The Persian and the Swede Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

The Persian and the Swede Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 8, 2017

Akramzadeh's "The Persian and the Swede" a.k.a. " Jeunesse perdue" (1961) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Forgotten Film Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include multiple audio commentaries; promotional materials; newly recorded video introduction with producer Christoph Draxtra; extended/alternate footage; English-language version of the film; and more. The release also arrives with a 35-page illustrated booklet with writings on the film and technical credits. In English or German, with optional English and German subtitles. Region-Free.

The playboy

Prior to receiving this recent release from FFF (Forgotten Film Entertainment) I had not seen The Persian and the Swede. In fact, I was not even aware of the film’s existence, and judging by the various descriptions of its unusual history that are included in the supplemental features neither were entire institutions in Europe that actually keep track of these types of smaller films. So I want to give credit where credit is due: Without the efforts of the folks behind FFF, The Persian and the Swede almost certainly would have remained a ‘lost’ film.

It would appear that there were at least two versions of this film, though the main German version that is included on this release is actually a reconstructed cut that uses footage from 2K scans of two German 35mm positive prints. The disc credits list 1966 as the official date for the German version, but the film was apparently completed in 1961. What seems to be the original 1961 version of the film -- it is a bit unclear if it was indeed the final version because while comparing the different versions it becomes quite clear that there must have been multiple edits that produced different versions for different screening purposes -- uses an original English audio track and is also included, but according to Christoph Draxtra, one of the producers that oversaw the restoration and reconstruction work, the original version emerged only after he and his colleagues had already finalized the main supplemental features on the release. This version includes additional footage that isn’t present in the German version, so there are some pretty obvious gaps in terms of content and editing.

The film was shot by a man credited only as Akramzadeh and with a very small budget. (This quickly becomes obvious as quite a few of the group segments are very fluid and the entire cast is made of non-professional actors). It is set in London where foreign student Moustafa (apparently the director himself) spends more time visiting Soho’s popular and underground clubs than reading the books that would help him pass his medical exams. In fact, he has been so active that a lot of people know him by name when he visits striptease clubs, ethnic dance clubs, and even some not so respectable hook-up joints.

During a night out in Soho Moustafa encounters Monika (Anna Longlands) and Bergitte (Brit Leonhard), two young girls who are also drifting through life while enjoying its many legal and illegal pleasures. For a while he attempts to entertain both, but when Monika discovers that she is pregnant the fun times abruptly end. Moustafa then returns home to see whether his relatives and friends think that the two have a future together, while Monika turns to an older acquaintance who can help her have an abortion. Eventually, Moustafa decides to act like an adult and do what a man in his shoes should have done in the first place -- he packs his bags and goes to Sweden to ask Monika’s parents for permission to marry her.

The German version leaves the impression that Akramzadeh had enough material for two different films. One part of it is perfect for the type of films that the BFI has been promotion via its Flipside Series -- it is ‘Swinging Sixties’ flavored melodrama with a touch of documentary realism that preserves rather well the pulse of a city that no longer exists. (If interested in exploring similarly themed films from the Flipside Series, consider Norman Warren's Her Private Hell, Lindsay Shonteff's Permissive, and even Arnold Miller's London in the Raw). The other part, and I am not fully convinced that all of the content here was shot by the director himself, is basically what can best be described as amateur footage from a couple of decent striptease clubs. It is probably why the cover of the recent Blu-ray release has Sleaze Selection proudly placed on it, but suffice to say there is nothing sleazy here to get excited about.

Ultimately, the film is most effective as a time capsule. It visits areas of Soho that probably very few people remember and then there is raw footage from the busy city that most tourists typically saw. It is not a diamond in the rough, but it sure is a bit of an eye-opener.

The Persian and the Swede Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Persian and the Swede arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Forgotten Film Entertainment.

There are two versions of the film on this release -- the first comes with two German tracks, while the second has an English track. The 'main' German version, which I viewed in its entirety, is essentially a reconstructed cut that uses footage from 2K scans of two German 35mm positive prints. There are some obvious source limitations and age-related imperfection on display -- such as minor density fluctuations, scratches, dirt specks, a few stains, and vertical lines -- but there are absolutely no traces of problematic digital corrections. In other words, because they had to operate with limited funds, the folks at FFF basically could not do the type of meticulous cleanup work that is done during big restoration projects. Other than that, however, the film has a pretty good organic qualities and looks exactly like an aged film should. In fact, there are large sections where detail, clarity, and depth are actually very strong, and fluidity is as good as one would expect it to be after a 2K scan. Overall, considering the type of reconstructive work that was done, with limited funds, for this type of 'lost' film I like the end result quite a lot. My score is 3.75/5.00.

The second version of the film with the English audio track actually has some different footage. It appears that it was transferred directly without additional work, which is why it basically retains the quality of the available source, but overall the quality of the presentation is a notch below that of the German version.

(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 Persian and the Swede Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are three standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: two German DTS-HD Master Audio tracks and English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0. Optional English and German subtitles are provided for the German version, and optional German subtitles are provided for the English version.

I viewed the German version with the second track which apparently originates from an interpositive. It seems a bit cleaner (with less background hiss) and possibly slightly better balanced. It is difficult to tell, really, because there are plenty of organic sound and noises, but overall clarity and depth are actually really, really good.

The Persian and the Swede Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Introduction by Producer Christoph Draxtra - a brand new video introduction by disc producer Christoph Draxtra, who oversaw the restoration and reconstruction work of The Persian and the Swede. The introduction contains some excellent information about the unusual history of the film. In German, with optional English subtitles. (11 min).

• Trailer One - original German trailer for the film. In German, with optional English subtitles. (3 min).

• Trailer Two - second original German trailer for the film. Different edit. In German, with optional English subtitles. (3 min).

• Alternative German Opening Credits - without sound. (2 min). .

• Promotional - original German promotional materials for the film from Mercator-Filmverleih. (2 min).

• Lobby Cards - original German promotional lobby cards (with stills from the striptease shows). (3 min).

• Headlines - archival texts, in German. (4 min).

• Striptease Footage - rough version of the striptease footage seen in the film. Without sound (13 min).

• Striptease Footage - rough version striptease footage vs. final film version of the same material. Presented in split screen, with direct comparisons highlighting the differences. Without sound (13 min).

• Audio Commentary One/German Version of the Film - this audio commentary features film historians Christoph Draxtra, Sano Cestnik, Marian Meidel, Silvia Szymanski, and Sven Safarow. In German only, without optional subtitles.

• Audio Commentary Two/German Version of the Film - this audio commentary features film historians Udo Rotenberg, Bennet Togler, and Jochen Werner. In German only, without optional subtitles.

• Audio Commentary Three/Original Version of the Film - this audio commentary features film historians Nikolas Schuppe and Konstantin Hockwin. In German only, without optional subtitles.

• Crowdfunding Video - presented here is the video piece that Christoph Draxtra and his colleagues used during the crowdfunding campaign that ultimately made the Blu-ray release possible. In German, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Crowdfunding Video - a second quite hilarious "anti-promo" video piece. In German only, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Restoration Credits -

• ROM Content - additional materials that atr accessible via PCs that can play ROM content.

• Promo Materials - additional press materials for the film. (2 min).

• Additional Striptease Footage - additional/alternative striptease footage. (3 min).

• Additional Twist Footage - additional/alternative dance footage from one of the club sequences. .Music. (8 min).

• Metamorfoza (1966) - this animated short film from Vladimir Jutrisa and Aleksandar Marks is included "original bonus attraction". Music only. (9 min).

• Booklet - 35-page illustrated booklet with writings on the film, in German, and technical credits.

The Persian and the Swede Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I have to give Christoph Draxtra, Konstantin Hockwin from Forgotten Film Entertainment, and all of their colleagues that produced this Blu-ray release of The Persian and the Swede a lot of credit. It proves that when real film enthusiasts decide to work together nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, is impossible. Frankly, I am tempted to compare the release with the one that Flicker Alley produced a few years ago for Georges Melies' legendary film A Trip to the Moon, because even though Lobster Films clearly had a much bigger budget to work with, I feel that the passion behind these projects was very similar. The Persian and the Swede is a curious time capsule that should appeal to viewers that enjoyed the films that the British Film Institute has promoted via its Flipside Series. The release also offers plenty of supplemental features, quite a few of which are subtitled in English. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.