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(aka "Cain and Abel")
Directed by Lino Brocka
Philippines 1982
Firstborn Lorens (Phillip Salvador) toils the land by buffalo while Ellis
(Christopher de Leon), the apple of his mother's eye, is given a university
education in Manila. When the latter returns to the family's hacienda with a
metropolitan fiancée in tow (Carmi Martin), the domineering Señora Pina (Mona
Lisa) immediately disapproves. Looking to reassert her influence, she
asks her youngest to name his inheritance. Ellis claims the land – which sparks
a family feud that invites tragedy and boils over into all-out filial war. *** A modern-day version of the biblical legend on Cain and Abel. Strong-willed matriarch Señora Pina favors her younger son Ellis over the older Loren whom she blames for the death of her husband. |
Posters
Theatrical Release: October 8th, 1982
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Review: Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures: |
Distribution | Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray | |
Runtime | 1:51:35.083 | |
Video |
1.85 :1 1080P Single-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 24,331,823,864 bytesFeature: 19,749,145,152 bytes Video Bitrate: 31.93 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
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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 Blu-ray: |
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Audio |
DTS-HD Master Audio Tagalog 768 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit) |
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Subtitles | English, None | |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Vinegar Syndrome
1.85 :1 1080P Single-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 24,331,823,864 bytesFeature: 19,749,145,152 bytes Video Bitrate: 31.93 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details: • CAIN & ABEL: AN APPRECIATION (2022, 11:58): NEW FEATURETTE BY JOSÉ B. CAPINO • 2006 Restoration Trailer (1:06) • INTERVIEW WITH CARMI MARTIN (2022, 13:13) • INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTOPHER DE LEON (2022, 16:03) • BOOKLET INCLUDING "UNRIGHTEOUS KIN" NEW WRITING ON CAIN AND ABEL BY JOSÉ B. CAPINO, SELECT ARCHIVAL MATERIALS, AND NOTES & ANNOTATIONS BY RICKY LEE
Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters 7 |
Comments: |
NOTE:
The below
Blu-ray
captures were taken directly from the
Blu-ray
disc.
So it is 4K-restored but, as stated, has some warping and other damage issues. The image is saturated with some teal leaning but is very watchable in 1080P. It is probably the best it will look in this digital format. There isn't an abundance of depth but contrast (tweaked?) has richness with deep black levels. It looks like the transfer has done its best with the surviving elements and I thought it held a reasonable amount of consistency in the visuals. There is pleasing grain textures and occasional depth.
NOTE: We have added 46 more large
resolution Blu-ray captures
(in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE
On their
Blu-ray,
Vinegar Syndrome use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the
original Tagalog language with some English. Dialogue has similar issues
to the video but is acceptably consistent. Cain
and Abel
has plenty of later aggressive scenes with punchy gunfire and sexual
assault expressed through the lossless track with modest depth. There is
a synth-y score by Max Jocson (Manila
in the Claws of Light), sounding supportive with a 70's vibe. Vinegar Syndrome offer optional English
subtitles on their Region FREE
Blu-ray.
The Vinegar Syndrome
Blu-ray
About the new Kani label: "Named after
Yasujiro Ozu’s custom-made, tatami-level, crab-like tripod, Kani is a
new home video label dedicated to leveling the gaze and furthering the
understanding of Asian cinema in North America. Focused on genre-defying
films, Kani aims to expand the canon, bolster up-and-coming filmmakers
and reintroduce repertory classics in context. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister
company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing this diverse
and unique home video line!"
Lino Brocka's
Cain and Abel gets surprisingly
intense and graphic. The jealous sibling rivalry evolves into
full-scale familial-based war - comparisons to
Peckinpah's
Straw Dogs and John Woo are apt. I wasn't anticipating that level of
thriller from, what appeared to be, a family-drama. In a second viewing I appreciated the rising tension,
cultural Filipino affectations shown in the storyline, and the character
evolution (they are not one-dimensional). 'Wow' is all I can say - with
machine guns, sniper rifles and indiscriminate exploding violence. It's
classic of Filipino cinema with the impressive direction of Lino Brocka.
I was so pleased to see this as it was 'a first-time film experience'
for me. The Kani / Vinegar
Syndrome Blu-ray
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Distribution | Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray |
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