The Green, Green Grass of Home Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Green, Green Grass of Home Blu-ray Movie Review

A classic gem of romance and adventure by Hou Hsiao-hsien

Another charming delight by Hou Hsiao-hsien, The Green, Green Grass of Home is a classic that must be seen by cinephiles the world over. Produced by Kun-Hou Chen, the film explores the lives of two young teachers who become involved in the lives of their students while falling madly in love with each other. Full of charming characters and remarkable energy, The Green, Green Grass of Home is exquisite filmmaking through-and-through.

Da-Nian (Kenny Bee) is a school teacher working in a small village with a group of young students. Attempting to teach them about the importance of nature, Da-Nian takes the students on field trips (including a trip that involves a mission to help the environment). Fishies and the like swim with jubilant glee across the lake. As Da-Nian teaches, he meets and romances fellow teacher, Su-Yun (Meifeng Chen) and the rest is poetry in motion. Will Da-Nian and Su-Yun find true love together?

The performances from the lead actors are exceptional for a romantic-comedy. Both Kenny Bee and Meifeng Chen radiate with their own charismatic personalities. The sensibilities of both actors are terrific and each brings forth the best qualities of their respective characters. The chemistry that channels between them is robust and makes a great impression.

Dreams for tomorrow.

One of the best elements of The Green, Green Grass of Home is the impeccable use of music and its role in telling the story. The score composed by Mou-Shan Huang (Lantern Festival Adventure, The Green Green Trees of School Days) gives the production a zippy feel-good energy that is downright unmistakable. The selection of songs is equally brilliant and gives the entire production a seriously upbeat mood.

The cinematography by Kun-Hou Chen (Out of the Blue, Come Fly with Me) is another exceptional element of the organic and free-spirited production. The visuals are a key component to the stylistic flourishes which are on display. A wonderful looking film (which represents the beauty of nature in graceful ways), The Green, Green Grass of Home is simply beautiful to behold. Accompanying the visuals of the cinematography is the exquisite art direction by Kai-Ching Chi (Cheerful Wind).

Hou Hsiao-hsien both wrote and directed The Green, Green Grass of Home with a carefree spirit. The filmmaking is all the better for it. The stylistic flourishes are superb and the heart of the filmmaking feels marvelous. Working closely alongside editor Ching-Sung Liao (The Assassin, Three Times), a quiet scene in the film can take on significance while the upbeat and uptempo romantic moments are equally impressionable. The end result is a classic that has gone under-radar. The Green, Green Grass of Home is a must-see gem.

The Green, Green Grass of Home Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from distributor Eureka Entertainment as a part of the prestigious Masters of Cinema line, The Green, Green Grass of Home is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original 2.35:1 widescreen theatrical aspect ratio. The transfer on the Blu-ray is consistently impressive looking and appears downright beautiful (despite some relatively minor imperfections). There are some occasional specks on the print and some slight scratches. Yet the transfer is largely crisp and gorgeous looking. The encode is similarly well rendered and organic.

Throughout the film, the transfer demonstrates occasional minor softness (which looks as though source-inherent). Fine film grain is left intact. Colors are robust and impressive. Restored with the involvement and supervision of director Hou Hsiao-hsien and the World Cinema Project, The Green, Green Grass of Home has truly received a lovely restoration.

The Green, Green Grass of Home Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Presented with lossless uncompressed PCM mono audio (encoded at 24 bit depth), the dynamic audio track for The Green, Green Grass of Home is largely impressive and reproduces the music soundtrack capably. Dialogue clarity can be a little bit inconsistent and sometimes sounds slightly harsh and less refined as is desirable. However, the track is still easy to understand. No major issues with regards to the sound quality. Other than a slight hiss, The Green, Green Grass of Home has received a clear and effective track.

The Green, Green Grass of Home Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

A Sweet Little Village: The Green, Green Grass of Home Video Essay (HD, 16:38) is another audio-visual essay. The essay explores the importance of the film in context of the director's filmography and the significance of the story in his legacy. The piece explores the beauty of outdoor landscapes and the bustling city environment as well. Explores various scenes in the film and the importance of the style and scope of Hou Hsiao-hsien. A worthwhile supplement that is rewarding for viewers of the film.

The Green, Green Grass of Home Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

An exceptional romantic-comedy from the great Hou Hsiao-hsien, The Green, Green Grass of Home impresses with memorable performances, beautiful cinematography, and upbeat music. An entertaining slice-of-life classic that demands to be seen. Highly recommended.