(aka "Ice (UK) (working title)" or "Nine Songs (UK)")

 

directed by Michael Winterbottom
United Kingdom 2004

 

What is a relationship, what is love between two people, and why isn’t it allowed to show to people in love having sex? Those were the questions which lead Michael Winterbottom to “9 Songs”, a love story told from a sexual point of view by two people making love.

Told from the perspective of Matt (Kieran O'Brien), who is on an expedition to the Antarctic, it is his memory of his one year long love affair with Lisa (Margo Stilley), the memories of her presence, the sex, their intimate moments and of the music at a club.

Filmed without a script, completely improvised and shot over a period of five months, “9 Songs” is apart from being Winterbottoms most experimental film in terms of reduced narrative and memoria editing, his most honest and daring film to date as a filmmaker.

The most sexually explicit British film to date, Winterbottom openly displays oral sex, intercourse and masturbation, but never exploits its sexual nature, by always keeping the focus on the intimacy between two lovers. And this was also why the BBFC passed the film uncut with a 18 certificate for general release. In their opinion, both his intentions and the portrait of the sexual situations were not pornographically, but a display of intimate physical love. As such, “9 Songs” is a landmark film, the first film to break the BBFCs code.

Winner of Best Cinematography at San Sebastian, “9 Songs” is a immensely beautiful and intimate film. The most honest film to date by Winterbottom and one of the best films of the year.
 

Henrik Sylow

Poster

Theatrical Release: May 16, 2004 (Cannes Film Festival)

Reviews    More Reviews  DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Optimum - Region 2 - PAL

Big thanks to Henrik Sylow for the Review!

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Distribution

Optimum

Region 2 - PAL
Runtime 1:06:49 (4% PAL speedup)
Video

1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.48 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

Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital English, 5.1 Dolby Digital English
Subtitles No subtitles
Features Release Information:
Studio: Optimum

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1

Edition Details:
• Interviews
• - Michael Winterbottom (6:36 / 16x9)
• - Kieran O'Brian (7:57 / 16x9)
• - Margo Stilley (13:53 / 4:3)
• Introduction by Tom Dewe Mathews (14:58 / 16x9)
• Trailer (1:36 / 16x9)
• The 9 Songs (music only option)

DVD Release Date: June 27, 2005
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Chapters 9
 

 

 

 

 

Comments Shot on digital video, the image is as expected from such a source. Some scenes display edge enhancements and noise, others are flawless. Taking this into account, this is beautiful transfer.

There are two soundmixes: A rather weak 2.0 Dolby Digital and a very impressive 5.1 Dolby Digital. While dialogue is centered on both tracks, the live music totally kicks in on the 5.1 Dolby Digital track.

The additional material consists of three interviews by Winterbottom and the two actors. Where Winterbottom talks about the production and the ideas behind the film, the actors reflect on the experience, on Winterbottom as director, on the way it was shot and so forth. Brief and very good interviews.

The film is introduced by Tin Dewe Mathews, author of the book "Censored: What they didn't allow you to see and why - The story of Film Censorship in Britain", where he talks about the contents of the film versus the rules and practices of the BBFC in a historically and politically context, of the nature of the film itself and its historical importance in terms of being a landmark film to break the BBFC code for sexually display. A superb introduction.

 - Henrik Sylow

 

 


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CLICK to order from:

 
Distribution

Optimum

Region 2 - PAL

 

 

 




 

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Michael Winterbottom's 9 Songs DVD Review Optimum - Region 2 - PAL
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Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom's 9 Songs DVD Review Optimum - Region 2 - PAL
Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom's 9 Songs DVD Review Optimum - Region 2 - PAL
Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review Michael Winterbottom 9 Songs DVD Review