Emir Kusturica - Underground

directed by Emir Kusturica
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1995

A great circus full of tragicomic satire, UNDERGROUND is a visionary masterpiece where hope, laughter and the joy of living overcome the difficulties of survival. In the midst of war, Marko and Blacky - two opportunistic buddies sharing a spirited lust for women, booze and madcap brawling - attain riches and heroic praise dealing arms to the war's resistance fighters. When things get too hot, they move into an intricate cellar packed with refugees whom Marko encourages to manufacture the contraband. With Blacky convinced he should remain hidden in the cellar until the war ends, Marko conspires to leave him there as he grows richer from the toils of the people living underground. Over fifteen years pass before a web of lies unfolds and Blacky emerges from the shelter to seek his revenge.

Posters

Theatrical Release: May 1995 - Cannes Film Festival

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

DVD Comparison:

New Yorker Video - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL vs. A-Film Home Entertainment / Boomerang Pictures - Region 0 - PAL

Big thanks to Pieter Boven and Henrik Sylow for the Screen Caps!

(New Yorker Video - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. A-Film Home Entertainment / Boomerang Pictures - Region 0 - PAL - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	New Yorker Video Region 1 - NTSC	Artificial Eye Region 2 - PAL	A-Film Home Entertainment / Boomerang Pictures Region 0 - PAL
Runtime	2:42:50	2:43:02 (4% PAL speedup)	2:43:05 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.40 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.26 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.77:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 4.72 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: New Yorker Video
Bitrate: Artificial Eye
Bitrate: A-Film Home Entertainment / Boomerang Pictures
Audio	2.0 Dolby Digital Serbo-Croation	2.0 Dolby Digital Serbo-Croation, 5.1 Dolby Digital Serbo-Croation	2.0 Dolby Digital Serbo-Croation, 5.1 Dolby Digital Serbo-Croation, 2.0 Dolby Digital French (dub)
Subtitles	English, None	English, None	Dutch, French, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: New Yorker Video Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Edition Details: • Interview with Director Emir Kustrica (3:00) • Underground's French theatrical trailer, as well as trailers for New Yorker Video's DVD releases Tr DVD Release Date: December 23, 2003 Keep Case Chapters 24	Release Information: Studio: Artificial Eye Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Edition Details: • Emir Kusturica Biography • Behind the Scenes (20:50) • Cannes aftershow party (2:53) • Black Cat White Cat trailer • Underground trailer • Life is a Miracle trailer DVD Release Date: October 23, 2006 Amarey Chapters 18	Release Information: Studio: A-Film Home Entertainment / Boomerang Pictures Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.77:1 Edition Details: • Kusturica 7 years later (27:00) • Interviews with actors Miki Manojlovic (2:00), Lazar Ristovski (1:30), Mirjana Jokovic (2:30) • Behind the scenes (1:30) • Photo gallery • Trailers for Underground (1995), Black Cat White Cat (1998), Arizona Dream (1993) • Filmographies • Historical notes • * No English language options for movie or extras DVD Release Date: December 5, 2002 Keep Case Chapters 21

Comments:

Henrik Sylow on the AE - The transfer of Artificial Eye is identical to A-Film in sharpness, colours and sharpness. While compression artefacts are slightly more visible in Artificial Eye, when zooming on stills, they are not visible at regular viewing. As such, its par.

***

Gary Tooze on New Yorker vs. A-Film -The PAL DVD is sharper and the New Yorker DVD has that usual greenish - washed out- tinge to it. Obviously the big issue is that the A-Film DVD does not offer any English options (no subs or even dubs). What this does tell us is that there is a better transfer out there that has not reached NYSC shores yet. Shame as this is a fine film. Region 1'ers will have to suffice with the New Yorker (their first dual DVD) for now. I don't see anything else on the horizon for this film in North America. No cropping on either edition and contrast is a shade superior on the PAL version. If you don't require English - then this is the route to go - if you do I understand the New Yorker is far superior to a Region 4 version that is currently available.

DVD Menus
(New Yorker Video - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. A-Film Home Entertainment / Boomerang Pictures - Region 0 - PAL - RIGHT)

Screen Captures

(New Yorker Video - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. A-Film Home Entertainment / Boomerang Pictures - Region 0 - PAL - BOTTOM)
subtitle sampel - captures resized to 800px from 1024px

(New Yorker Video - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. A-Film Home Entertainment / Boomerang Pictures - Region 0 - PAL - BOTTOM)