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

ADDITION: Radiance Blu-ray (April 2025): Radiance has transferred Kelly Reichardt's River of Grass to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "2K restoration by Oscilloscope Laboratories". The Region 'A' Oscilloscope Blu-ray came out in 2016. River of Grass was also included via a Thunderbird Releasing (UK) Blu-ray as part of a Kelly Reichardt Box Set that we reviewed HERE. The 2K restoration delivers a crisp image that enhances Jim Denault’s (The Believer, Boys Don't Cry, Clockwatchers) grainy 16mm cinematography. The Everglades’ swampy waters, tangled mangroves, and flat horizons are rendered with improved texture, revealing the subtle patterns of vegetation and the murky depths. Suburban interiors, such as Cozy’s cluttered home, show greater detail in worn furniture and dim lighting, while close-ups of Cozy’s weary eyes and Lee Ray’s nervous grin gain clarity despite the inherent grain. The 1.33:1 aspect ratio is preserved, maintaining the film’s original framing, and it is a highly clean image free of speckles. It is on a dual-layered disc with a maxed out bitrate and is probably equal or superior to the 2016 Oscilloscope Blu-ray. For a film shot on 16mm with a $40,000 budget, this is likely the best it has ever looked.

NOTE: We have added 54 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

On their Blu-ray, Radiance uses a linear PCM 2.0 channel track (24-bit) in the original English language. This audio has been remastered as part of the 2K restoration process. The low-budget recording quality is evident, but the remaster minimizes hiss and crackle. The ambient soundscape of River of Grass - buzz of insects, lap of water, clink of bar glasses - is vividly rendered, enhancing the Everglades’ atmosphere. The car theft’s engine roar and key jingle are sharp, adding to the comedic tension, while the swamp wanderings’ snapping branches and splashing water amplify the sense of disorientation. The soundtrack, arranged by John Hill, is minimalist and atmospheric, reflecting the film’s low-budget, Indie roots and Reichardt’s focus on mood over narrative drive. Dialogue in the uncompressed transfer is clear - with Lisa Bowman’s soft yet resolute voice as 'Cozy' cutting through with naturalistic intensity, and Larry Fessenden’s awkward, halting tone as 'Lee Ray' adding humor. The diegetic music in River of Grass serves multiple purposes: it establishes the 1990s South Florida setting, enhances the neo-noir atmosphere, and reflects the characters’ emotional states. Tracks, like "Youville" and "Trav'lin' Light," bring a jazz influence that aligns with the film’s neo-noir tone, evoking a sense of cool detachment while adding authenticity to bar and car scenes. "Don't Break The Heart" and "Settled Down Like Rain" introduce alt-country melancholy, mirroring Cozy’s longing and the inevitability of her failed escape. "Boogie With Jay" and "She's Taken All My Toys Away" inject a playful, working-class energy, adding irony to the characters’ predicament. "Evergladed" directly ties the music to the setting, enhancing the swamp’s eerie presence with an experimental sound. These songs, mostly diegetic, are woven into the film’s fabric, playing on radios or in bars, grounding the story in its regional context while providing emotional commentary. Radiance offers optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Radiance Blu-ray offers a the older commentary from the Oscilloscope Blu-ray that features director Kelly Reichardt and actor Larry Fessenden discussing the film’s improvisational process, the $40,000 budget, their collaboration, etc. They reflect on the Everglades setting, the neo-noir parody, and the personal experiences that shaped the story, offering insights into Reichardt’s early career. The firsthand perspectives (with gaps where the film runs) of Reichardt and Fessenden add authenticity and depth, providing a personal lens on the film’s creation. Included is a 20-minute audio interview, created exclusively for Radiance in February 2025, featuring writer and curator So Mayer discussing River of Grass in the context of Kelly Reichardt’s early life, influences, collaborators, and subsequent body of work. Mayer’s scholarly perspective adds intellectual depth, exploring Reichardt’s formative years and the film’s place in her oeuvre. There is also a 17-minute visual essay by critic Anton Bitel, newly created for Radiance, that explores Larry Fessenden’s multifaceted career as an actor, producer, and director, focusing on his role in River of Grass and his broader contributions to independent cinema. There is a dozen-minute collection of “Drive-by” outtakes, filmed in 1994, that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of River of Grass, including rare, never-before-seen footage. The 3-minute 'Restoration Featurette' is repeated from the Oscilloscope. Lastly is a trailer and the package has a reversible sleeve that offers original 1994 artwork and new designs by Time Tomorrow, and a limited edition collector's booklet includes an essay by Caitlin Quinlan, exploring the film’s themes, Reichardt’s debut, and its Indie context.

Kelly Reichardt's River of Grass unfolds as a minimalist neo-noir tale set in the swampy, suburban fringes of South Florida, marking her directorial debut. The film’s core theme is the existential ennui of its protagonists, trapped in unfulfilling lives. Cozy’s domestic stagnation - caring for kids, ignored by her husband - contrasts with her yearning for adventure, while Lee Ray’s rootless existence as a drifter reflects a similar discontent. Their decision to embark on a crime spree, sparked by a mistaken belief in murder, is less about criminal intent and more about escaping their realities, a motif Reichardt revisits in Old Joy with its aimless road trip. The Radiance Blu-ray offers a superior extras package compared to Oscilloscope. Curious cinephiles should pick up this new edition.

Gary Tooze