7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
En route to Delhi to receive an award, a Bengali film star reevaluates his success through his fellow passengers, dreams and past experiences.
Starring: Uttam Kumar (I), Sharmila Tagore, Bireswar Sen, Somen BoseForeign | 100% |
Drama | 76% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
Bengali: LPCM 2.0
English
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region B (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Satyajit Ray's "The Hero" a.k.a. "Nayak" (1966) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Curzon Artificial Eye. There are no bonus features on this release. In Bengali, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".
The interview
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Satyajit Ray's The Hero arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Curzon Artificial Eye.
The release is sourced from the recent 2K restoration of the film that was completed by RDB Entertainments. In the United States, earlier this year Criterion also used the same restored master to produce their release of the film, which we have reviewed here. The technical presentation, however, is different. On this release the gamma levels appear slightly elevated and as a result the entire film looks slightly brighter and in some areas a tad flatter. I don't know if this is how the master was created after the restoration was completed or this is simply how the disc was encoded, but on the Criterion release there are proper gamma levels that actually make the film look a tad livelier and fresher (compare screencaptures #1 from the two reviews). The rest of the basic characteristics are practically identical. There are a few areas where minor fluctuations can be observed, but clarity and fluidity are quite pleasing. Traces of damage have also been removed as best as possible. Image stability is very good. my score is 3.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: Bengali LPCM 2.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.
In our review of the Criterion release of The Hero I mentioned that there is some footage where the audio has a bit of a 'boxy' quality. The same effect, which I believe is inherited, is present on this release as well. The dialog remain clean, stable, and very easy to follow.
Most unfortunately, there are no supplemental features to be found on this release.
Success often comes at a price that one can fully comprehended only years later, after one has already undergone an irreversible transformation. Sometimes it is easy to come to terms with the 'discovery' and quickly move away from it, but more often than not after the realization there is a very painful recovery period that can cause some permanent scars. The Hero marked the first collaboration between Satyajit Ray and the popular Bengali actor Uttam Kumar, and it is about a very successful movie star who has began realizing that he has sacrificed an awful lot to get to the top. It has some very interesting Fellini-esque overtones that have rightfully compelled many viewers to compare it to the timeless 8½.
Curzon Artificial Eye's release of The Hero is sourced from the 2K restoration of the film that was completed by RDB Entertainments, but I find the technical presentation of the same restoration on Criterion's recent release more convincing. RECOMMENDED.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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