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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka 'Intimate Lighting')

Directed by Ivan Passer
Czechoslovakia  1966

 

"Presented from a brand new 4K restoration of the film from original materials", Second Run presents a special Blu-ray edition of one of its most enduringly popular titles – Ivan Passer’s Intimate Lighting.

This wonderfully subtle comedy of provincial life is the debut film of a great director and one of the signature works of the Czech New Wave. Ivan Passer’s film concerns the dreams of two musician friends, one of whom, having left their small hometown to become successful, returns to visit the other who stayed behind to become a local music teacher.

Focusing on the humor of the ordinary and routine and stunningly shot by Miroslav Ondrícek (A Blonde in Love, If..., Amadeus), the film shows true affection and understanding for all its characters to become that very rare thing in comedy – a work of great originality and universal acceptance.

One of the most important films of the Czech New Wave, and which was ranked among the top ten domestic films of all time, Intimate Lighting is a beautifully observed drama of the everyday.
Presented from a brand new 4K restoration, this region-free Blu-ray special edition includes Passer's rarely-seen 1964 short film A Boring Afternoon (Fádní odpoledne) and a filmed interview with director Ivan Passer.

***

Ivan Passer completed only one feature film before the changing political climate forced him out of Czechoslovakia, but this 1965 gem stands as one of the finest works of the short-lived Czech New Wave. A successful symphony musician comes to a small town to visit an old school friend, who has settled into teaching music at the local academy and playing an occasional funeral. Out of these drab elements, Passer has forged something funny and rare: a genuine comedy of melancholy--a gray comedy.

Excerpt from Dave Kehr's review at the Chicago reader located HERE

Ivan Passer was Milos Forman's writing partner and his exquisite humor and story telling savoir made itself felt in Forman's early Czech comedies. Then Mr. Passer made his own masterpiece, Intimate Lighting, about the quixotic dreams of two musician friends, one who left their small hometown to become "successful", the other still a music teacher and part of the hometown's chamber music quartet. Intimate Lighting vibrates with pathos and comedy; with a compassionate and ironic eye Passer shines a poetic light on our illusions and small victories. To highlight: a magnificently humorous scene where the diners covetously gawk at the last piece of chicken left on the table, and a drunken twist at the end on the "off into the sunset" scene. A must see for anyone who appreciates fine filmmaking, a good comedy, or wishes to take a peek in the window of a time tragically lost.

Excerpt from Julian Semelian's review located HERE.

  Poster

Theatrical Release: March 3rd, 1967

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Comparison:

Second Run DVD - Region 0 - PAL vs. Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

1) Second Run - Region FREE - PAL - LEFT

2) Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT

 

Box Cover

Also available in the The Czechoslovak New Wave - A Collection (3 Film Box Set) Below:   

Distribution Second Run DVD - Region 0 - PAL Second Run
Region FREE -
Blu-ray
Runtime 1:09:57 (4% PAL Speedup)  1:13:45.375 
Video 1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 4.76 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

Disc Size: 21,911,195,526 bytes

Feature Size: 15,262,722,048 bytes

Average Bitrate: 23.99 Mbps

Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P

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

Bitrate:

Bitrate: Blu-ray

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

Release Information:
Studio: Second Run DVD

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:

• Ivan Passer interview (18:38)
• 8-page liner notes booklet with essay by Phillip Bergson

DVD Release Date: January 30th, 2006

Keep Case
Chapters: 12

Release Information:
Studio:
Second Run

 

Disc Size: 21,911,195,526 bytes

Feature Size: 15,262,722,048 bytes

Average Bitrate: 23.99 Mbps

Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P

 

Edition Details:

• Presented from a brand new 4K restoration of the film from original materials by the Czech National Film Archive.
• Filmed interview with director Ivan Passer. (19:25)
• Ivan Passer’s 1964 debut short film A Boring Afternoon (Fádní odpoledne) presented from a new HD transfer from original materials by the Czech National Film Archive. (14:09)
• Booklet featuring new writing on the film by Trevor Johnston, and an essay by critic Phillip Bergson2

Blu-ray Release Date: May 7th, 2018
Standard
Blu-ray Case
Chapters: 12

 

Comments:

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

NOTE: ADDITION: Second Run - Region FREE Blu-ray - May 2018: Second Run give us a brand new 4k restoration of the Czech New Wave classic, "Intimate Lighting". The film is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1 on a single-layered Blu-ray disc with a reasonable bitrate. The image is quite a noticeable bump up over the previous SD transfer DVD release. Grain is present but not heavy and the image is clear with great contrast.

Intimate Lighting is given a 2.0 Dual Mono linear PCM track (24-bit). For a film that so frequently features music, this is a very faithful transfer. The performances of Dvorák, Mozart, and Jírovec sound as they would have in a theater. There are optional English subtitles on this Region-free disc.

Second Run include the 20-minute interview with Director Ivan Passer that was previously available on their DVD. Also included here is Passer's rarely-seen 1964 14-minute short film A Boring Afternoon (Fádní odpoledne). Lastly there is a 20-page booklet featuring new writing on the film by Trevor Johnston, and an essay by critic Phillip Bergson.

This is another very impressive release from Second Run. The image is a giant leap over the SD transfer from years ago. It is significantly sharper, and the contrast is impressive. The brand new 4k restoration is wonderful, especially in motion.
 

***

ON THE DVD: An exceptionally good image for a single layered DVD (one that takes up less than 4 Gig of disc space!). The black and white presentation is very strong, good contrast and sharpness with a hint of grain. Subtitles seemed précised at one point but were excellent overall. I saw only one instance of minor 'combing' and could not get the phenomenon to repeat. I suspect it was transferred using the 'alchemist' system but the final result is a very good one.  

A beautiful, amusing, melancholy and subtle film focusing on cultural elitism and grass roots artistic involvement. Another fabulous selection from Second Run DVD who continue to impress and maintain their exceptional standard releasing hidden 'gems' like this. We recommend.

Gary W. Tooze

 


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Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 


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1) Second Run - Region FREE - PAL - TOP

2) Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Second Run - Region FREE - PAL - TOP

2) Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


 

1) Second Run - Region FREE - PAL - TOP

2) Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


 

1) Second Run - Region FREE - PAL - TOP

2) Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


 

1) Second Run - Region FREE - PAL - TOP

2) Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


 

1) Second Run - Region FREE - PAL - TOP

2) Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


 

1) Second Run - Region FREE - PAL - TOP

2) Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

More Blu-ray Captures


Box Cover

Also available in the The Czechoslovak New Wave - A Collection (3 Film Box Set) Below:   

Distribution Second Run DVD - Region 0 - PAL Second Run
Region FREE -
Blu-ray




 

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