kal
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Location: Ottawa, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2013 7:37 pm Post subject: Marketa Lazarová [Blu-ray] |
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Another reference disc!
Marketa Lazarova (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1967)
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| Quote: | Initially, it's easy to understand why 'Marketa Lazarová' has been described as a difficult film, but when taken into consideration with the other, far more prestigious mark as the greatest Czech film ever made, the latter certainly wins out. Admittedly, the early segments of the film can be complex, as the unorthodox narrative and filmmaking techniques are not what many viewers will likely be familiar with, but as the story progresses it will no doubt captivate those who've committed themselves to the picture. This is another stellar release from Criterion with an outstanding image and wonderful sound, that's all backed up by some fascinating special features, which lend greater understanding and appreciation of a truly remarkable piece of work. Highly recommended.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
In addition to the prestige 'Marketa Lazarová' brings with it from its native country, a significant amount of the appeal of this Criterion Blu-ray comes from the extensive work that was done to restore the film. And the end result of that labor is one of the most astonishing restorations in recent memory. The 4K digital film transfer not only cleans up decades worth of damage and lingering residue, but it also creates a much sharper image that is so richly detailed and clear it contradicts the age of the movie.
This is a black and white movie that has many lengthy portions taking place in open fields covered in snow, set against an overcast sky, and yet, with this transfer, there is still an incredible amount of depth in the foreground and background, despite so many natural elements seemingly in collusion to produce as flat an image as possible. The contrast is very high throughout, which is one of the reasons the picture has so much depth. Characters are very distinct against any background, and there is an excellent amount of gradation between the whitest whites and the blackest blacks. The gradation is so superb, in fact, that even in very dark scenes, there is plenty of detail present in the actor's faces, their elaborate costumes and even certain textural elements in the background.
As mentioned above, the image is also richly detailed. There is an abundance of fine detail on display that doesn't just look astonishing in terms of film quality, but it also makes the haggard look of so many of these actors feel even more authentic and believable, and enhances the quasi-documentary aspect of the film. Textures in buildings and clothing are also incredible to look at and there is an astonishing amount of detail to take in from one scene to the next (a highlight and superb example of the level of detail in the film is how easily it would be to count the individual links in the chainmail worn by several of the characters).
While the image undoubtedly looks better than it has in ages, there are a few instances of slight screen flicker and some smudges that still remain – either because the restoration process was unable to remove them, or because it would have altered the finished product too much from its source. Either way, this is a remarkable restoration that gives a very visually interesting movie the presentation it's always deserved.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
'Marketa Lazarová' relies as heavily on its bombastic, sometimes overwhelming score, sound effects and interesting use of recorded dialogue, as it does on the visual component of its storytelling, and I'm pleased to say that this Blu-ray boasts an uncompressed monaural soundtrack that brings with it far more depth and range than would be expected from a track of this kind and as old.
Early on, the mix does a fantastic job of bringing the viewer into the film via a mostly flat narration, which then opens up into a surprisingly wide spectrum of elements that come together to enhance the film's non-visual atmosphere. Dialogue – which is very sparse early on, but becomes much more prevalent later on in the film – is very easy to hear, and every actor's voice is distinct and different from those around him or her, which helps non-Czech speakers to better distinguish who is speaking at a particular moment, as dialogue is often times wrapped over multiple cuts and transitions, allowing the film to progress without becoming a series of two-shot conversations.
Most impressive, however, is the overall balance that's on display in this mix. There are often times several elements rushing for the same outlet, and yet they never feel as though they are competing against one another. In fact, the atmospheric effects, dialogue and score all work in perfect harmony to compliment one another and blend to make a single, distinct listening experience that is remarkably free from scratches, hissing or pitch in the actors voices or other key sound elements. |
Kal
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