Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne's - Rosetta - TF1 Vidéo (France) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Artificial Eye (UK) - Region 2 - PAL Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne Rosetta DVD Review Dardenne Brothers Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne Rosetta Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne's - Rosetta - TF1 Vidéo (France) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Artificial Eye (UK) - Region 2 - PAL Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne Rosetta DVD Review Dardenne Brothers Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne Rosetta Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne's - Rosetta - TF1 Vidéo (France) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Artificial Eye (UK) - Region 2 - PAL Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne Rosetta DVD Review Dardenne Brothers Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne Rosetta Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne's - Rosetta - TF1 Vidéo (France) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Artificial Eye (UK) - Region 2 - PAL Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne Rosetta DVD Review Dardenne Brothers Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne Rosetta

Belgium 1999

'Rosetta' proves a very appropriate title for the movie as the camera never strays from her throughout the entire film. Her face, in constant close-ups, is a series of masked expressions worthy of comparisons to Falconetti or Masina.

For a paltry two million dollars Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne shot and continuously edited 60 hours of film footage to parse down and create a 95 minute cinema verité masterpiece. The true artistic crime-of-the-century is that its exposure to the mass audiences has been very limited. It is this audience that might benefit the most from its viewing. The political and moral message it sends is one inherent to all sentient beings who are concerned with their fellow humankind. It is heartfelt on a raw, exposed gut-level.

The character Rosetta, at times, exhibits herself as a savage, tortured soul, ready to defend her non-existent rights with ferocious determination. She is also a closed-off, obsessed survivor, fighting to find her place in society. This, while also shouldering the weight of ulcer-pained responsibilities for the maternal-like care required to oversee to her own flawed mother. Her struggles are even more pitiful and real to us since they are primarily for the most basic elements of living. Things perhaps we quite often take for granted and, in HER own mind can be satisfied by obtaining employment. Has society manifested the impression that this will make her a "normal person?" Perhaps her mother will cease her alcoholism and sexual promiscuity. She might establish friendships... even get a boyfriend if she could only get a steady job.out of

Excerpt from Gary Tooze's Review found HERE

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Theatrical Release: May -1999 - Cannes Film Festival, France

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DVD Comparison:

TF1 Vidéo (France) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Artificial Eye (UK) - Region 2 - PAL

The Artificial Eye is on the TOP 100 List of DVDs.

Big thanks to Fred Patton for the TF1 screen captures!

(TF1 Vidéo - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	TF1 Vidéo Region 2 - PAL	Artificial Eye Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	1:30:18	1:29:54
Video	1.66:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 8.12 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.66:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.64 PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: TF1 Vidéo
Bitrate: Artificial Eye
Audio	French (Dolby Digital 5.1)	French or Italian DUB (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
Subtitles	None (NO ENGLISH)	English, Italian, Dutch, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: TF1 Vidéo Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.66:1 Edition Details: • Back to back trailers for Rosetta and La Promesse • Filmography • Production Notes DVD Release Date: January 17th, 2001 Keep Case Chapters 15	Release Information: Studio: Artificial Eye Film Company Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.66:1 Edition Details: Interview With Luc & Jean-Pierre Dardenne Cannes Award Ceremony Footage Theatrical Trailer Stills Galleries Director Biographies and Filmographies Cast Biographies : On Other Disc, the feature film "La Promesse" DVD Release Date: April 16th, 2001 Keep Case Chapters 12

Comments:

I did some rather extensive comparison between these two DVDs simply because it remains my favorite film of all time. The Artificial Eye DVD (actually a set including the Dardenne's "La Promesse" as well) is minutely sharper and brighter than the TF1 Vidéo DVD from France. It is barely visible to the naked eye in these screen captures but blown up on a 100" projection system you might be more aware of it. Both editions appear to be free of cropping. The Artificial Eye is more internationally friendly offering an Italian DUB along with the original French audio as well as English, Italian and Dutch (all removable) sub-titles. They are both decent anamorphic editions for the film with nice menus (but the AE's live action ones are superior) - the trouble with the TF1 Vidéo is it does not offer English (or any other) subtitles. I can easy recommend the Artificial Eye package as La Promesse is also the definitive edition of that marvelous film as well. There is a good reason the AE DVD is on the "Essential DVDs" listing.

- Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

(TF1 Vidéo - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

Subtitle Sample

(Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL - BELOW)