7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Drama | 100% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.67:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
French: LPCM Mono
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The Brand New Testament was my personal introduction to the films of Jaco Van Dormael, and one of the first things that caught my attention was Van Dormael’s kind of weird tonal balancing act that was often both disturbing and funny at the same time. The Brand New Testament probably offers a more deliberately scabrous sense of humor than Van Dormael’s first feature, Toto the Hero, does, though the earlier film has its own kind of weird tonal balancing act as it details the memories and/or fantasies of an elderly man named Thomas Van Hasebroeck (Michel Bouquet). Thomas is a resident of an old folks’ home, and he is evidently a disgruntled, angry man, due not just to his current circumstances, but also due to a life he thinks was “stolen” from him. That underlying resentment stems from the fact that Thomas is absolutely convinced (though the film offers no "objective" proof) that he and another baby born on the same day were switched and taken by the wrong parents when the hospital the babies were born in caught fire and an understandable panic resulted. The film initially features flashbacks offering Thomas as a young boy (played by a winning Thomas Godet), who would seem not to have much to complain about even if he's with the "wrong" family. His parents adore him, and he has a rather "close" relationship with his sister Alice (Sandrine Blancke), in one of the few elements in this film which may raise a few hackles. Thomas and Alice also have a sweet little brother named Celestin (Karim Moussati), who has Down Syndrome, with Thomas, who is slight and not exactly aggressive, appointed as Celestin's "protector" out in the world. Celestin, and in fact Thomas himself, at least intermittently do need protection from the bully that Thomas is convinced "stole" his rightful life, an inordinately wealthy neighbor kid named Alfred (Hugo Harold Harrison).
Toto the Hero is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Academy with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.67:1. Arrow's insert booklet only contains the following fairly generic verbiage about the transfer:
Toto the Hero is presented in its original 1.66:1 aspect ratio [sic] with mono audio. The High Definition master was provided by MK2.This is a rather striking looking presentation a lot of the time, though the palette doesn't quite pop with the candy colored immediacy I hoped for. It comes very close in some of the sun dappled trips down memory lane into Thomas' childhood, where bright blue skies and vivid orange tulips are offered with good saturation, but some of the other material can look just slightly tamped down. Some of the dark interior scenes, notably some of the moments with the elderly Thomas in bed, have a bluish grading that can make the grain field look a bit on the chunky side. There are several intentionally artificial looking moments (see screenshot 7) where things are kind of soft and ill defined. Fine detail is often quite striking on elements like intricately patterned fabrics.
Toto the Hero features a spry sounding LPCM Mono track in the original French. Thomas' voiceover resonates clearly throughout, and the film's dialogue is always presented cleanly and clearly. Some of the intentionally whimsical musical elements reverberate with fun energy and nice fidelity. Optional English subtitles are provided.
Toto the Hero is a rather odd film, but it's also captivating in a very unusual manner. I can't think of another film I've seen recently that wallows so unabashedly in regret and even envy and still manages to be weirdly sweet and charming as this film does. Bouquet is wonderful as the elderly Thomas, but the film also has a wealth of fine performances throughout, including by the kids, and Van Jormael has a really distinctive visual style that suits the story's more whimsical elements to a tee. Technical merits are solid, and the supplemental package very enjoyable. Recommended.
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