entire film. The color-scheme is immaculate - the blacks are rich and well saturated while the variety of grays and whites gentle and delicate. Edge-enhancement is not a serious issues of concern; neither is macroblocking. I also did not detect any traces of heavy noise reduction. There are no serious stability issues to report either. Additionally, when blown through a digital projector the transfer conveys tremendous depth and pleasing tightness. Finally, I did not see any large scratches, stains, marks, or debris to report in this review. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content. Also, the disc's main menu could be set in French or English).

Polytechnique Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are four audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English Dolby Digital 5.1. For the record, Alliance have provided optional English SDH and French SDH subtitles for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

First of all, Polytechnique was filmed in French and English - meaning that there are two versions of the film on this Blu-ray disc. Considering that most of the actors in Polytechnique are French speakers, I opted for the French version.

The French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is excellent. It will not test the muscles of your audio system, but Benoit Charest's ambient score sounds fantastic, and you are certainly going to appreciate the terrific mixing. The dialog is crisp, clean, stable and very easy to follow. Additionally, there are no disturbing pops, cracks, or hissings to report in this review.

I tested only a couple of scenes with the English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, and as far as I am concerned, its dynamic amplitude appears identical to that of the French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.

Polytechnique Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Ici comme ailleurs - a clip from the TV program "Lettre de Pierre Bourgault sur montage photo" broadcast on December 8, 1989. In French, not subtitled in English. (6 min, 480/60i).

Enjeux - "Tuerie a l'ecole Polytechque - 10 ans apres", a TV program hosted by Alain Gravel broadcast on November 30, 1999. In French, not subtitled in English. (47 min, 480/60i).

Trailers - trailers for other Alliance releases.

Polytechnique Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Denis Villeneuve's Polytechnique is a powerful, disturbing, incredibly beautiful film. I am unsure if it is appropriate to say that I liked it, so I will just say that I won't forget it. The Blu-ray disc herein reviewed, courtesy of Canadian distributors Alliance, looks and sounds terrific. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.