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

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (May 2024): Criterion have transferred Justine Triet's, 2023 Palme d'Or winning, Anatomy of a Fall to Blu-ray. It is cited as "Director-Approved" being from a "2K digital master". The 1080P looks about as good as you might expect fro a modern film. Simon Beaufils' (The Intouchables) cinematography has unique creative flourishes and the overall HD presentation is nothing short of pristine with very minor teal in a couple of scenes. Hopefully the screen captures below will give you an idea of the strong image quality. 

NOTE: We have added 70 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track (24-bit) with about 50/50 English and French. There are only a few separation effects - but they are effective. Anatomy of a Fall has no credited score but impacting music; 50 Cent's (as Curtis Jackson) P.I.M.P. performed by Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band, Milo Machado-Graner performing Isaac Albéniz's Asturias (Leyenda) and by Miguel Baselga in another scene, notable is Frédéric Chopin's Prélude en Mi Mineur Op. 28 No. 4 and Variations sur un Prélude based upon a theme by Chopin performed by Benoit Danie. It all sounds clean and consistent with a few deft separations via the lossless transfer. There is also a lossy 'descriptive audio track' option. Criterion offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Criterion Blu-ray offers a new 26-minute interview with writer / director Justine Triet, some longish running deleted and alternate scenes with commentary by Triet (why they didn't make the cut), 7-minutes of audition footage of actors Milo Machado Graner and Antoine Reinartz and almost 1/2 hour of rehearsal footage of Machado Graner (two) and actor Sandra Hüller plus a short program about the dog who plays Snoop (won the Palm Dog Award!), featuring trainer Laura Martin - running 8-minutes. Lastly, is an English theatrical trailer and the package has a liner notes booklet with an essay by critic Alexandra Schwartz (Ed Ruscha's Los Angeles.)

Justine Triet's Anatomy of a Fall is the director's fourth feature film. It is an intricate, well realized, slow-burning, courtroom drama. She wrote Anatomy of a Fall (with Arthur Harari; Dark Diamond) specifically for the German lead Sandra Hüller. It was their second collaboration following 2019's complex and fascinating Sibyl. The title certainly references Otto Preminger's classic psychological courtroom thriller "Anatomy of a Murder". Anatomy of a Fall is an exceptionally compelling courtroom curio, with slow reveals, French legal idiosyncrasies and thoughtful ambiguity. If not brilliant, then impressively entertaining. The Criterion Blu-ray has the film looking and sounding near-perfect with revealing extras including the director's participation. This is a wonderful way to view this 2023 Palme d'Or winning film. Absolutely recommended.

Gary Tooze