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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka 'The Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach')

Directed by Daničle Huillet and Jean-Marie Straub
West Germany / Italy 1968

 

Using correspondences and texts written by Johann Sebastian Bach, and read by his wife, Anna Magdalena, filmmakers Jean-Marie Straub and Daničle Huillet have crafted one of the most precise, rewarding biopics ever put to screen. Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach’s intense emotional pull can be understood by its status as a musical film in the most thorough sense: its performances—extended sequences set within the very spaces once occupied by Bach himself, as trained performers wear and play materials accurate to the period—are immense, bringing us closer to the sound than was ever thought possible. Immaculately restored on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach invites viewers to experience a bygone age.

***

The widow of Bach reminisces in this biography. Her life with the great composer was not easy. He seldom spoke to her. When he did, it was only to read letters of complaint. Included are performances of Bach's works including the "Brandenburg Concerto No. 5," "Prelude 6 from the Little Clavier Book for Wilhelm Friedemann Bach," "Minuet 2 of the Suite in D Minor from the Little Clavier Book for Anna Magdalena Bach," "Sonata No. 2 in D Major for Viola and Harpsichord," "Partita in E Minor from the Little Clavier Book for Anna Magdalena Bach," "Trio-sonata No. 2 in C Minor," "Magnificat in D Major, St. Matthew Passion," "Prelude in B Minor for Organ," "Mass in B Minor," "Ascension Oratorio," "Clavier-Uebung Italian Concerto," "Goldberg Variations," "Musical Offering," "Art of the Fugue" "Corale for Organ," and "Cantatas No. 205," "198," "244," "42," "215," "140," "82."

Excerpt from B+N located HERE

 

Jean-Marie Straub's 1967 film of the marriage between the widower Bach and Anna Magdalena. The film has a musical structure that is very much like Bach's own St. Matthew Passion; and Straub uses the format of Bach's music to etch a minimalist love story of enormous richness.

Excerpt of Don Drucker's comments on the Chicago Reader HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: June 1968 - Berlin Film Festival

Reviews                                                                                  More Reviews                                                                DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Grasshopper Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

1) New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC  - LEFT

2) Grasshopper - Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT

 

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Distribution New Yorker Video - Region 1 - NTSC Grasshopper Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:33:24  1:34:24.916 
Video 1.29:1 Original Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.51 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.37:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 42,407,587,783 bytes

Feature: 28,419,744,192 bytes

Video Bitrate: 35.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

Bitrate: Blu-ray

Audio German (Dolby Digital 2.0)  LPCM Audio German 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles English, None English, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: New Yorker Video

Aspect Ratio:
Aspect Ratio 1.29:1

Edition Details:

• 'Making of' (20:46)

• 8-page liner notes

DVD Release Date: December 20th, 2005

Keep Case
Chapters: 20

Release Information:
Studio:
Grasshopper

 

1.37:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 42,407,587,783 bytes

Feature: 28,419,744,192 bytes

Video Bitrate: 35.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• Jean-Marie Straub introduces Chronicle at the Swiss Film Archive (2013, 35:28 minutes)
• Interview with actress Christiane Lang Drewanz (2012, 29:38 minutes)
• “The Cinema of Straub & Huillet,” an introduction by author Alicia Malone for FilmStruck (5:55 minutes)
• The Bridegroom, The Actress, and The Pimp (1968, 24:01 minutes), a short film by Jean-Marie Straub and Daničle Huillet featuring Rainer Werner Fassbinder
• The Mother (2011, 20:27 minutes), a short film by Jean-Marie Straub
• Theatrical Trailer (01:07)


Blu-ray Release Date:
February 16th, 2019
Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 12

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Grasshopper Blu-ray (March 2019): A scrolling title card opens the film reading:
"This DCP exists thanks to the excellent workmanship the technical equipment the financing and the practical support of: ARCHIVES FRANCAISES DU FILM Beatrice de Pastre, Daniel Borenstein, Nicolas Ricordel, Gilles Langlais, Sylvain Carette LA CINEMATHEQUE SUISSE Frederic Maire Michel Dind, Dominique Toussaint, Alexis Brusset (eclairgroup) Jean-Pierre Laforce, Christophe Lucotte, Olivier Boischot, STUDIO ORLANDO, LA RUCHE STUDIO. The digitization 2K has been done from a 35 mm contact print; the digitization of the sound from a magnetic sound 17,5mm for the German, English, French, and Dutch versions and from an optical sound for the Italian version. J-M.S. 2013 "

This new 2K restoration of Straub & Huillet's ""Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach" comes to us on a dual layered Blu-ray with a nicely maxed out bitrate. The 1.37:1 HD image is rather stunning, showing impeccable detail in many static deep-focus tableauxs in gorgeous B&W photography. Shadows show an enormous sense of depth, with shadows containing multitudes of black and gray. The unique mise en scčne of the performances allow a clean image, never showing blurring thanks to the static camera (save for a few slow-zooms). The real star of the show (as is intended) is the audio, and thankfully this is equally impressive.

"
Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach" is accompanied by a 24-bit linear PCM 2.0 audio track. The music of Bach really shines here, with all the instruments combining to create the aural sensation of physically being at the performance. Just for fun, I decided to turn on my virtual Dolby Surround (to the concert setting) and had to go back to the 2.0 because it couldn't compare. There is the occasional dialogue over the image and that has English subtitles. This is a Region 'A' Blu-ray.

Grasshopper film have included some really fine extras on this Blu-ray. "Jean-Marie Straub introduces
Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach at the Swiss Film Archive" is a 34-minute piece from 2013 with the director talking about the film and its creation. Also here is a 30-minute interview from 2012 with actress, Christiane Lang Drewanz. "The Cinema of Straub & Huillet" is a 6-minute introduction by author Alicia Malone that was filmed for FilmStruck. "The Bridegroom, The Actress, and The Pimp" is a 23-minute 1968 short film by Jean-Marie Straub and Daničle Huillet featuring Rainer Werner Fassbinder. This short shows the directors attention to staging, much like in "Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach". Also here is "The Mother", a 20-minute 2011 short film by director Jean-Marie Straub. The film's theatrical trailer rounds out the Blu-ray supplements.

Grasshopper Film has quickly become one of my favorite curators of film on
Blu-ray. "Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach" is a unique cinematic experience, unlike any other musical bio-pic I have ever seen. Straub & Huillet eschew the conventions of such films, even at the time of this film's release. This new 2K restoration is quite breathtaking, showing a beautifully detailed print on Blu-ray, with a clear soundtrack to match. I'll take this over "Amadeus" any day.

Colin Zavitze

***

ON THE DVD: Quite a captivating and beautiful film to say the least and I suspect that the elements used were not in prime condition, but this still is no excuse for the decidedly poor quality of the transfer itself. Non-progressive and most likely from analog the image has a thick black border around the edge limiting resolution. Subtitles are well-done but sparingly used in the context of the minimalist film. The mono sound quality was good and the beauty of the musical score only enhanced it. The 20 minute 'Making of...' was quite appropriate for the film and of similar quality to the feature.

This is a dichotomy that we seem to face more often than not - a wonderful and clandestine film that is unavailable in an other easily accessible digital form, yet the price we pay is to get a poor transfer whose quality leaves one expectant for a superior edition... which seems unlikely at present. We recommend the film highly but wish more effort had been put into the transfer. The featurette, audio, liner notes and well-appointed subtitles are very much appreciated though.

Gary W. Tooze

 


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Grasshopper - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 


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

 

Subtitle Sample

 

1) New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC  - TOP

2) Grasshopper - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC  - TOP

2) Grasshopper - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC  - TOP

2) Grasshopper - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC  - TOP

2) Grasshopper - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC  - TOP

2) Grasshopper - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC  - TOP

2) Grasshopper - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


Evidence of both 'ghosting' and 'combing' on the DVD
 

1) New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC  - TOP

2) Grasshopper - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

More Grasshopper - Region 'A' - Blu-ray Captures

 

 

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Distribution New Yorker Video - Region 1 - NTSC Grasshopper Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray




 

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   CANADA

Thank You!

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