Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

That Sinking Feeling Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 11, 2014

Scottish director Bill Forsyth's "That Sinking Feeling" (1979) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of the British Film Institute. The supplemental features on the disc include John Schorstein's short films "KH-4" (1969) and "Mirror" (1970); Oscar Marzaroli's short film "Glasgow 1980" (1971); audio commentary with Bill Forsyth and film critic Mark Kermode; new video interview with actor Robert Buchanan; and more. The release also arrives with a 20-page illustrated booklet with new essays and technical notes. In English, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

"How does it work? You find the main fuse box inside the warehouse. Locate the fuse for the alarm circuit. Then you throw this box at it."

Glasgow, the late '70s. While wandering around the city, unemployed teenager Ronnie (Robert Buchanan, Gregory's Girl) comes up with a brilliant plan to get rich. But for the plan to work Ronnie needs the help of his best friends, and maybe even the help of a few of their best friends.

After carefully explaining his plan to Vic (John Hughes), Pete (Drew Burns) and Alec (Allan Love), Ronnie begins working on the details – a van is ‘borrowed’, one of the boys is taught how to talk and dress like a girl so that he can entertain a horny guard while everyone else goes to work, and a safe place is chosen where everyone will gather after the ‘job’ is done to distribute the wealth.

The group quickly gets bigger. Other boys and even a few girls agree to help Ronnie and his gang. Not everyone understands exactly how they will get rich, but when Ronnie talks to them they feel confident that his plan will work as intended.

Eventually, the group goes to work. After doing exactly what they have been told to do, the exhausted boys gather at the safe place to collect their shares. Much to their disappointment, however, Ronnie tells them that the final phase of his plan requires a bit of patience.

Scottish director Bill Forsyth’s ultra-low budget directorial debut, That Sinking Feeling, very much looks and feels like a documentary feature whose main goal is to introduce to its audience parts of a city that no longer exists. It does have a core group of characters -- the overwhelming majority of them were played by young and inexperienced actors from the Glasgow Youth Theatre -- whose decisions and actions keep its uneven sections together, but their strengths and weaknesses are never given serious attention. Forsyth, it seems, simply captured their existence on film while visiting with his camera parts of the city most people had learned to ignore.

This relaxed attitude, however, is very much what makes That Sinking Feeling such a gem. No one really tries hard to impress -- there are a couple of exchanges that must have been rehearsed a few times, but it seems like the rest of the action simply happens while the camera rolls somewhere on the back. The end result is a film that is a bit rough around the edges but is firmly grounded in reality and refreshingly unpretentious.

The jokes work for the same reasons -- nothing feels forced, nothing looks overpolished. In fact, there are entire sequences that are quite absurd, but because the young actors remain genuinely relaxed in them and do not attempt to be funny they feel very fresh.

That Sinking Feeling was the first feature film cinematographer Michael Coulter lensed. He also collaborated with Forsyth on his biggest hit, Gregory’s Girl. Coulter would eventually go on to work with Terence Davies on The Long Day Closes, Mike Newell on Four Weddings and a Funeral, Ang Lee on Sense and Sensibility, and Roger Michell on Notting Hill.

Despite its very small budget, That Sinking Feeling is complimented by a wonderful very mellow jazzy soundtrack which was created by Scottish sax player Colin Tully.

That Sinking Feeling Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Bill Forsyth's That Sinking Feeling arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of the British Film Institute.

The screencaptures included with our review appear in the following order:

1. Screencaptures 1-14: That Sinking Feeling.
2. Screencaptures 16-18: KH-4.
3. Screencaptures: 19-21: Mirror.
4. Screencaotures: 22-25: Glasgow 1980.
5. Screencaptures: 26-29: Islands of the West.

The following text appears inside the booklet provided with this Blu-ray release:

"That Sinking Feeling has been transferred from a 35mm low-contrast element, held by the BFI National Archive, which was struck from an original 16mm element. KH-4 has been newly scanned in 2K from the original 16mm negative held by the Scottish Screen Archive. Mirror has been newly scanned in 2K from the original 16mm negative held by the BFI National Archive. Glasgow 1980 has been newly scanned in 4K from an original 35mm interpositive element held by the Scottish Screen Archive. Islands of the West has been newly scanned in 2K from the original 16mm A+B negative held by the Scottish Screen Archive. The audio for all films was transferred from original mono optical tracks.

Technical producer: Douglas Weir (BFI).
Telecine colorist: Trevor Brown (Deluxe Soho).
Digital restoration: Tom Barrett, Clayton Baker (Deluxe Soho)."

The technical presentation of That Sinking Feeling is very good. The film's production limitations are quite obvious -- for example, where natural light is restricted there are some minor contrast and clarity fluctuations -- but both clarity and depth are very pleasing. Colors are also stable and natural, never appearing artificially boosted. There are absolutely no traces of problematic degraining or sharpening adjustments. Unsurprisingly, from start to finish the film has a solid and very pleasing organic look. Finally, there are no serious transition issues or basic stability issues to report in this review. All in all, this is a lovely presentation that will definitely please fans of the Scottish director and his work. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu--ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location).

That Sinking Feeling Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: Original English (Scottish) LPCM 1.0 and Anglicized (Alternative) LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles have been provided for the main feature.

I viewed the film with the original audio and was very pleased with the quality. While the range of nuanced dynamics is quite limited, both depth and clarity are very good. Balance is good as well. (The film is complimented by a simple but very effective melancholic soundtrack which is used during a number of transitions). There are no pops, crackle, background hiss, audio dropouts, or distortions to report in this review.

That Sinking Feeling Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Short Films -
  
  1. KH-4 (1969) -- a young artist (Bill Forsyth) runs through the busy streets of Glasgow and then visits a lonely area where some old buildings have been demolished. Directed by John Schorstein. B&W. In English, not subtitled. (13 min, 1080p).
  
  2. Mirror (1970) -- a man (Bill Forsyth) and a woman (Linda McLean) wake up in the same bed. She quickly packs up her belongings and leaves the man. Soon after, the man goes looking for her, but Glasgow is too big and he gives up. Then he meets a couple in a bar. Directed by John Schorstein. B&W. In English, not subtitled. (34 min, 1080p).
  
  3. Glasgow 1980 (1971) - this documentary offers a glimpse at a city in transition (it features archival images and footage from different parts of Glasgow). It was directed by Oscar Marzaroli and edited by Bill Forsyth. Color. In English, not subtitled. (31 min, 1080p).
  
  4. Islands of the West (1972) - presented here is Bill Forsyth's first documentary film. It promotes life on the Outer Hebrides. Color. In English, not subtitled. (28 min, 1080p).
  
  5. Bill Forsyth BAFTA Film (2009) - this short film was used as part of Bill Forsyth's acceptance of the BAFTA Scotland Lifetime Achievement award. In English, not subtitled. (8 min).
  
  6. Kermode Uncut (2012) - in this short featurette, film Mark Kermode and Bill Forsyth discuss the production history and budget of That Sinking Feeling. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).
  
  

• Commentary - fantastic audio commentary with Bill Forsyth and Mark Kermode. The Scottish director recalls how This Sinking Feeling came to exist, and discusses its funding, initial screenings, interactions with the young actors from the Glasgow Youth Theatre, the editing process, etc. The commentary was recorded in 2013.

• A Conversation with Robert Buchanan - in this new video interview, actor Robert Buchanan (Ronnie) recalls his first encounter with Bill Forsyth, and discusses his contributions to That Sinking Feeling and Gregory's Girl. The interview was conducted in 2014. In English, not subtitled. (15 min).

• Booklet - 20-page illustrated booklet featuring: "Kitchen-sink fantasy" by David Archibald; Bill Forsyth's whistling debut" by Colin Tully; "No Ginger Beer: The release history of That Sinking Feeling" by Douglas Weir; "Bill Forsyth's contribution to the symposium British Cinema: 1981 (National Film Theatre, 4 November 1981)"; and technical notes.

That Sinking Feeling Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I liked Bill Forsyth's directorial debut That Sinking Feeling a lot more than his international hit Gregory's Girl. It is incredibly charming and very funny. The film has been recently restored and looks wonderful on Blu-ray. The BFI's release also comes with an excellent selection of supplemental features, including a wonderful audio commentary with the Scottish director and film critic Mark Kermode. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.