(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!
Posters
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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)
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| Distribution |
Optimum Releasing Region 2 - PAL |
Warner Region 1 - NTSC |
| Runtime | 1.23.24 (4% PAL speedup) | 1.27:39 |
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Video |
1.75:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
1.78:1 Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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| Bitrate : Optimum |
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| Bitrate : Warner |
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| 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:
Edition Details: Chapters 9 |
Release Information: Studio: Warner Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: 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! |
DVD Menus
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Screen Captures
Subtitle Sample NOTE: Not exact frame!
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(Optimum Releasing - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. Warner - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(Optimum Releasing - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. Warner - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(Optimum Releasing - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. Warner - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(Optimum Releasing - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. Warner - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(Optimum Releasing - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. Warner - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)
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| DVD Box Cover |
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| Distribution |
Optimum Releasing Region 2 - PAL |
Warner Region 1 - NTSC |
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Gary Tooze
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Thank You!
