The Son of Joseph Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.5

The Son of Joseph Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 21, 2017

The director of “La Sapienza,” Eugene Green creates highly specific films for certain, more adventurous audiences. He’s cheeky but dry, taking on the enormity of emotion through stillness, keeping his framing tight and symmetrical, while performances are deceptively robotic, retaining distance as a way to articulate urgency. Green is an eccentric, but he’s capable of constructing motivations and escalations, with his latest, “The Son of Joseph,” pulling inspiration from art and biblical studies to inspire a tale of paternity.

Victor Ezenfis stars as Vincent, a frustrated teen with a Caravaggio fetish who’s finally ready to find his father, with his mother, Marie (Natacha Regnier), unwilling to share who the man is. Vincent sets off on a mission of identity, with Green breaking up the odyssey into biblically-named chapters as the young man gets in touch with Oscar (Mathieu Amalric) and Joseph (Fabrizio Rongione), two adults who alter the boy’s perception of parenthood.

The Son of Joseph Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation delivers a sharp, clean viewing experience that supports the filmmaking precision Green employs. Since "The Son of Joseph" is primarily made up of close-ups, detail is especially welcoming, identifying facial particulars and costuming textures. Urban encounters also retain depth and clarity. Colors are precise, bringing out bold primaries and natural skintones. Greenery is lush and inviting. Delineation is accurate. Source is clean.

The Son of Joseph Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix remains exact to support the visual presentation, leading with dialogue exchanges that are clear and true, capturing emotional subtleties and performance nuance. Music is sharp, with terrific instrumentation, and a performance inside a church replicates room acoustics precisely. Atmospherics are lively, with outdoor excursions using surrounds to detail wildlife and waves.

The Son of Joseph Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "La Maniere" (38:35, HD) is an interview with Eugene Green, conducted by Natacha Regnier, who pretty much portrays a journalist in what amounts to be a short film. Shot like Green's features, the conversation covers the helmer's career and moviemaking philosophies, with emphasis on "The Son of Joseph." Most valuable is BTS footage, watching Green and Regnier in action as scenes are constructed, helping to understand the helmer's on-set attitude and the technical details of the production process.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:53, HD) is included.

The Son of Joseph Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Green keeps "The Son of Joseph" playful but reserved, teasing broader comedic entanglements that almost break out. Power is found in the performances, with the actors doing an amazing job remaining inside Green's boundaries, playing deadpan but with spirit, keeping emotions stoked without slipping into sentimentality. "The Son of Joseph" is superbly shot (by Raphael O'Byrne) and managed, but it requires submission to Green's particular sense of timing and intimacy, with his formalist approach an acquired taste, but well worth a sampling for the curious.