Storm Boy Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Storm Boy Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov June 12, 2019

Henri Safran's "Storm Boy" (1976) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include vintage trailers for the film; archival documentaries; Carl Schultz's adaptation of Colin Thiele's novel, "Blue Fin"l and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Inseparable

I have seen real pelicans but prior to viewing Henri Safran’s film Storm Boy I never imagined that they could be trained as pets. And for no particular reason, really, it is simply something that never crossed my mind. I always thought that they were just too exotic, the kind of birds that need a very unique environment where they could feel at home. But this film changed my mind and actually made me do quite a bit of research on pelicans and their habitat, and what I learned surprised me a lot. Pelicans are extremely intelligent creatures and they can do some astonishing things if they feel that they can trust people. This is the hard part -- building the trust. Then everything else, like Mr. Percival’s incredible performance during the big storm at the end of the film, becomes possible.

Ten-year-old Mike Kingley (Greg Rowe) lives with his father (Peter Cummins) in a secluded coastal area somewhere in South Australia. They fish together and make ends meet with the money they are paid after they sell their catch. It is a difficult, almost primitive life, but they have gotten used to it.

One day, a couple of drunkards arrive in the area and begin shooting at a giant flock of pelicans. A local aboriginal hunter named Fingerbone (David Gulpilil) scares them off, but not before they leave a big pile of dead bodies. After the carnage, Mike, who has been hiding in the dunes, picks up three baby pelicans and brings them home so that he can raise them with his father. At first the old man dismisses Mike’s plan, but when he commits to doing everything that the baby pelicans need to survive, he changes his mind. They grow up fast and after awhile Mike begins teaching them how to help when he and his father are getting ready to fish. When the pelicans become so big that they begin consuming most of the daily catch, Mike is told that it is time to release them.

But one of the pelicans, Mr. Percival, returns and becomes Mike’s best friend. Mr. Percival even manages to earn the admiration of the old man and eventually he allows him to become part of the family. At first, it seems like the good times would last forever, but then a series of events threaten to permanently separate Mike and Mr. Percival.

This sincerity of this film is its greatest strength because it has a dramatic effect on everything, from the quality of the acting to the manner in which the beauty of the area where it was shot is captured by the camera. Let me explain exactly what I mean. The original material for it comes from Colin Thiele’s popular novel and it is so straightforward that it actually presents endless opportunities for melodramatization of the worst kind. (It is precisely why a Hollywood remake would be insufferable). However, instead of giving the film a Disney-esque appearance Safran goes in the exact opposite direction and creates a casual atmosphere that makes the boy’s relationship with the pelican look incredibly authentic. For example, when the boy and the pelican go for a walk on the beach it is just an ordinary event; and when a decision is made that the two must be separated the world does not suddenly stop so that the viewer can really grasp its significance, the two just move on and life continues as before. As a result, the film produces plenty of sincere contrasts that make its story very attractive and moving.

Geoff Burton’s lensing is appropriately casual and serene. Many of the locations from South Australia -- The Coorong and Mundoo Island in particular -- quite easily could have turned out to be serious distractions because they offer plenty for a cinematographer to impress, but instead nature’s beauty emerges as if it is part of a low-budget documentary.

A lovely chamber score from Michael Carlos evokes the simplicity and beauty of Francis Lai’s work from the same period.

Storm Boy Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Henri Safran's Storm Boy arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment.

The release is sourced from an exclusive new 4K remaster that I like a lot. The one and only area where I felt that there is still some room for improvement is density, but what is already there is very strong and convincing. The wider panoramic shots have the most obvious variations, but it is worth pointing out that virtually all are also exaggerated by specific qualities of the original cinematography. Depth, clarity, and fluidity are lovely. I also liked the color grading, which promotes healthy and strong primaries and good ranges of nuances. You don't have to worry about digital tinkering because there is none. Debris, cuts, damage marks, blemishes, and other similar age-related anomalies have been removed as best as possible. My score if 4.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Storm Boy Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit). Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

There are no technical issues to report. The audio is clean and stable. Balance is excellent. The original soundtrack does not have a lot to offer in terms of dynamic intensity, but there are plenty of decent dynamic nuances. In other words, the lossless track replicates the native qualities of the original soundtrack as well as it should.

Storm Boy Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

NOTE: All of the supplemental features on this Blu-ray release are perfectly playable on North American Blu-ray players, including the PS3.

• Trailer - a remastered trailer for Storm Boy. In English, not subtitled. (4 min, 1080p).

• VHS Trailer - a vintage trailer for Storm Boy, sourced from an old Australian VHS. In English, not subtitled. (1 min, 1080p).

• Story Makers: Colin Thiele - this vintage documentary focuses on the history and success of Colin Thiele's novel and the award-winning film that it inspired. Included in it clips from various interviews with the author. The documentary was produced in 1988. In English, not subtitled. (26 min, 1080p).

• Blue Fin (1978) - presented here is Carl Schultz's adaptation of Colin Thiele's novel, starring Hardy Krüger, Greg Rowe, Liddy Clark, and John Jarratt. Sourced from a standard definition master. In English, with optional English subtitles. (91 min, 720p).

• Wild Reel: Hardy Kruger & Greg Rowe - a vintage featurette that was produced to promote Blue Fin. With Hardy Kruger and Greg Rowe. In English, not subtitled. (10 min, 720p).

• Hardy Kruger Profile - this vintage featurette takes a closer look at Hardy Kruger international image and work, as well as his contribution to Blue Fin. Included in it are clips from various interviews with people that made the film. In English, not subtitled. (25 min, 720p).

• Blue Fin Trailer - a vintage trailer for Blue Fin. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 720p).

• Cover - reversible cover

Storm Boy Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Storm Boy definitely deserves to be called an Australian classic. It tells a very simple story but in such a sincere way that it touches the heart in a way that only truly special films can. I enjoyed every minute of it. It has been exclusively restored in 4K by the folks at Umbrella Entertainment/Charlie Ellis and it looks great on Blu-ray. Also included on this release is Carl Schultz's very good adaptation of Colin Thiele's popular novel, Blue Fin, though sourced from an older standard definition master. Great release. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.