Serendipity Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

Serendipity Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman February 1, 2020

Have we really gotten to a point where a potentially terminal disease can be used as an element in what might be termed “performance art”? Judging by the fascinating and unabashedly provocative documentary Serendipity by French “multidisciplinary artist” Prune Nourry, the answer is an unreserved “yes”, but perhaps surprisingly, while arguably just a bit too self aware for its own good, Serendipity proves to be a rather compelling investigation into what it means to be a young woman suddenly diagnosed with breast cancer. If the title of this piece probably unavoidably recalls another film, that title also tends to hint at a couple of central questions that Nourry may or may not actually answer: first, the seemingly random way disease can "reach out and touch" various folks; and, second, the kind of felicitous moments that can accrue around a person who has already been diagnosed and is trying heroically to overcome the dreaded specter of cancer.

Serendipity tends to function as both a first person "cancer diary", documenting some of the disturbing things Nourry had to go through (including a mastectomy and harvesting of eggs for any potential future pregnancies), while also serving as something of a filmed curriculum vitae, offering an overview of Nourry's often unabashedly provocative work, as if Nourry realized she needed to provide "proof" of her accomplishments in case she didn't make it (for those who wonder, she's currently in remission). The overall feeling of the documentary can therefore be a bit disjointed, with the medical aspects playing out almost like a "procedural" television piece, and with some of the more "artistic" elements seeming odd and at times kind of weirdly disjunctive. Nourry occasionally comes off as pretty self absorbed, which I guess is understandable, considering the predicament she found herself in. That said, she also shows her vulnerable side here, and is certainly not shy about detailing the ways cancer ravaged her mind, body and soul.

Serendipity Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Serendipity is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Cohen Media Group with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer (mostly) in 1.85:1 (a few whimsical elements are in narrower aspect ratios, as can be seen in screenshot 3 accompanying this review). This documentary looks like it's been cobbled together from a variety of sources, and as such, there's a pretty heterogeneous appearance on display here. A lot of the footage is nicely sharp and well detailed, with a naturally suffused palette and some commendable fine detail levels. Other, presumably archival, footage is considerably more ragged, and some of it looks like it was probably sourced from smaller formats, with a kind of fuzzy, ill defined look. Nourry doesn't shy away from any number of "arty" framings (see screenshot 7 for one example), and some of those moments don't offer the same detail levels that the bulk of this presentation does.

Serendipity Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Serendipity features an audio setup menu that describes the audio as "English", something the specs above replicate, but the fact is this is a multi-lingual enterprise, with French and Chinese also entering the fray (with forced English subtitles during the non-English moments). The sound design here doesn't offer a lot of opportunity for immersive surround activity, with the bulk of the film offering either on screen dialogue or Nourry's narration. Fidelity is fine throughout, though dynamic range is pretty limited.

Serendipity Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Conversations at the Quad with Director Prune Nourry (1080p; 22:22) is moderated by Raffi Khatchadourian from The New Yorker.


• Serendipity Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 1:30)

Serendipity Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Is it "serendipity" that this song has been a favorite of mine for some time? Serendipity (the documentary, that is) may not have the immediate accessibility of the linked tune, but in its own way it's rather beautiful, though those with little tolerance for "performance art" and other perceived pretentiousness may find parts of this piece a bit hard to take. Anyone who has had to deal with cancer, either personally or through any relationship, may find Serendipity moving. Technical merits are generally fine for those considering a purchase.