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 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "A Comedy of Power" or "The Comedy of Power" or "Comedy of Power")

 

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/direct-chair/chabrol.htm
Germany / France 2006

 

The latest thriller from French New Wave veteran Claude Chabrol opens with a tongue-in-cheek claim that it does not depict real events, even though it’s timely and provocative account of corporate and political corruption was inspired by a real-life scandal involving a French oil giant and several top-level politicians. The stunning and accomplished Isabelle Huppert stars as Jeanne, a tenacious magistrate known as “the piranha” of the judiciary system, who puts her personal life on the back burner to pursue white-collar criminals with their private hands in public pockets. After gaining fame for locking up an embezzling CEO, Jeanne pushes the limits of her intoxicating power further than ever and winds up isolated in a dangerous game of threats and intimidation.

 

Poster

 

Theatrical Release: Germany 16 February 2006 (Berlin International Film Festival)

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DVD Review: Koch Lorber - Region 0 - NTSC

Big thanks to Per-Olof Strandberg for the Review!

 

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Distribution

Koch Lorber

Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime 1:49:32
Video

1:1.85 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.95 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate

Audio French (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Koch Lorber

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1:1.85

Edition Details:
• Trailer (1:57)
• Making of Featurette (30:10)
• KochLorber trailers

DVD Release Date: May 8, 2007
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Chapters 17

 

 

 

Comments:

Comedy of Power is an excellent Chabrol film with strong performance from Isabelle Huppert. I like the use of music (Matthieu Chabrol), and the sudden endings. The end credits appears always a little before you suspect.

As with the other recent Chabrol films shot by Eduardo Serra (The Bridesmaid, The Flower of Evil), it seems that they are designed only for cinema purpose. To transfer an image with low light (natural light) to DVD always ends up with some compromises. The picture is a little brightened to be more suitable for home viewing. This ends up with bad contrasts, and occasionally soft image, that you don't see in a cinema. I believe this is a quite good reproduction of the original image, and seems to be a genuine NTSC transfer.

The Dolby Digital 2.0 sound is strong, although the French DVD do have a DD 5.1 mix that is absent here.

The yellow subtitles has some errors in the text change, it leaves for 1-2 frames vertical lines, that are disturbing when the DVD is viewed on a projector.

The documentary has good background information of the subject in the film. Many Chabrol fans will be happy with these region free DVD.

STRONG RECOMMENDATION.

 - Per-Olof Strandberg

 

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DVD Box Cover

CLICK to order from:
Distribution

Koch Lorber

Region 0 - NTSC




 

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