Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

The Other Side of the Underneath Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 30, 2009

Violent and powerful, Jane Arden’s “The Other Side of the Underneath” (1972) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of the British Film Institute (BFI). The disc contains a newly restored version and a workprint of the film. Filmmaker Jack Bond has approved the new master. Amongst the special features on the disc are extended sequences and interviews with Sheila Allen and Natasha Morgan. A fully illustrated 38-page booklet with essays by Susan Croft, Sophie Mayer, Amy Simmons and Penny Slinger is included with the disc. Region-Free.

Nightmares

Jane Arden’s The Other Side of the Underneath is a seriously disturbing film. It is also an uncharacteristically bold one. I think that in a lot of ways it is quite similar to Bernardo Bertollucci’s Partner (1968), a film about a young revolutionary, played by Pierre Clementi, whose life changes dramatically when a double appears and foils his plan to commit suicide. In The Other Side of the Underneath, a schizophrenic woman (Sheila Allen, The Legend of Spider Forest) is pulled out of a lake and placed in an asylum.

The film is based on director Arden’s "A New Communion for Freaks, Prophets and Witches", a play she staged with the Holocaust women’s theater troupe. It is comprised of a number of different episodes, each exploring a specific theme – female exploitation, voyeurism, sexual deprivation, etc. The Other Side of the Underneath is also a reflection of its creator’s brush with madness.

The key concept behind The Other Side of the Underneath is intriguing. The film argues that madness is part of a cycle that leads to sanity. It also stresses that this complex process is often misunderstood by those who have never experienced madness. Cultural and societal taboos are cited amongst the main reasons for its existence.

The other Side of the Underneath is also a radical feminist film, one that does not shy away from promoting chaos as a form of liberation. Purely political statements, however, are not part of the film’s narrative.

Viewers unfamiliar with director Arden’s legacy will undoubtedly be shocked with The Other Side of the Underneath. This is an extreme piece of cinema, which I suspect even the most liberal of viewers may find impossible to tolerate. There is a sense of anger in it that borders nihilism in its most pure form.

Shot on locations in Wales, The Other Side of the Underneath does not impress with smooth and elegant visuals. On the contrary, cinematographers Jack Bond and Aubrey Dewar’s lensing is notably raw. Even the large panoramic vistas from the second half of the film look rough.

I believe it is fair to say that David Mingay’s editing compliments the film’s lack of traditional rhythmic form. Sally Minford’s music is also fitting, though at times it comes dangerously close to being unnerving (the protracted cello solos in particular).

Finally, upon learning about the film’s controversial history - many of the actors apparently took large amounts of drugs during the shooting of the film; as revealed by Natasha Morgan in an interview offered in the supplemental features section of this disc, a couple even died – some prospective viewers might rush to dismiss it without even seeing it. I think that this would be very unfortunate. While certainly controversial and difficult to endure, The Other Side of the Underneath is, without a shadow of a doubt, a very impressive achievement.

The Other Side of the Underneath Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Jane Arden's The Other Side of the Underneath arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of the British Film Institute.

The Other Side of the Underneath has been transferred and conformed in High-Definition using the original 16mm AB cut negative and CRI negative elements. Filmmaker Jack Bond has approved this new master.

Generally speaking, the results are rather pleasing. This new transfer reveals plenty of healthy grain, adequate contrast and an acceptable color-scheme. This being said, I noted a few stability issues that are most likely inherited from the original master. Additionally, I also spotted a many tiny flecks and scratches. Again, I assume that these could not be removed during the restoration treatment The Other Side of the Underneath received. Still, for a film shot on 16mm, the Blu-ray transfer reveals plenty of depth and detail. All in all, this is a very pleasing presentation of a forgotten British film, which I am convinced many would find fascinating. (Note: This is a Region-Free disc. However, apparently there is a PAL logo of some sort that appears before the main menu, which may cause problems for some Region-A PS3s with installed firmware upgrades 2.70 and 2.80. This logo isn't "forced", however, and other Region-A players will be able to easily skip it).

The Other Side of the Underneath Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM Mono (48k/24-bit). For the record, the distributors have provided optional English HOH subtitles for the main feature.

The audio has been transferred from the original 16mm sound negative. A number of pops, cracks, and hissings have been removed. As a result, the English LPCM Mono track is pleasingly stable and clear. As expected, the dynamic levels are not impressive. Furthermore, there are a few balance fluctuations that I detected but, again, I must assume that these were inherited from the original sound negative. Serious audio distortions are not present. The optional English HOH subtitles are legible.

The Other Side of the Underneath Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Workprint version of feature - it is quite interesting to see the entire film in its raw version. There are some major warps and damage marks that I spotted, but, overall, one could certainly gain a slightly different perspective on what the creators of the film were trying to accomplish. (130 min, 1080p).

Extended sequences - "Graveyard projections", "Group Session", "Underneath Me Nightie", "The Thing About Mothers and Fathers" / "Freak Out". (1080p).

Interview with Sheila Allen - the actress talks about how she got involved with The Other Side of the Underneath, her experience with director Arden, etc. (29 min, 1080p).

Interview with Natasha Morgan - a fascinating interview focusing on the actors and the controversial history of the film (apparently some of the actors went mad while others died at the time when the film was shot). (8 min, 1080p).

Anti-Clock trailer (10 min, 1080p).

Booklet - a 38-page booklet containing essays on "The Other Side of the Underneath" by Amy Simmons, Penny Slinger, David Will, and Sophie Mayer; "Introduction to Vagina Rex and the Gas Oven" by Jane Arden; "Extract from Vagina Rex and the Gas Oven"; "Holocaust" by Jane Arden; "Chasing Jane" by Susan Croft, "Jane Arden" and "Jack Bond" by Michael Brook.

The Other Side of the Underneath Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Other Side of the Underneath is a film Dusan Makavejev would have loved to direct. It is controversial, provocative and very, very disturbing. Bravo BFI for giving us the opportunity to see these forgotten films! Highly Recommended.