The Boat Is Full Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Boat Is Full Blu-ray Movie Review

An amazing foreign language film that has impeccable craft on every level

A hard-hitting drama, The Boat Is Full explores a refugee crisis during the era of World War II. The film remains a relevant and thought-provoking exploration on a subject that needs more discussion worldwide with each passing day. Based on the book by Alfred A. Haesler and produced by George Reinhart (Last Song, As You Like It), The Boat Is Full was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards.

Facing insurmountable odds with the refugee crisis (with the title of the film coming from a common saying about there being “no more room” for immigrants), a group of individuals faced with the situation surrounding immigration in Switzerland must band together and pretend to be a family: delving into familial roles. These men, women, and children each take a role to try and secure a placement to a better life.

Judith Krueger (Tina Engel) is a strong-willed woman who takes on the position of both mother and spouse during her attempt to find her own salvation during the refugee crisis. As she cements herself as a leader to the others around her, she tries to find her own form of peace. The situation becomes more complex when she must learn to communicate with a solemn boy who doesn't understand the German language. Can Judith and the others find a way “on to the boat”?

A riveting performance by Tina Engel

There is something haunting about the impeccable ensemble. The performances are uniformly impressive. There is a sense of humanity across the board. The standout is the lead-performance by Tina Engel. Engel is terrific in this lead performance and she delves into her character's psyche with clear dedication for her role. The character is clearly damaged by the situation at hand but she doesn't allow it to overrule her own dedication and sense of hope. Engel delivers a nuanced performance which is evocative and mesmerizing.

The production is wonderfully mounted with radiant cinematography by Hans Liechti (The Frozen Heart, The Death of Mario Ricci) bringing viewers closer to the storytelling. The film has a often harrowing view of events and the solemn blues and grays of the visual aesthetic make the film a dreamlike and often nightmarish vision. The vivid production design by Max Stubenrauch (Quicker Than the Eye, Tatort) authentically elevates the material with a sense of realism which is compelling to experience.

The Boat Is Full is beautifully written and directed by Markus Imhoof (More Than Honey, The Journey). The filmmaking is genuine and riveting. As the foundations of the filmmaking explore an altogether serious subject matter, Imhoof treats the material with the level of respect, dedication, and care that is necessary for the filmmaking to succeed.

The film could have easily taken a wrong turn along the way to its unforgettable conclusion. The film instead ends on a high-note with a sequence which will long stay in the minds of viewers. Imhoof creates a film of ample pathos which pushes events into the brink (and doing so while creating a landscape that feels realistic through-and-through). Without even relying on music to create the dramatic backdrop most filmmakers would rely on in a heartbeat, Imhoof instead concludes the experience with silence. A riveting artistic decision. Don't miss this under-seen gem.

The Boat Is Full Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from distributor Kino Lorber, The Boat Is Full has received a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.66:1 widescreen. This is certainly a commendable presentation on the whole. There are no glaring issues with print damage or debris to be found.

This is a clean transfer with film grain that preserves the original cinematographic aesthetic. While grain reproduction can appear a bit more rambunctious than on some productions, the preservation of the image is well-appreciated. This is a beautiful looking film with cinematography that simply shines on this transfer. Fans won't walk away disappointed by the effort.

The Boat Is Full Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes two separate audio options (both of which are presented in the original German language): 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio. The film is presented with optional English subtitles (which the release will default to providing unless otherwise selected). Dialogue reproduction is superb and the track has good fidelity throughout. The audio track is a decidedly quiet and refined track but one that sounds clear from start to finish.

The surround sound mix provided for the release is so minimalistic in approach that it doesn't sound like the surrounds are in use for most of the feature-film (almost making one wonder why two audio options are even provided on this release in the first place). There are no show-stopping scenes with dynamic surround-sound: it's a rather flat (listless) experience which is not going to be that different from the 2.0 mix. While this might not be a major qualm, it seems curious given the two audio track selections available. The provided English subtitles are superb and are free from glaring spelling or grammatical errors.

The Boat Is Full Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Interview with Director Markus Imhoof (SD, 18:11) is an engaging piece that features insightful comments from the filmmaker behind The Boat Is Full. The interview offers the views director Imhoof had regarding the importance of the story, the significance of the film's lack of music accompaniment, and the importance of the final scene in the film. This is a worthwhile interview well worth watching for fans of the film. (Subtitled in English).

The Boat Is Full Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:02)

Trailers for other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: Eldorado (HD, 1:53) and More Than Honey (HD, 2:12).

The Boat Is Full Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ambitious and thought-provoking, The Boat Is Full is a compelling exploration of a serious subject matter which remains relevant to this day. The filmmaking is grounded in reality and it showcases exceptional performances by the cast (including a knock-out performance by the great Tina Engel). The Blu-ray release is exceptional with an impressive video-audio presentation and an insightful interview with director Markus Imhoof. A well-rounded package that belongs in the collection of all lovers of great foreign language cinema. Highly recommended.