Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Waiting for the Barbarians Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 29, 2020

“Waiting for the Barbarians” is an adaptation of a 1980 novel by J.M. Coetzee, which has already inspired a stage play and an opera by Philip Glass. Coetzee handles screenplay duties for the material’s cinematic debut, largely protecting a core story of colonialism that made the book highly regarded in literary circles, carefully bringing a tale of governmental madness and corruption to audiences inundated with the stuff on a daily (hourly?) basis. Pacing is very deliberate here, but Coetzee doesn’t lose control of the tale, doing a commendable job building a sense of horror with the period picture, offering a spare but compelling study of demoralization. “Waiting for the Barbarians” is chilling at times and never strays far from its thematic points, while the cast assembled to portray all manner of evil, shame, and fear contribute excellent performances, always keeping the feature fascinating.

The Magistrate (Mark Rylance) is in command of an outpost at the edge of The Empire, keeping track of his community while enjoying the mysteries of the region, including history buried in the sand. Arriving for a special inspection is Colonel Joll (Johnny Depp), a seasoned man of the military who warns The Magistrate about the Barbarians and their growing organization. Beating two indigenous men into a confession, Colonel Joll is empowered to keep up with his mission, while The Magistrate is appalled by such behavior, baffled why anyone would want to threaten the relative peace in the land. As the seasons change, The Magistrate discovers The Girl (Gana Bayarsaikhan), a nomad who’s been nearly destroyed by Joll’s rule. Offering The Girl time to heal and grow in the outpost, The Magistrate confronts his confusion concerning service and humanity, soon making a choice to return The Girl to her people – a decision that threatens his career and sanity.

While the details aren’t explicitly presented in “Waiting for the Barbarians,” the story takes place somewhere in Mongolia, with The Magistrate setting up an outpost near a border his superiors are newly interested in. The arrival of Colonel Joll commences the story, with the seemingly harmonious existence nurtured by The Magistrate splintered by the military monster’s arrival. Depp doesn’t go weird with the role, trying to remain as still as possible as the interrogator, using ornate sunglasses (a newfangled invention, bewildering The Magistrate) to offer distinct imagery while playing up the character’s icy acts of intimidation. He’s a sinister man sworn to duty, which involves the creation of paranoia concerning the Barbarians, enjoying the torture of two prisoners accused of stealing sheep. When one is murdered during the confession process, The Magistrate is suddenly aware of Colonel Joll’s plans and that of his home country, which is working to generate an enemy to keep The Empire thriving.

Depp is terrific in a supporting part, and his moments bring a vivid sense of threat to “Waiting for the Barbarians.” However, this is Rylance’s movie, and the actor commits to the role, communicating The Magistrate’s weakening belief in The Empire, emerging from his own sense of comfort, which includes sampling prostitutes and collecting history buried deep in the sand, amassing trunks of indigenous artifacts. The story is broken down into seasonal chapters, with winter bringing The Girl into view. Discovered shivering in a corner, The Girl opens The Magistrate’s eyes in full to military violence, discovering her horrific treatment while in custody, which has left her blind and turned her body into a topographic map of pain. “Waiting for the Barbarians” details their relationship, which involves the near-ceremonial act of washing her feet, watching The Magistrate use the moment as an offering of penance and, well, some degree of sexual excitement, adding to the idiosyncrasy of an otherwise stern feature.

Waiting for the Barbarians Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation secures frame detail, delivering a clear viewing experience that brings out fine textures on decorative additions for the period picture. Rooms are available for inspection, along with the open world, offering deep distances. Set textures and facial particulars are defined, exploring battered bodies. Colors are exact, handling a darker palette with military uniforms and fort interiors. Blue skies and golden sun and sand are distinct. Skintones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Mild banding is detected, and major compression issues emerge during a mid-movie sandstorm sequence.

Waiting for the Barbarians Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix presents clear dialogue exchanges, with sharp accents and crisp acts of refined intimidation. Surrounds deliver subtle atmospherics with open world scenes, increasing with environmental challenges and community movement. Scoring cues retain exact instrumentation. Low-end isn't challenged, but a few elements, including the sounds of carriage travel and storms, handle with some weight.

Waiting for the Barbarians Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Behind the Scenes (12:05, HD) is possibly a featurette created for cable, collecting interviews with director Ciro Guerra and actors Mark Rylance, Johnny Depp, Gana Bayarsaikhan, and Robert Pattinson. Topics include the relevance of the material, with "Waiting for the Barbarians" including themes and ideas on cruel military order that resemble the world today. Character motivations are explored, along with the physical and emotional challenges of the parts. Brief but compelling BTS footage is included as well.

• Deleted Scenes (9:57, HD) include extended character moments, intimacies, and a slightly extended climatic encounter between Colonel Joll and The Magistrate.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included on this release.

Waiting for the Barbarians Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Magistrate decides to leave the outpost for an extended amount of time, venturing into the unknown to bring The Girl back to whatever remains of her people. The trip adds some adventure to the feature and reinforces its ideas on colonialism, where leaders are careful to use fear as a form of control. The third act brings The Magistrate full circle in his disillusionment (Robert Pattinson appears as another officer committed to violence), and Coetzee has a chance to play with expectations, inspiring a conclusion that's informed by world history. "Waiting for the Barbarians" isn't aggressively paced or performed, but it connects as a meditation on leadership and military order, supported by sharp performances and rich sense of futility.