ADDITION: Criterion - March 07': Short story on the image - the Criterion is superior on every front. It is sharper, much better contrast and even more information in the frame. The Optimum has a slim black border circumventing the frame limiting the horizontal resolution but the Criterion is tight to the frame edges. Criterion's subtitles are removable (unlike the Optimum) and are far less intrusive. Both DVD editions offer audio in both 2.0 and 5.1 flavors.

NOTE: There is a Finnish Two disc set from Universal with subtitle options in Finnish, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, English, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Czech and Polish - audio in French DTS, DD 5.1 DD 2.0 and a Spanish DD 2.0 DUB. One screen capture is compared below. It looks a shade brighter than the Criterion but may have some very minor edge enhancement -Thanks Per-Olaf! who says - "The film is very grainy, and I think it's intended to achieve a documentary style. It seems that both Optimum and Criterion have tried to remove the grain from the image and both have ended up with a soft(er) image. The Finnish Universal master-tape is from Studio-Canal, and it seems to be a port from the French DVD (that doesn't have English subs).".

I have not heard the Optimum commentary (nor the French) but Criterion state that their commentary is a new one - recorded specifically for them in 2006 in Paris. Director Kassovitz pulls no punches and speaks quite frankly about the politics of the project, production details, people involved and the impetus for the film. He makes comments about the current state of France - with regard to a potentially fascist leaning government - speaking his displeasure as the voice of many French citizens.  His accent is not harsh and his English is fully understandable. He remarks how he is a Criterion fan owning many of their LaserDiscs from years gone by. He seems proud to have his film produced onto DVD by them.

Jodie Foster gives an articulate, heartfelt 15 minute introduction. She is wonderful to listen to - this is a highly intelligent person detailing why she got involved in the distribution of the film to the US. She gives a brief overview of the narrative from her personal standpoint.

Disc 2 is stacked with supplements - most notably a 1 1/2 hour documentary entitled Ten Years of "La haine". It pulls together some of the backstory details of the project with some archive news footage and vital comments. It is very well done and I really enjoyed watching it. There is much more including 4 deleted scenes and 4 extended scenes, a short featurette on the making of a scene and another on preparation for shooting. The disc 2 digital supplements have optional English subtitles.

Included also is a 24-page liner notes booklet with black and white photos. It contains an essay by film scholar Ginette Vincendeau and a 2-page appreciation by acclaimed filmmaker Costa-Gavras.

Criterion have done it again with an entirely complete package of an important film experience - both educating and enlightening. It is a powerful and ultimately eviscerating cinematic pleasure that Criterion have rendered expertly to digital. Strongly recommended!

***

On the Optimum: The new digital remastering is simply stunning. Complete flawless black and white, with deep blacks and crisp details. It simply looks great. The DVD comes with the original stereo / mono mix (Kassovitz recorded certain passages in mono to pinpoint the situation on screen) and a newly mixed 5.1 DD track.

As additional material there first is an audio commentary by Kassovitz. This is a newly recorded commentary in English and how much it resembles the commentary on the French DVD I don’t know. Kassovitz goes into great detail describing the background for the film, the situation in France, the acting and production. He obviously has a lot to say, but at times he does stray of on a tangent. Nevertheless, this is a very informative commentary, which only adds to the already impressive film.

Following this, there are two short “behind the scenes” featurettes, where we are taken behind the scenes, and excerpts in colour, so one can see how the film was recorded. Finally we get the trailer.

The only negative comment for this DVD are the subtitles. They are fixed, which while practical, still are intrusive, if one wishes to watch the film without them.

 - Henrik Sylow