The Peasants Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.5
Overall		4.0

The Peasants Blu-ray Movie Review

"Your mother wants to sell you. You'll be the first lady of the village!"

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown May 14, 2024

A quick glance at the cover might not make it readily apparent but The Peasants is a gorgeously animated drama from the makers of Loving Vincent, hand-crafted in sumptuous oils over five years by more than a hundred painters in Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania and Serbia. It's a stunning feat to behold. Any and every frame I paused to screenshot, no matter how seemingly insignificant, revealed itself to be a striking work of art. In motion, the effect is even more incredible, as lavish colors and sweeping brushstrokes spin and dance across the screen-turned-living-canvas. Admittedly, it's a slight shame that the script is rather paint-by-numbers over the course of the film's first and second acts; not that the opening hour is mismanaged or disengaging by any means... just rather ordinary for something brimming with such extraordinary visuals. But for those who don't mind a bit of lavish style over substance, particularly when that style is so unique and hypnotic, prepare to be transported inside of a breathing, bleeding, heart-aching painting with no boundaries or end.

"God did not create you to be poor."

Jagna (Kamila Urzędowska) is a young woman determined to forge her own path within the confines of late 19th century Poland. Her quaint, seemingly idyllic village, though, is anything but what it appears to be. A minefield of uneven power dynamics, dangerous gossip and inevitably disastrous feuds, her village somehow hangs together -- for better or worse, richer or poorer -- through pride, adherence to tradition, and the guiding force of deep-rooted, problematic patriarchy. But the beautiful Jagna soon finds herself caught between the conflicting desires of the village’s wealthiest farmer (Mirosław Baka), his already married eldest son (Robert Gulaczyk) with whom she's fallen in love, and other leading men of the community. Before she fully grasps what's happening, her resistance to long-established norms puts her on a tragic collision course with her entire community. Written and directed by husband and wife duo Hugh and DK Welchman and adapted from the Nobel Prize-winning novel (1904-1909) of the same name by Polish author Władysław Reymont, the film features the performances and voice talents of Sonia Mietielica, Ewa Kasprzyk, Cyprian Grabowski, Cezary Łukaszewicz, Małgorzata Kożuchowska, Sonia Bohosiewicz, Dorota Stalińska, Andrzej Konopka, Mateusz Rusin and Maciej Musiał.

"This epic novel is characterized by an art so grand, so sure, so powerful," said the Nobel Committee chairman of the early 20th century, "that we may predict a lasting value and rank for it, not only within Polish literature but also within the whole of that branch of imaginative writing which has here been given a distinctive and monumental shape."

Strong words. Without a personal familiarity with the source novel, though, it's difficult to tell if The Peasants could have been a richer, more fulfilling cinematic experience. The ever-flowing, painterly visuals never quite entirely reveal or justify their inclusion, or their necessity to the story at hand (other than the fact that the filmmakers and many of the Polish and international artists and animators on the project call regions like Jagna's stomping grounds home). It's certainly appreciated and absorbing, but nitpicky movie critics might be left to ask why half-a-decade of frame-by-frame paintings was crucial to telling Reymont's story. Eh. Never mind that. This is film, and The Peasants represents a slowly emerging animation style largely pioneered by the Welchmans. Who are we to question their choice in material or media? Jagna's story is simmering with modern sensibilities and difficult questions, without ever (thankfully) relying on 21st century conclusions to weave its tale and direct the fates and actions of its characters. Jagna can no more escape the chains of 19th century Poland than our ancestors could magically peer into the future and eliminate sexism and inequality in their own lives. She simply struggles, and yearns, and stumbles... and stumbles some more, finding herself in a situation she has no power or authority to control or change. This central trouble and toil is heartbreaking but honest, and the film eventually strides headlong into uglier and uglier territory; which proves jarring and exhilarating, especially when the visuals remain so undeniably lovely and absorbing.

To part from The Peasants as a final product, though, I can't help but imagine the possibilities Sony's Blu-ray release has forfeited. Imagine watching a workprint version of the film comprised entirely of the live-action footage of the actors on location and on set. (Perhaps picture-in-picture style directly alongside the animation.) Imagine comparing the humble beginnings of the traditionally photographed production with the end result. Now layer that with filmmaker commentary, behind-the-scenes B-roll footage, interviews with the cast, an overview of the novel, and more (a la the director-helmed interactive experiences of early BDs that studios abandoned years ago). Five years of painstaking work and artistry deserves as much, doesn't it? Instead we're left with the film and only the film, which by no means has been factored into my evaluation of the movie or my score, but the release still comes across as incomplete, or rather inadequate to revealing the depth and dimension of the living painting set before us. Ah well. I suppose the sheer power of the animation will have to be enough for now. I don't foresee an independent Polish animated film like The Peasants amassing a large enough fanbase to ever earn a more comprehensive SE or LE release but one can dream.

The Peasants Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Perfection. Sony's 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation could only feasibly impress more if it were released in 4K. The film's colors are dazzling and surprisingly lifelike (while still evoking the essence and qualities of turn-of-the-19th-and-20th-century paintings). Contrast is dialed in beautifully, with deep black levels that satisfy completely without ever interfering with delineation. Every inch of every frame is presented with exacting detail and fine textures. Brushstrokes are visible. Swirls of paint are convincing to the point of appearing tangible. A subtle canvas-like veneer is present in the image. And each exquisite touch of the artists' hands has been preserved. Moreover, the encode itself is proficient and more than sufficient, without anything in the way of macroblocking, banding or errant noise. This is The Peasants as it was meant to be seen; hanging on your wall like a framed piece of artwork, drawing you deeper and deeper into a living painting teeming with delights and devilry sure to leave a lasting impact on the viewer.

The Peasants Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

While there's a bit of an aural/visual disconnect between the film's wholly unique animation and its otherwise completely traditional sound design (which is most likely a subjective irritation rather than an actual issue anyway), Sony's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track sounds terrific. Dialogue is clear and intelligible at all times and (relatively) well-grounded in the soundscape. Prioritization is spot on, without any element competing for dominance, and dynamics are excellent. The LFE channel doesn't have a lot to work with early on, but as tension in the story intensifies and joy begins to give way to tragedy, the track's low-end support becomes far more powerful and punctuated. Rear speaker activity is engaging throughout, from quieter scenes where environmental ambience creates a gently immersive experience, to scenes involving everything from violence to fire to clamoring crowds, which are more suitably aggressive and alarming. Taken together, these elements infuse the animation with further realism and anchor its ambitious visuals to the rigors of Jagna's existence and tribulations.

The Peasants Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Sadly, the only special feature included is the film's theatrical trailer, which as mentioned above, comes as an especially pronounced disappointment with this particular release.

The Peasants Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Peasants isn't a film that demands attention, but it's painterly animation certainly does. Beautiful, sumptuous, dazzling... it's a sight that must be seen to be believed. The results may be a touch too heavy on style over substance, but who can muster much of a complaint when it all looks this good? Sony's Blu-ray release is something of a mixed bag as well, pairing a top tier video transfer and terrific DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track with a barebones disc that doesn't have a single behind-the-scenes extra. It's a shame. Still, those who give The Peasants a chance will likely find the unforgettable visuals of the film to be well worth the cost of admission.