(aka "Temporada de patos" )

 

directed by Fernando Eimbcke
Mexico 2004

 

This impressive debut feature from Mexican filmmaker Fernando Eimbcke, deserves a place in the hearts of underachievers worldwide. Duck Season is highly evocative of Jim Jarmusch’s Stranger than Paradise as a comedic black and white study in boredom, but it captures the apathy of my generation with such poignant wit and subtle poetry, that it probably belongs to be placed in a category of its own.

The film chronicles the misadventures of a lazy Sunday in a high-rise apartment, as two young boys are home alone and pass the time eating junk food and playing video games. A flirtatious neighbor girl has stopped by to use the oven, the pizza man won’t leave, and the power keeps going out, as director Eimbcke films all of this with an understated deadpan brilliance. The young cast is exceptionally good, and when things reach a hilarious crescendo as the group of slackers mistakenly ingests a pan of pot brownies, the film takes on a deeper subtext. An almost Hawksian scenario develops as our newly formed group struggles in their drug induced state to shut out and rebel against the outside world of maturity. Even though this film is from Mexico, the message it carries about what it means to be young and on the brink of adulthood should resonate worldwide. A gem!

 

Adam Lemke

Posters

Theatrical Release: May 14th, 2004 - Cannes Film Festival

Reviews    More Reviews  DVD Reviews

DVD Comparison:

 Optimum Releasing - Region 2 - PAL vs. Warner - Region 1- NTSC

Big thanks to Adam Lemke for the Review!

(Optimum Releasing - Region 2 - PAL LEFT vs. Warner - Region 1- NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Cover

 

Distribution

Optimum Releasing

Region 2 - PAL

Warner

Region 1 - NTSC

Runtime 1.23.24 (4% PAL speedup) 1.27:39

Video

1.75:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.30 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1.78:1 Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.73 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

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

Bitrate : Optimum

Bitrate : Warner

Audio Spanish - Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0 Spanish - Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles English forced English, French, Spanish none
Features Release Information:
Studio: Optimum Releasing

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.75:1

Edition Details:
• theatrical trailer
• short 'making of' featurette
• music video

DVD Release Date: June, 27, 2005
Clear Keep Case

Chapters 9

Release Information:
Studio: Warner

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1

Edition Details:
• theatrical trailer

DVD Release Date: August 29th, 2006
Keep Case

Chapters 19

 

 

Comments ADDITION: - Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - Aug 06' - I was just as surprised at Adam's discovery that the Optimum is a DVD-5 utilizing a mere 3.93GB of disc space - where the Warner uses only 3.85 Gig! But as the Warner sports no supplements the image is actually superior. The Optimum has a kind of sepia tinge where the Warner is more pure black and white. I also think it may be sharper with less grain/artefacts. We can also see the Optimum is marginally cropped on the edges. Another bonus of the Warner is the removable subtitle option where the Optimums are forced.

But where the Optimum betters the Warner are in the extras although as Adam states they 'brief and can be skipped over'. That being the case - it appears the Warner is the way to go!

I'm very glad I was able to watch this film - Adam's labelling it a 'gem' is perfectly accurate. It is funny and warm - very human - a great way to spend 1.5 hours. 

- Gary Tooze

****

I was shocked to discover that this disc was a DVD-5 utilizing a mere 3.93GB of space. Based on my viewing experience and the quality of the image, I would have banked on this being a DVD-9. The progressively scanned image is gorgeous. No instances of combing, minor digital noise, and crisp contrast balance. Optimum Releasing has become a reliable distributor of EXCELLENT DVD’s. The only flaw here is the FIXED English subtitles. This seems to be something Optimum does regularly, and it’s shame that they don’t give their viewers the option to view the film without subtitles. The extra’s are brief and can be skipped over, but the film is a gem. A highly recommended purchase!

 - Adam Lemke

 

 






DVD Menus
 

(Optimum Releasing - Region 2 - PAL LEFT vs. Warner - Region 1- NTSC - RIGHT)
 

 

 

 


Screen Captures


Subtitle Sample NOTE: Not exact frame!

(Optimum Releasing - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. Warner - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

 


(Optimum Releasing - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. Warner - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

 


(Optimum Releasing - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. Warner - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

 


(Optimum Releasing - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. Warner - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

 


(Optimum Releasing - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. Warner - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

 


(Optimum Releasing - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. Warner - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

 


  (Optimum Releasing - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. Warner - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

 



DVD Box Cover

 

Distribution

Optimum Releasing

Region 2 - PAL

Warner

Region 1 - NTSC


 




 

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Gary Tooze

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