CLICK to order from:     Available in a Dual Format package December 5th, 2011:

 

Studio:

Theatrical: Produzioni Europee Association

Blu-ray: BFI

 

Disc:

Region: 'B'-locked (as verified by the Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player)

Runtime: 1:51:00.778

Disc Size: 39,081,623,986 bytes

Feature Size: 25,929,659,712 bytes

Video Bitrate: 24.99 Mbps

Chapters: 10

Case: Standard Blu-ray case

Release date: April 27th, 2009

 

Video:

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

 

 

Audio:

LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
LPCM Audio Italian 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit

 

Subtitles:

English (SDH), English, none

 

Extras:

• Alternative English-language version (DUB and text alterations) - seamlessly branched

• Trailer

• Documentary: Pasolini and the Italian Genre Film (36:38 in HD!)

• 18-page fully illustrated booklet including essays, reviews and biography

 

 

The Film:

The second installment of Pasolini's Trilogy, with its depiction of unbridled fornication and a comically blasphemous visit to Hell in the closing five minutes, proved to be one of his bawdiest and most controversial films. Presented here in a transfer from the original negative, and with special features including alternative audio options, and a new documentary on Pasolini and the Italian genre film.

Excerpt of review from BFI located HERE

Posters

 

Image:   NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were ripped directly from the Blu-ray disc.

 

Previously I had only seen this film on a VHS tape released in the mid 1980's. The image, as one might expect, was badly cropped and suffered from almost every form of damage imaginable. Going in to this viewing, my expectations were not too high given how flat and unattractive that previous print was. How much improvement could there actually be? The answer is 'a lot'. I was blown away by the restoration work done by the folks at the BFI. In fact, I can say without the least amount of hyperbole that the films in this trilogy were the single biggest difference between a first and second viewing image quality that I have ever come across. This Blu-ray is gorgeous with brilliant colors but there has been some removal of the grain and it's a shame we have lost some of the film's natural textures. Skin tones appear un-manipulated. The framing has been correctly restored to 1.85:1 and it is exceptionally clean. You'd be hard pressed to find a single instance of dirt or damage. The detail hasn't suffered and produces and image that looks sharp and crisp. My only negative would be the lack of more substantial grain that may have succumbed to minor DNR processing - creating a somewhat less-film like experience than may be possible from the format. I think it still looks amazing.

 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audio & Music:

The PCM 2.0 channel mono audio at 2304 kbps is quite crisp and clear. I had no problems whatsoever with the sound quality. There's no distortions or unwanted background noise (e.g. pops, cracks, hisses, etc.) here. Instead the audio is continuously crisp with both the dialogue and music sounding clear. Similarly, the subtitles (sample above) are easily read and unobtrusive. Finally, like most Italian cinema of the day, the film suffers from a loose synchronization process. This is inherent in the original print of the film and has been preserved by the BFI. Gary tells me his Momitsu has identified it as being a region 'B'-locked disc.

 

 

Operations:

The disc uses the traditional pop-up menus found on most Blu-rays. The information is easy to find and access.

 

Extras:

One may access, seamlessly branched, the alternate English version. It is simply the optional English DUB and unrestored English language credits (playing in the opening for 2:35 and the 'The End' at the completion) with a few text-related scenes in the film altered to English (at 16-minutes, 41-minutes and 110-minutes). Example:

 

 

Aside from an original trailer whose copious nudity puts American red-bands to shame, there's a 36-minute documentary on the effect of Pasolini's trilogy on soft-core Italian medieval literary epics--a genre that I didn't even know existed! This featurette with input from producers Alfredo Bini and Gabriele Crisanti, writer and critic Serafino Murri is in Italian with optional English subtitles. I found it amusing, informative, and certainly worth the time to watch. There's also an 18-page booklet containing essays “The Canterbury Tale” by Roger Clarke, “The Trilogy of Life” by Prof. Sam Rohdie, “The Canterbury Tales Reviewed” by Nigel Andrews (originally published in 1972), and “Pier Paolo Pasolini (1922-1975)” by Geoffrey Nowell-Smith (from the Oxford History of World Cinema). It is highly interesting to read the negative review from the film's initial release.

 

NOTE: Unusually, the BFI's webpage lists the standard DVD as containing "alternative shots". These aren't on the Blu-ray, but since I don't have the standard release I can't verify their existence.

 

 

Bottom line:

With this film comprising one third of my favorite film trilogy, I would have likely recommended a purchase even if the quality wasn't such a drastic improvement from what has been available previously. Although the seemingly prurient nature of the film may turn some off, it has has multiple interpretations. Like the other films in his trilogy, "The Canterbury Tales" is a deeply moving tribute to life itself and the possibilities of a free and uncomplicated view of nudity and sexuality. I give this Blu-ray a strong recommendation and encourage others to check it out. It produced  one of my favorite viewings of the year!

December 15th, 2009