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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka 'Miraculous Virgin' or 'The Miraculous Virgin' or 'The Wonder-Maid')

 

Directed by Stefan Uher

Czechoslovakia 1967

 

Adapted by The Sun in a Net director Stefan Uher from the renowned 1944 novella by Dominik Tatarka, the film is an exquisite, surreal odyssey through the Slovak art scene of the 1960s. The mysterious Anabella (Knife in the Water's Jolanta Umecka) casts a spell over a group of young artists to become their muse, awakening desires and providing inspiration. Few works have embraced or expressed the notion of artistic fervour as wholeheartedly as The Miraculous Virgin.

Second Run present Stefan Uher's The Miraculous Virgin on region-free Blu-ray and DVD editions which also includes Uher's breathtaking 1959 short film Marked by Darkness (Pozna ení tmou), an all- new documentary about the film and its legacy produced by the Slovak Film Institute, and a rare vintage featurette 'Looking for Anabella' - a short archival documentary on the filmmaker's search for the titular lead - plus a booklet with a new essay on the film by Michal Michalovi.

 

Posters etc.

Theatrical Release: January 20th, 1967

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Review: Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover

 

 

Distribution

Second Run
Region FREE
Blu-ray

Runtime

1:36:33.833

Video

Disc Size:  31,953,114,433 bytes

Feature Size: 24,076,677,120 bytes

Average Bitrate: 29.39 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

Bitrate:

 

Second Run Blu-ray

 

Audio

LPCM Audio Slovak 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit

Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Second Run

 

Disc Size:  31,953,114,433 bytes

Feature Size: 24,076,677,120 bytes

Average Bitrate: 29.39 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:
• The Miraculous Virgin (Panna zázra nica, 1966) presented from a brand new 2K restoration of the film from original materials by the Slovak Film Institute.
Marked by Darkness (Pozna ení tmou, 1959) - a short film by tefan Uher. (16:50)
The Story of 'The Miraculous Virgin': an all new documentary on the film, the talents behind it and its legacy, produced by the Slovak Film Institute. (24:06)
vLooking for Annabella: an archival documentary on the filmmaker's search for the titular lead. (2:34)
Trailer (2:44)
Booklet featuring new writing on the film by Michal Michalovi


Blu-ray  Release Date: August 20th, 2018
Transparent Blu-ray case

Chapters: 12

 

 

Comments

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

Second Run's package is advertised as "presented from a brand new 2K restoration of the film from original materials by the Slovak Film Institute". IMDb lists the film as being shot for 1.66:1 but this transfer aspect ratio is 1.37:1 and composition looks correct to me. The image is extremely impressive - layered contrast,  bright, depth and reasonably tight with texture. I thought this dual-layered, 1080P, Blu-ray looked clean and very pleasing in-motion. I also loved Stanislav Szomolányi's cinematography.

 

The audio transfer is via a linear PCM 2.0 channel mono track (24-bit). There are few aggressive effects that comes through with hints of depth. There is a score by Ilja Zeljenka (Uher's The Sun in a Net, Dragon's Return) and it suits the film's shifting moods. Second Run add optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

 

Second Run extras include Marked by Darkness (Pozna ení tmou, 1959) - a playful short film (16:50) by Stefan Uher that reminded me a bit of Jean Cocteau. The Story of 'The Miraculous Virgin' is an all new, 24-minute, documentary on the film, the talents behind it and its legacy, produced by the Slovak Film Institute. Looking for Annabella is a short archival documentary on the filmmaker's search for the titular lead including time at the audition process. There is also a trailer and the package has a booklet featuring new writing on the film by Michal Michalovi.
 

Miraculous Virgin is a wonderfully imaginative, mixed genre, surreal transcendent effort with a poetic sensibility providing an enjoyable film-experience with themes involving desire, expectation, fantasy, art and much more. On top of that the Blu-ray presentation is sweet.... and there are some relevant extras. Strongly recommended to fans of 60's Czech or world cinema in general. I thought it was fabulous on many levels.  

 - Gary Tooze

Menu - Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray


 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 



 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 
Box Cover

 

 

Distribution

Second Run
Region FREE
Blu-ray

 

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