One doesn't really expect Jean Genet's cine-poem "Un chant d'amour" to be released by a company called Cult Epics, yet I couldn't be more happy with the work they've done.

The image looks acceptable considering the source material. The black and white transfer does have its obvious deficiencies with damage (scratches) and some visible chroma - it is a bit hazy at times, yet that has to do with the film's turbulent past (Jonas Mekas talks about this in his video introduction). Still, we get a very satisfying image, with very good contrast, a nice amount of detail and very film-like grain.

There is no choice of soundtracks, since this film was shot silently and intended by Genet to be watched that way. But we do get an audio commentary by filmmaker Kenneth Anger, who met Genet and was deeply influenced by him. Even though there are some lengthy gaps in Anger's talk, he is still able to tell us interesting things about the film's history as well as its unique style..

Also on the first disc is the afore-mentioned introduction by Jonas Mekas. He provides some first-hand information about the production of the film, which he says he got from producer Nikos Papatakis. He also tells a fascinating story of how he smuggled the film into the United States, with the help of playwright Harold Pinter. Eventually, he talks about different interpretations of the film and its significance on cinema.

This amount of attention to supplements for this film is already more than one would expect, yet the real deal actually starts on disc 2. There's a 50-minute documentary called "Genet" by Antoine Bourseiller from 1981 and as well as Bertrand Poirot-Delpech's 1982 interview "Jean Genet" which runs for about 45 minutes. The greatest thing about these two featurettes is obviously Jean Genet's own involvement. He talks intimately about his childhood, past lovers, his time in jail, his view of the world, writing and cinema. The wealth of fascinating information given here is astounding.

Cult Epics' release is not just a great DVD of this important counter-cultural film, but actually a remarkable tribute to Jean Genet, one of the 20th century's greatest artists. For a moderate price you not only get one of cinema's most extraordinary and poetic achievements, but also hours of talk by Jean Genet himself and insight from experts and appreciators. You must realize that I'm clearly urging you to get this disc.