After two shorts in which he gave documentary material fictional form, Forman, in his first feature, gives his fictional material documentary form. Using non-professional actors, improvised dialogue and shooting parts of the story in the streets, Forman follows the uneventful life of teenage Peter, who finds he dislikes his first job as a trainee store detective. He also has problems with his conservative father and carefree Pavla, on whom he has a crush. The sharply observed, satirical and affectionate film brought new vitality to Czech cinema and marked the start of Forman's career, leading to bigger, rather than better, things in Hollywood.

Excerpt from Channel 4 located HERE

1) Facets Video - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT

2) Filmexport Home Video - Region 0 - PAL MIDDLE

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

Facets Video

Region 0 - NTSC

1:1.33 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

LPCM Audio Czech 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Commentary:

LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1:1.33

Edition Details:
• Milos Forman interview (titled Overseas film makers: Milos Forman)
• Produced by: Australian film, Television and Radio school
• Length: 30:28
• Booklet (16 pages)

DVD Release Date: 17 August 2004
Keep Case

Chapters 10

Chapters: 12

Comments

8The Second Run Blu-ray presentation starts with "The goal of this digital restoration was to make the film available in a form similar to how it could have been seen by an audience at the time when it was first released in 1964. As a result, various features that originate from the shooting of the film or its laboratory processing have been preserved and are evidence of the technologies and creative approaches of the time. The source for the digitization were film materials preserved in the National Film Archive in Prague. The image was digitized from the original negative, missing parts were taken from a duplicate positive. The source of the sound was a duplicate positive. The restoration was done by the Cinepost Barrandov studio in Prague, under the supervision of the National Film Archive in Prague, under the supervision of the National Film Archive in Prague, in 2017."

This is a very impressive release. Second Run have given us a brand new 4k restoration of Milos Forman's "Black Peter". The image is a giant leap over the SD transfer from many years ago. It is significantly sharper, has beautifully layered contrast, exports depth and looks great in-motion. The grain structure is solid and gives the picture a film-like impression. The film is housed on a dual-layered Blu-ray with a supportive bitrate.

Second Run use a linear PCM 2.0 channel track (24-bit) which adeptly supports the score by Jirí Slitr (Daisies). It sounds very clean (also restored) with some depth. Dialogue sounds clear and distinct. There are optional English subtitles (in a superior font to the DVDs - see samples) on the Region FREE Blu-ray.

Second Run include a handful of informative supplements, starting with a wonderful audio commentary by film historian Michael Brooke. There is also brand new new 16-minute interview with actress Pavla Martinkova-Novotna filmed at the Winter Stadium in Kolin in May 2018. Also here is Fiction Factory's "Life as it is - Milos Forman on his Czech films, part 1" which is an archival film-by-film interview newly edited for this release with never-before-seen footage. We also get a 20-page liner notes booklet featuring an essay by Jonathan Owen.

With the beautiful transfer ("Black Peter" is presented from an HD transfer of the new 4k restoration of the film from original materials, supervised by the Czech National Film Archives) and documentary, informative Brooke commentary, and interviews, this is a fantastic package from Second Run. The 1080P Blu-ray world premiere has visuals that really shine. This film is notable for introducing the somewhat improvisational, yet totally unique style of Milos Forman. Bravo to Second Run once again, and this release is Region FREE! Our highest recommendation!

Colin Zavitz

***

ADDITION - Filmexport Home Video - Region 0 - PAL (August 06'): I don't think we need to say more than just observing what the screen captures can tell you. It, fortunately has optional English subtitles... but not on any of the extra features. The Facets edition is a PAL-NTSC port, ridiculously priced and we strongly recommend spending your dollars elsewhere. The Filmexport is PAL and region 0 and for those keen on the film - this is the way to go.

****

Some distributors seems to think that it's a cultural favor the release DVDs in any possible form. It's a pity that Criterion did only two of the three early films from Milos Forman.

Facet video gives BLACK PETER with a very questionable DVD version. The transfer is made from an very old tape master (made directly from a film print) titled BLACK SHEEP.

The picture reminds of old VHS cassettes (the bad ones), it's a little bit soft, dirty, and have contrast boosting. Almost like bootleg DVD's. The smaller TV set you have the better the picture looks (10 inch is recommended!).

The sound is like the picture, very thin, like coming from an old transistor radio.

 - Per-Olof Strandberg