The Milky Way Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Milky Way Blu-ray Movie Review

A hypnotic and surreal journey only a director like Bunuel could bring viewers on

The Milky Way is the first feature-film set in the “search for truth” trilogy developed by director Luis Bunuel (and which the filmmaker followed up with The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie and the concluding feature The Phantom of Liberty). The film walks a fine line between feeling like it's an outright satire about religion and being a more introspective and respectful meditation on life. The fascinating title alludes to the Way of St. James road (which has been a pathway for the travels of Christians). Produced by Serge Silberman (Ran, Le Trou), The Milky Way is a fascinating work in Bunuel's filmography.

Utilizing a non-traditional narrative for this feature, The Milky Way follows two befuddled travelers, Pierre (Paul Frankeur) and Jean (Laurent Terzieff) as they journey along a barren road and start to experience a odyssey intermingled with religious encounters. The quest is a pilgrimage of sorts for these characters and their experiences alongside the country takes them into unexpected terrains of mankind. The characters journey intersects with Jesus (Bernard Verley) and his followers as well as The Virgin Mary (Edith Scob).

The pair are quite humorously content and nonplussed by the strange events which follow them on their peculiar path. Unlike many of the other films made by Bunuel (such as the outright erotic Belle de Jour or the controversial Viridiana), The Milky Way might seem as though it is at odds with the filmmakers other efforts (though it reminds me somewhat of the more reserved Tristana). The film isn't insulting in its religious depictions (though it is clear the story is absolutely satirical) and the foundation feels more contemplative than one might be expecting from this director.

"Here Come the Men in Black" - Will Smith

With an original screenplay by Luis Bunuel and Jean-Claude Carriere (The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Happy Anniversary), the film is observational and introspective about humanity and the way in which people relate to and experience religion in society. With a story which is never streamlined as a traditional narrative, the events slowly unfold with one circumstance occurring after another as the travelers encounter a wide range of people involved with religion.

Luis Bunuel (Belle de Jour, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie) is a sort of jack-of-all-trades with this production. Here he acts as co-screenwriter, director, and composer. The film has his stamp all over it and there is no mistaking that this is the work of a true auteur filmmaker. The film is quiet and contemplative in a way that is far more common in the director's later year productions and the foundation of the storytelling is undeniably rewarding.

There's something hypnotic about how Bunuel sets the stage. Accompanying his methodical directing is the cinematography by Christian Matras (La Grande Illusion, This Special Friendship). The imagery evokes a strong reaction. Indeed, by the film's concluding moments I was struck by how contemplative it was with its open-to-interpretation finale. It's almost as though Bunuel utilizes a blank canvas from which to paint his gem from the ground up. The viewer is then left to gaze into the art and consider its meaning. The Milky Way is a must-see experience.

The Milky Way Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from distributor Kino Lorber, The Milky Way is presented in the original 1.66:1 widescreen theatrical aspect ratio. The 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation manages to bring a beautiful transfer to the table with a great encode of the feature. Christian Matraso's evocative cinematography has been well preserved.

There is something miraculous about this presentation: it's a crisp and clean image which presents the scan of the film beautifully from beginning to end. Colors (while never overwhelmingly robust) seem organic and the detail in the image is superb. The encode is free from dirt, debris, and distracting print damage. This is an absolutely terrific scan of the feature which doesn't disappoint. The encoding quality is equally excellent and there are no distracting encoding errors on the presentation.

The Milky Way Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Milky Way is presented with a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio presentation. The Dual Mono audio presentation which is included on this release sounds terrific and capably reproduces the sound design. There is an exceptional level of detail and clarity present on the audio track. Dialogue reproduction is excellent and voices sound clean and clear throughout the entire presentation of the film. The music score also sounds beautiful with the compositions coming through with impressive audio fidelity. A terrific presentation which is free from distracting cracks or hiss on the audio track. Quite simply, The Milky Way sounds terrific. Presented on this release with the original language track (in French) and accompanied with English subtitles.

The Milky Way Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release included a printed booklet tucked inside the case which features an essay by film critic Adam Nayman.

On disc supplemental features include the following:

Audio Commentary by film critic Nick Pinkerton

Interview with writer Jean-Claude Carriere (HD, 17 min. 38 sec.) is an in-depth discussion featuring the screenwriter of the film as he discusses his personal involvement in working on The Milky Way from the origins of the project to its development with director Luis Bunuel at the helm. Carriere gives viewers some amazing insights into the story and anyone with an interest in screenwriting should give it a watch given the writer's fascinating exploration of the material.

Critical analysis by Professor Peter Evans (HD, 32 min. 09 sec.) is a fascinating discussion in which the film is discussed from a critical-thinking perspective: the professor delves further into the project and the important themes of the filmmaking. For those viewers with an interest in the dissection and analysis of Bunuel's filmmaking this should be considered a must-see featurette as it provides viewers with additional insights into the story and its central concepts. It's with analysis like this that cinema is more fully appreciated.

The Milky Way Trailer (SD, 3 min. 8 sec.)

Trailer for Death in the Garden (HD, 1 min. 27 sec.) is provided (courtesy of Eureka Entertainment).

The Milky Way Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Milky Way is a fascinating experience and one which will leave viewers pondering the story and its complex implications. Director Luis Bunuel has crafted a real gem with The Milky Way and it's a film that leaves one feeling enriched and enchanted. There is real magic in the filmmaking.

The Blu-ray release from Kino Lorber is exceptional and has a terrific presentation (with a beautiful transfer) and some great supplemental features which add to the experience. For fans of foreign language films and classic cinema, The Milky Way is worth checking out.