Tesnota: Closeness Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.5

Tesnota: Closeness Blu-ray Movie Review

Tesnota (Closeness) is a Russian drama from acclaimed filmmaker Kantemir Balagov (Beanpole). Produced by Eduard Pichugin (A Russian Youth), Nikolay Yankin (Deep Rivers), and Aleksandr Sokurov (Russian Ark), the feature-film explores the closeness of people – as per the title. An exceptional dramatic effort.

Set against the backdrop of Nalchik, Russia during the late 1990s, the story of Tesnota centers on the hardworking twenty-something Ilana (Darya Zhovner) as she pursues her passions while helping her father out with his job. A quiet and peaceful gathering of the Jewish family is undertaken to celebrate the engagement of David (Venjamin Katz). Yet the celebration abruptly ends when terrorists kidnap the young couple and demand a hefty ransom fee. The mission to save the couple unfolds.

The lead performance by Darya Zhovner is the highlight of the filmmaking. The performance is quite moving and complex. The role demanded a lot out of Zhovner and she carries herself quite well. The film moves between dramatic dialogue exchanges and moments which showcase the compassion of Ilana: showcasing her story in a compelling way. There is even a scene of dance which makes a big impression (offering a post-modern element to the production).

The cinematography by Artem Emelianov (Sunday, Noise) is beautiful. Tesnota (Closeness) is filled with stunning cinematographic visuals and a colorful palette imbued with ambiance. The aesthetic is perfect for the theme of the film and the emphasis on closeness. A great effort by Emelianov.

Directed and edited by Kantemir Balagov (Beanpole, Molodoy eschyo), who wrote the screenplay alongside co-screenwriter Anton Yarush, Tesnota (Closeness) is a compelling dramatic effort that has plenty of dramatic depth. Balagov seems like an assured auteur filmmaker (which is certainly quite surprising given that the director was a young twenty-something during production). Balagov has incredible skills as a filmmaker and imbues the storytelling with energy and life. A must-see film.

Tesnota: Closeness Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino, Tesnota is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1 full frame. The release has a high quality encode which capably handles the cinematographic style. The full frame aspect ratio is an effective creative choice which adds a sense of style to the filmmaking. Colors look impressive throughout the presentation. A naturally filmic presentation, Tesnota is a sharp and pleasing encode. A worthwhile effort by Kino.

Tesnota: Closeness Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in Russian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound and Russian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo. The audio quality on the release is impressive. Dialogue is crisp, clear, and easy to understand. Though the audio track is focused on dialogue exchanges more-so than surround activity, the clarity is quite pleasing throughout and the occasional ambiance added by the surrounds is effective.

English subtitles are provided. There were no egregious issues in regards to spelling or grammar. Optional French subtitles are provided on the release as well.

Tesnota: Closeness Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release only includes a small selection of trailers:

Tesnota Theatrical Trailer (HD, 1:20)

Beanpole Theatrical Trailer (HD, 1:02)

Tesnota: Closeness Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Balagov (Beanpole) created a compelling drama with the complex Tesnota (Closeness). The film has plenty of compelling elements, including a first-rate performance by Darya Zhovner. The Blu-ray of Tesnota features a strong video-audio presentation. Though light on supplemental features, the film deserves recognition for its accomplishments and the release is worthwhile. Highly recommended.