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Ken Russell's most fully realized, gloriously and thematically integrated film (although some make a good case for The Devils, see the Joseph Gomez book) is FINALLY in letterboxed widescreen DVD! No more pan-and-scan!
Those not fortunate, as I was, to see it in a theater (it was once popular on the art-house/revival circuit) can now see that when Nina has her panic attack, her mother is also in the room, saying nothing, looking at her from behind with knowing disdain; that Madame Von Meck has both twin sons on the couch when we first meet them, and on either side of her in the carriage when it passes Tchaikovsky in the forest, each son turning to look down at her swoon with pity and alarm (a good laugh in the theater), the parallel of Tchaikovsky and Chiluvsky on either side of Nina at the outdoor Swan Lake ballet, the full scale of the thrilling winter festival opening sequence, and the satisfaction of seeing the full lush design. Watch how a former TV director stretches a low budget to appear lavish!
Not being an audiophile/videophile, I can't speak with technical precision to the look and sound, but while no extra effort seems to have gone into remastering or cleanup, a quality print was used, and the sound is markedly superior to the VHS tracks. I'd quibble with the mix for the 1812 Overture sequence, the orchestra too quiet under the cannons. Included is the interesting theatrical trailer, but no other extras, and no chapter divisions -- you can only navigate forward and back at 10-minute intervals. But so what? You need to watch it all from start to finish, the way David Lynch likes his DVDs to be watched, eliminating divisions entirely.
To be fair, one Russian's take: a dear friend of mine from Kazan, taking up my probably tactless invitation to watch, questioned the whole point of the film. Putting aside her annoyance at the knock at her country's greatest composer (an old friend is from Tchaikovsky's home village), she asked what we gain from this portrait? That when he composed his piano concerto, he was thinking of his sister? Etc. I gave her Russell's own answer, and the reason the film isn't titled "Tchaikovsky": it's really about dreamers, and their need to live in dreams to the avoidance of engaging with their lives, or drive themselves to bring gauzy dreams to life, and spoil or ruin the lives around them. Russell's immediate inspiration was the false reality in TV commercials, and the piano concerto/sister fantasy a deliberate mockery.
And it's STILL seductive, of course! Which lends the film its immense visual and emotional impact.
The hazy, dewy memory of Tchaikovsky as a little boy playing piano while his beautiful, beloved mother sings, kisses and praises him with shining eyes and the prettiest, most loving smile I've ever seen on film, is followed by his panic and horror at being carried out of the room when she dies from cholera, blighting his entire emotional life, it would seem.
(This answer didn't persuade my friend. I gather that Russians are more realistic generally than Westerners, and less apt to lose themselves in romantic fantasies. So it's a film for us, about us, as The Devils was really about the modern political era, not 17th-century France. But she loved Savage Messiah, Women in Love, and The Rainbow.)
Anyway: GET THIS DVD -- spread the word -- do not let this near-masterpiece be forgotten!
Russell recently had a stroke or TIA, and may not be with us much longer. There will be a burst of interest when he finally passes, may it be delayed (he's still working!) but will likely fade thereafter. When he visited the Dallas USA Film Festival to show off The Fall of the Louse of Usher, I had the pleasure of standing up and informing the crowd that Francis Ford Coppola had said he intentionally shot Apocalypse Now in Russell's style. To which Russell responded, as I expected, "I wish I had his budget." I also pointed out how so many younger directors and editors have adopted his style, whether they realize it or not. Maybe they think they take after Orson Welles, or Ridley Scott, or Paul Greengrass, or music videos.
I'm getting one for my musician sister.
While you're at it, get the Savage Messiah DVD too. Not just for the chance to see a voluptuous young Helen Mirren totally nude, with Henri's hilarious rejoinder to her silly artistic fantasies; it's 2nd only to The Music Lovers, in my opinion
| Additional DVD options | Edition | Discs | Price | New from | Used from |
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"Please retry" | — | 1 | $92.03 | $92.03 | — |
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October 6, 2011 "Please retry" | — | 1 |
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| — | $19.55 |
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Top reviews from other countries
Yvette Ratson
I have always loved this movie so finally decided to buy it for ...
Reviewed in Canada on May 6, 2018
momo76
enfin un DVD qui respecte le consommateur !
Reviewed in France on January 21, 2020
momo76
Reviewed in France on January 21, 2020
Le chapitrage est correct, image 2.35 16/9 de très bonne qualité pour un écran TV LED.
BelAir classiques, HollywoodClassic et le concours de la CNC ont réédité ce chef d'oeuvre.
Surement une étude de marché a été faite pour cette nouvelle version française !
J'ai attendu 49 ans pour revoir un des meilleur film de Ken Russel.
Formidable Richard Chamberlain dans le rôle de Tchaîkovski, de profil avec son tout premier concert pour piano et orchestre devant une salle bondée d'étudiants, de professeurs et de mélomanes...
J'attend maintenant WEST SIDE STORY (restauration faite en 2012 pour HD 720p) en version 4k bientôt ?
et Lawrence d'Arabie en 4k ?
(Il reste en France 3 films exploitables en version 70 mm image 2.20 durée 227 mn stéréo 6 pistes film passé par l'équipe de CANAL+ aux abonnés de Week-end - Cinéma ....)
Images in this review
JunJos Godobarro
Conocer un poco la vida de ese gran compositor
Reviewed in Spain on July 25, 2019