Sitcom Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

Sitcom Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 6, 2024

Francois Ozon makes his feature-length directing debut with 1998’s “Sitcom,” building storytelling skills sharpened on short films and 1997’s “See the Sea.” The helmer (who also scripts) takes aim at the family unit with the endeavor, looking to pry open the supposed normalcy of a household suddenly going through a torrent of changes. Ozon displays his wicked sense of humor and fondness for extremity with the movie, which has its share of shock value and strangeness. There’s also a certain darkness to the picture that’s fascinating to watch, with the cast committing to Ozon’s fetishistic imagination in a heroic way, making the viewing experience surprisingly palatable.

Helen (Evelyne Dandry) is mother to young Nicolas (Adrien de Van) and Sophie (Marina de Van), trying to maintain a cheerful home for her husband, Jean (Francois Marthouret). There’s household help with Maria (Lucia Sanchez), who’s married to Abdu (Jules-Emmanuel Eyoum Deido), aiding Helen with chores and family issues. One day, Jean brings home a white rat as a pet, with this addition causing a great disruption to the order of things, finding Nicolas coming out, quickly making his way to lustful liberation, while Sophie botches a suicide attempt, leaving her in a wheelchair with sexual needs she can’t satisfy. Helen is overwhelmed by changes all around her, while Jean remains emotionally withdrawn, keeping his distance from the chaos.

“Sitcom” opens with a preview of its conclusion, setting an ominous tone for the feature as violence is introduced but not explained. The motivation for such an event is portioned out over the run time as Ozon dials back the clock, introducing the tense family dynamic, with Helen doing her best to create a stable domestic atmosphere for all, even going to therapy to help sort through her own issues. “Sitcom” explores the explosion of activity in the home, with the presence of the pet rat bringing out something strange in all the characters. Ozon picks at scabs for the most part, with Nicolas revealing his homosexuality, finding comfort from an unusual source in the home. Sophie snaps but can’t find relief, rendered a paraplegic, which pushes her to explore S&M to bring pleasure to her life. Sex games are added to the screenplay, and Ozon is not afraid to follow a few of them in full as lines are crossed in the pursuit of maintaining some form of order.

Sitcom Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation delivers a fresh viewing experience for "Sitcom." Detail is generally quite good, exploring textured skin particulars and costuming, while fine fur on the rat is appreciable. Interiors are open for inspection, touring the household and its distinct decorative choices. Color is sharp, with a crisp sense of primaries, especially on artful additions and style choices. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is adequately resolved. Source is in strong condition, with some very mild scratches and debris encountered.

Sitcom Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix provides clear dialogue exchanges, capturing some strong dramatic engagement and hushed encounters. Scoring is sharp, with distinct instrumentation, joined by fresh beats with soundtrack selections. Sound effects are subtle, adding to the feature's sonic playfulness.

Sitcom Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this release.

Sitcom Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ozon has a dark tale with "Sitcom," which pokes at nuclear family traditions and domestic help additions. There's some cheekiness in the picture, but the helmer primarily plays the gradual creep of disorientation with a concentration on twistedness, carrying the effort to unreality. It's quite a ride, and one kept alive by the performances, especially from Dandry, who has the challenging task of portraying a character stuck in the middle of madness, electing to join the craziness to help heal her loved ones. "Sitcom" doesn't follow through on a few ideas, and the ending doesn't quite have the snap the opening hints at, but it remains confident work from Ozon, who seems to be having a blast dreaming up opportunities to pervert the ways of domestic order and happiness.