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

ADDITION: Second Run Blu-ray (June 2025): Second Run has transferred Gabriel Mascaro's Divine Love to Blu-ray. It is cited as being "presented from a 4K master approved by the director". The film is a sensory feast, distinguished by its bold visual and auditory design, which work in tandem to immerse viewers in its dystopian, evangelical-saturated Brazil of 2027. The Second Run Blu-ray (on a dual-layered disc with a maxed out bitrate) ensures a faithful reproduction of the film’s striking visual identity. Cinematographer Diego García’s neon-drenched palette (dominated by electric pinks, blues, and purples) benefits immensely from the high-resolution transfer, delivering vibrant colors and deep contrasts that enhance the film’s blend of spiritual ecstasy and dystopian artificiality. The 1080p Blu-ray preserves the fine details of the film’s textures (such as the reflective surfaces of water and the hazy interiors of cult gatherings) while maintaining clarity in both brightly lit urban scenes and dimly lit intimate moments. The video presentation is pristine, free of dirt or damage, and true to Mascaro’s vision, making the neon-soaked Brazil of 2027 feel both immersive and unsettling.

NOTE: We have added 36 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

On their Blu-ray, Second Run offers the choice of a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround or a stereo linear PCM mono track (both 24-bit) in the original Portuguese language. Divine Love’s soundscape (featuring a pulsating electronic score by Juan Campodónico, Santiago Marrero, and Otávio Santos) shines through with clarity and depth, capturing the hypnotic rhythms and gospel-pop influences that underscore the film’s ecstatic rituals. Ambient sounds (like the hum of biometric scanners, the chime of prayer booths, and the drip of water) are expected to be crisp, creating an immersive dystopian atmosphere. Dialogue is well-balanced with Joana’s introspective voiceovers delivered with emotional nuance. The surround audio mix transfer maintains the dynamic range between the score’s intensity and moments of silence, reinforcing the film’s interplay of spiritual fervor and personal isolation. It is as pristine as the HD video. Second Run offers optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Second Run Blu-ray extras include a 1/4-hour interview with Gabriel Mascaro, filmed at the 2019 Zurich Film Festival, which delves into the film’s themes of evangelicalism, biopolitics, and dystopian satire, as well as his creative process and visual inspirations. This feature provides fans and scholars direct insight into Mascaro’s intentions, enriching the viewing experience. Three trailers are included. The booklet (featuring a new essay by film critic David Jenkins) is a significant addition, offering a detailed analysis of the film’s socio-political commentary and stylistic choices.

Gabriel Mascaro's Divine Love critiques the intersection of religion and biopolitics, where spiritual ideologies infiltrate state mechanisms to control individual bodies and behaviors. Mascaro constructs a dystopian Brazil where evangelical Christianity permeates every facet of life from bureaucratic processes (e.g., Joana’s workplace uses religious rhetoric) to public spaces (e.g., drive-thru prayer booths). This reflects a Foucauldian notion of biopower, where institutions regulate life itself (marriage, reproduction, and sexuality) under the guise of divine will. 'The Divine Love' cult epitomizes this control, promoting a paradoxical mix of puritanical values and regulated sexual liberation. Its rituals (which involve communal sexual acts framed as spiritual exercises) highlight the tension between personal desire and collective ideology. Divine Love is a daring, thought-provoking exploration of faith, power, and personal contradiction in a dystopian Brazil. For viewers drawn to Mascaro’s audacious exploration of faith, sexuality, and control in a near-futuristic Brazil, this Second Run Blu-ray release is a worthy addition to any collection, balancing technical excellence with meaningful supplementary content. Recommended.

Gary Tooze