Rating summary
| Movie |  | 4.0 |
| Video | | 4.0 |
| Audio | | 4.0 |
| Extras |  | 3.0 |
| Overall | | 4.0 |
Whirlpool of Fate Blu-ray Movie Review
The debut of Jean Renoir (La Grande Illusion).
Reviewed by Neil Lumbard August 28, 2021
Whirlpool of Fate is a classic drama with suspense and action-packed excitement. The directorial debut of acclaimed
filmmaker Jean Renoir (La Grande Illusion), cinema enthusiasts looking to discover a early gem of a beloved director will
cherish the early experimental filmmaking of Renoir. Starring Catherine Hessling and Georges Terof.
Virginia Rosaert (Catherine Hessling) is a poor orphan girl living in a wasteland: surrounded by an unwelcoming and cold environment. After the
unexpected passing of her beloved father, Virginia ends up staying with her Uncle. An abusive and violent man, Virginia's Uncle repeatedly beats her
while
guzzling away all of the inheritance money on alcohol.
When Virginia escapes from the grasp of her violent Uncle, she finds herself falling down a well and starting to have hallucinatory dreams. Yet she
soon meets the kind and mysterious Monsieur Raynal (Georges Terof). An unexpected romance begins. Can love be Virginia's savior?
The film is highlighted by excellent performances. Catherine Hessling is impressive in the leading role and provides the filmmaking with an aura of
authenticity. Whirlpool of Fate is blessed with her quality acting chops. Hessling portrays a strong-willed woman who has gone through
more than her fair-share of unfortunate circumstances. The role was a perfect fit for the actress and she imbues the part with depth. Georges Terof
provides a strong supporting part as the romantic interest opposite Hessling. Terof is a quality performer and the role showcases his talent as well.
A stunning new 4K restoration.
The production is enhanced by the cinematography of Jean Bachelet (The Rules of the Game, Fanfare of Love) and Alphonse
Gibory (La ronde de nuit, Roger la Honte). The black-and-white cinematography provides the film with a creative
backdrop that is uniquely compelling. The film manages to be a visually stunning production and there are a number of great shots that enhance
Renoir's storytelling.
The score composed by Antonio Coppola (Kejser Nikolaus ankomst til Helsingor 1901) is an enjoyable
undercurrent to the filmmaking. The score provides the film with a nice backdrop that is good at enhancing the tone of each scene. Coppola provides
stylistic flourishes that work wonders.
The screenplay by Pierre Lestringuez (Monsignor, Pamela) is uniquely compelling. The
romantic storyline is one of the strengths of the script. As the storyline unfolds, the drama becomes more compelling and rewarding. Lestringuez
imbues the script with personality and wit.
Jean Renoir (The Rules of the Game, La Grande Illusion) directs and showcases his raw talents as a filmmaker from the get-go.
The debut of Renoir, Whirlpool of Fate is entertaining and well-made. There is a lot of creativity in the visual framing: the directing
unfolding as if a writer with pen.
Whirlpool of Fate Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, Whirlpool of Fate is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical
aspect ratio of 1.33:1 full frame. The release comes from a new 4K restoration. The scan is in excellent condition overall. Black levels are decent
throughout the film presentation. There is a good degree of detail and clarity throughout the transfer. Though the scan is prone to showcasing some thin
scratches and minor damage to the source, there are no significant problems with the presentation. Some shots are a bit soft but the 4K scanning is
still impressive. Considering the age of the source elements, the restoration is in good shape overall.
Whirlpool of Fate Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The Blu-ray release is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo. The lossless audio presentation capably presents the music score composed
by Antonio Coppola. As a silent-era feature-film, Whirlpool of Fate sounds crisp, clear, and engaging. The score has good detail throughout the
sound presentation. There are no scenes with dialogue or other sound effects – but the score helps carry the filmmaking.
Presented with French inter-titles. Optional English subtitles are provided.
Whirlpool of Fate Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
Audio Commentary by Film Critic Nick Pinkerton
The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: Ponette (SD,
2:30), Tous les matins du monde (SD, 2:01), and Under the Sand (SD, 1:57).
Whirlpool of Fate Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
Whirlpool of Fate is an entertaining silent-era production. Fans of Jean Renoir (La Grande Illusion) will be impressed with the
feature-film debut of the beloved filmmaker. Renoir showcases his early talents for storytelling and a firm understanding of the language of cinema. The
Blu-ray release by Kino Lorber includes a new 4K restoration. The presentation is excellent and fans of the film will certainly want to pick up the release.
Recommended.
