Perfume - The Story of Murderer

(aka "Das Parfum-- Die Geschichte eines Mörders" or "Le Parfum--Histoire d'un meurtrier" or "El Perfume--Historia de un asesino")

directed by Tom Tykwer
Germany 2006

It is in the nature of creatures like Grenouille (I suppose) that they have no friends. Indeed he has few conversations, and they are rudimentary. His life, as it must be, is almost entirely interior, so Twyker provides a narrator (John Hurt) to establish certain events and facts. Even then, the film is essentially visual, not spoken, and does a remarkable job of establishing Grenouille and his world. We can never really understand him, but we and cannot tear our eyes away.

Perfume begins in the stink of the gutter and remains dark and brooding. To rob a person of his scent is cruel enough, but the way it is done in this story is truly macabre. Still it can be said that Grenouille is driven by the conditions of his life and the nature of his spirit. Also, of course, that he may indeed be the devil’s spawn.

This is a dark, dark, dark film, focused on an obsession so complete and lonely it shuts out all other human experience. You may not savor it, but you will not stop watching it, in horror and fascination. Whishaw succeeds in giving us no hint of his character save a deep savage need. And Dustin Hoffman produces a quirky old master whose life is also governed by perfume, if more positively. Hoffman reminds us here again, as in Stranger than Fiction, what a detailed and fascinating character actor he is, able to bring to the story of Grenouille precisely what humor and humanity it needs, and then tactfully leaving it at that. Even his exit is nicely timed.

Excerpt from Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times located HERE

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Theatrical Release: 7 September 2006

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DVD Review: Paramount - Region 1 - NTSC

Big thanks to Yunda Eddie Feng for the Review!

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Paramount Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	147 min
Video	2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.88 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	Dolby Digital 5.1 English, Dolby Digital 2.0 surround English
Subtitles	Optional English, French, Spanish
Features	Release Information: Studio: Paramount Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1 Edition Details: • The Story of Perfume • previews for other movies DVD Release Date: 24 July 2007 Keepcase Chapters 17

Comments:

Video:
Despite the mid-range bit rate of 5.88 Mbps, the picture is frequently breathtaking. Both the squalor and the beauty of historical France are represented with sharp, vivid images. Like most movies today, this one was probably processed into a computer at a very early stage, so there are no problems with physical damage to the film print. Reds, purples, and violets are outstanding. This is probably one of the best SD-DVD video presentations that I’ve ever seen.

Audio:
Perfume is generally a quiet mood piece since the subject is a stealthy serial killer, so the Dolby Digital 5.1 English track is suitably subdued for most of the movie. The outdoors sequences have effective ambient noises, and the climax features a crowd scene that envelops the viewer in a swell of human voices shouting from every direction.

You can also watch the movie with a DD 2.0 surround English track (recommended if you don’t have a Dolby Digital 5.1 set-up). Optional English, French, and Spanish subtitles as well as optional English closed captions support the audio.

Extras:
The only feature-related extra is “The Story of Perfume”, a superficial recounting of the movie’s genesis. The talking heads clips are rather embarrassing, with Ben Whishaw talking about Tom Tykwer as if Tykwer were one of the greatest directors of all time.

There are also previews for other movies, including Zodiac (also about a serial killer).

- Yunda Eddie Feng

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