The Horse Thief Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

The Horse Thief Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov March 25, 2019

Tian Zhuangzhuang's "The Horse Thief" (1985) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Chinese label Diskino. The supplemental features on the disc include an exclusive new program featuring critic and filmmaker Tony Rayns as well as an archival introduction to the film. In Tibetan or Mandarin, with optional English or Simplified Mandarin subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

The thief

Here are two very good reasons why Tian Zhuangzhuang's film The Horse Thief should be on your radar: First, some years ago Marty Scorsese declared that it is the best film to emerge from the ‘90s. (The film was completed in 1986, but it reached the West in the early ’90s and this is when many people, including Scorsese, had a chance to see it). Any way you look at it, this is an incredible endorsement that nowadays actually caries greater weight than virtually every major award that different festivals and organizations use to recognize quality. Second, The Horse Thief is one of those rare contemporary films that works just as well without sound as it does with it. That’s how powerful its visuals are.

The events in the film take place in an area of Tibet where Mother Nature and the locals have a difficult relationship. There are times when it seems like they have learned to coexist in perfect harmony and the distant area begins to look like Heaven on earth. But the good is actually part of a cycle, and when it ends the two sides frequently lose respect for each other. It is when Mother Nature usually reveals its most primitive and unforgiving side, while the locals confront its anger as best as they can and become closer with the sacred spirits that they believe can protect them.

During a mass gathering of the local clan, a man called Norbu (Rigzin Tseshang) is accused of stealing horses and gifts from a nearby temple to support his family. Norbu instantly admits the wrongdoing and then quietly accepts his punishment -- a life away from the clan and the place that he and his family have called home. Shortly after, followed by his wife Dolma (Jiji Dan) and their very young song, he leaves the area.

But the road ahead proves to be a very difficult one. As the winter approaches, Norbu’s son falls seriously ill and he struggles to find food so that the entire family can survive. Norbu and his wife then embrace Buddha and begin praying, but the boy’s condition deteriorates and eventually the harsh weather finishes him off.

Around the same time a deadly plague strikes the clan and forces the survivors to head in the same direction where Norbu has settled down with Dolma. He meets a few of them, but his punishment isn’t renounced and the two continue to live like nomads. When Dolma eventually gives birth to another baby boy, Norbu vows to do whatever it takes to give his family a better chance to survive. But it isn’t long before Mother Nature once again turns against him and attempts to crush his family.

The Horse Thief is like a book that offers a view into a world that is so different that it actually looks surreal. And it is not the period environment that makes it appear that way, but the drastically different concept of existing that determines the choices that Norbu and his people make as they struggle to stay alive. It is true that there is a certain primitive simplicity behind it, which is why some of the rituals that are captured by the camera may appear somewhat disturbing, but there is also solid ‘logic’ attached to it that defines a foreign culture. This is what makes the film special -- the view that it offers is a very direct, unfiltered and non-judgmental.

The quality of the acting is very difficult to critique because the mass rituals as well as the movement of people and animals are very organic. The more intimate scenes where Norbu is seen interacting with his family or trying to overcome Mother Nature do not appear to have been carefully scripted either. Frankly, while the editing is very good, the visuals have such raw quality that it seems fair to conclude that the film was in fact completed while managing time and locations rather than groups of actors.

*During the DVD era there was a Chinese release of The Horse Thief that featured only a Mandarin dub. This new Blu-ray release, which is sourced from a 2K remaster of the film, also features an original Tibetan track, which was previously thought to have been lost.

The Horse Thief Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.36:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Tian Zhuangzhuang's The Horse Thief arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Diskino.

The release is sourced from an exclusive new and very strong 2K remaster, which was approved by director Tian Zhuangzhuang. There are two areas where I think there is still room for some minor improvements. First, even though density levels are already very nice, they could be even better and more consistent. It appears that the remaster was struck from an interpositive, which is great, but occasionally depth isn't optimal and on a larger screen it is rather easy to tell. Second, there are some areas where very light black crush sneaks in and erodes some fine nuances (you can see examples in screencaptures #10 and 19). I think that during the color grading process minor adjustments could have been made to ensure optimal results. The rest I ike a lot. The film looks very, very healthy and overall it has the stable appearance that these types of films need to look impressive on Blu-ray. Also, I could immediately tell that the people that prepared the remaster did plenty of work to make sure that there are no traces of age-related imperfections on it. All in all, it is another fine effort from Diskino that I know fans of The Horse Thief will appreciate. My score is 4.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location. For the record, there is no problematic PAL or 1080/50i content preceding the disc's main menu).

The Horse Thief Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: Tibetan: LPCM Mono and Mandarin: LPCM Mono. Optional English and Simplified Chinese subtitles are provided for the each track

I viewed the film with the Tibetan lossless track. It has strong depth and clarity, as well as a proper range of nuanced dynamics. I noticed one transition with sporadic flatness and overall shakiness, and I assume that it is probably on the elements that Diskino used. I don't know if I am correct, but if I am this is something that only a complete remixing job would eliminate. Nevertheless, it is a very minor cosmetic issue, and the rest of the lossless track is great. Also, there are a few grammatical errors, but they will not affect your viewing experience.

The Horse Thief Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• The Movie for the Next Century - in this new video program, critic and filmmaker Tony Rayns discusses the production history of The Horse Thief, the socio-cultural environment in which it was conceived and release, as well as some of its key themes. Also, there is interesting information about director Tian Zhuangzhuang's career and his creative style. The program was filmed exclusively for Diskino. In English, with optional Mandarin subtitles. (41 min, 1080p).

• The Movie for the Next Century - this archival introduction was shot for a screening of The Horse Thief on Channel 4 Television in the United Kingdom in 1988, where it was part of a Chinese film seaso curated by Tony Rayns, who also made the accompanying documentary New Chinese Cinema. The introduction features clips from a vintage interview with the director of The Horse Thief. In English and Mandarin, with optional English and Mandarin subtitles. (4 min, 1080i).

• Book - featuring a reprinted discussion of The Horse Thief between director Tian Zhuangzhuang, scenarist Zhang Rui, Xia Hong and Yang Ni (editors of the Chinese magazine Movie Art), Ma Ning (foreign department of the China Film Company), Kong Du (Beijing Film Academy), Chris Berry (former British specialist for the China Film Company), Qian Jing (literature department of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences), and Liu Shusheng (Chinese National Academy of Arts). In Mandarin.

• Booklet - a reprinted original production screenplay for The Horse Thief. In Mandarin.

The Horse Thief Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Director Tian Zhuangzhuang has said that there is a political subtext in The Horse Thief that cannot be ignored when his film is viewed, but I have to disagree with him. Even if the difficult history that Tibetan culture has had with China's rulers over the years is completely ignored, The Horse Thief remains an astonishing eye-opener. Indeed, it is so unique and illuminating that one cannot remain indifferent to it, and this is a very special accomplishment. This is the second Blu-ray release that I have seen from Diskino and it is again one that fans of classic Chinese cinema should not miss. I don't know the folks that run the label, but it is so easy for me to tell that they truly care about cinema and their work. Hopefully, they will continue to expand their catalog because I am unaware of anyone else doing what they currently do in China. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. (If The Horse Thief appeals to you, also consider Ermek Tursunov's Kelin while it is still available to purchase on Blu-ray).