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

ADDITION: Radiance Blu-ray (May 2024): Radiance have transferred Laura Citarella's Trenque Lauquen to Blu-ray. The, over 4.5 hour film, is on the first Blu-ray (dual-layered) with the film divided into two parts (with 12 titled sections) as it was shown theatrically. There is a second Blu-ray of supplements. Once again, a modern film, shot on digital (1.78:1 with a sequence near the conclusion in about 2.70:1) so the 1080P image quality is excellent - pristinely clean, sharp etc. I had no issues at all with my HD presentation. 

NOTE: We have added 66 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Radiance use a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track (24-bit) in the original Spanish language. Trenque Lauquen has no demonstrative aggressive sequences but there are a few sneaky, outdoor (nature) or dining/coffee locale, separations. The score is credited to Gabriel Chwojnik (Citarella's 2011 Ostende of which Trenque Lauquen is said to be a sequel), and classical fans will be aware of Chopin's Grande Valse Brillante Op.18 (Waltz in E flat major.) All good with touches of crispness. Radiance offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The second Blu-ray has all of the supplements including a 3/4 hour interview with director Laura Citarella discussing Trenque Lauquen, the making of the film and the El Pampero Cine filmmaking collective. The interview was conducted in Paris by Cahiers du Cinéma editor Marcos Uzal in April 2023. Recorded exclusively for Radiance in Buenos Aires in 2024, screenwriter and star of Trenque Lauquen, Laura Paredes, discusses the evolution of her character Laura from previous films, literary influences, and the future of the Argentinean film industry. It runs over a dozen minutes. There is a new 11-minute, 2024, interview editor of Little White Lies, David Jenkins, discussing Trenque Lauquen's literary structure, the Lineage of on-screen 'Lauras', and the unusual filmmaking methods of El Pampero Cine. Included is a 1/4 hour interview with Ezequiel Pierri who talks about his experiences of working as an actor for the first time, alongside the challenges of shooting a film for six years. Eiko Ishibashi x Laura Citarella runs 12-minutes and is one of 25 films commissioned for Film Fest Gent's golden anniversary in 2023. Twenty-five composers were paired with 25 filmmakers and invited to write a short piece of music. Eiko Ishibashi provides the score in a short by Laura Citarella which continues to explore the town of Trenque Lauquen. There are two galleries; provided exclusively to Radiance - behind-the-scenes photos from Laura Citarella's personal archive, accompanied by the Director's own commentary, showcase the creation of two key sets in Trenque Lauquen: the Radio Station and the 'Creature Room'. Lastly is a trailer. The package has a
reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow and a limited edition booklet featuring new writing by Caitlin Quinlan and Jake Cole.

Laura Citarella's Trenque Lauquen is also the name of an actual city in the west of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. What the film is really about is the mystery of a missing woman, Laura, her emotional connections, her botanical work involving a new flower species, but more pivotally to the story - her discovery of some very old love, quasi-erotic, letters hidden in library book bindings and glued between the pages. Another layer adds two men seeking her out - her boss and a hopeful paramour. There are flashbacks as secrets are revealed and mysteries advance and minutely unfold. The romance of the discovered letters spills into characters. Ohhh and a 'creature's existence, pregnancy and the protagonist's mental stability are all circumstantial but never really fleshed out. You get the idea? A bit of a 'shaggy dog story' of mysterious delight. Rightfully, Trenque Lauquen is a very highly regarded film winning over 1/2 a dozen international awards. The Radiance Blu-ray has the lengthy film in efficient 1080P and beaucoup supplement interviews with the participants. Very highly recommended!

Gary Tooze