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

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (July 2019): Criterion's new Blu-ray package of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's BRD Trilogy ("The Marriage of Maria Braun" "Veronika Voss" and "Lola") states that both "The Marriage..." and "Lola" feature new 4K digital restorations. When it comes to "Veronika Voss" (truly one of Fassbinder's best) all that is stated in the press release is that this is just a High-definition digital restoration. Dig a little deeper and the included booklet has more details; "The HD digital transfer was created on a C-Reality Wetgate film scanner from the 35mm original camera negative. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, and scratches were removed using the MTI Digital Restoration System." "Veronika Voss" utilizes brilliant Black & White photography, while making the brave choice to let certain scenes get bathed in an overexposed backlighting, with dramatic lens flares or at times to create a sense of dread utilizing shadows. This Blu-ray tends to impress as far as the overall effect is concerned. Having never seen this when it originally screened or aired, I cannot judge how faithful this transfer is, but I can safely say that this dual-layered disc has a high bitrate and a pretty robust contrast ratio. When it comes to this film's imagery, this package certainly outshines any previous DVD editions. Though having the certain glossy soft look at times (the vaseline-lens melodramatic effect that was so prevalent throughout the early Hollywood pictures) the image is rich with detail, showing a fine clarity throughout the picture. I can't recommend this film enough.

NOTE: We have added 10 more large resolution Criterion Blu-ray captures for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

Once again, Criterion have wisely chosen to include the film's original mono in 24-bit uncompressed linear PCM. As the included booklet states; "the original monaural soundtrack was remastered from the 35mm magnetic track. Clicks, thumps, hiss, hum, and crackle were manually removed using Pro Tools HD and iZotope RX." The film sounds quite crisp and any clean-up work is seamless. Impressive work. There are optional subtitles on this Region 'A' Blu-ray from Criterion.

Criterion have included the fabulous Tony Rayns commentary that appeared on the 2003 DVD edition. Rayns is a noted film critic and editor of 'Fassbinder'. "Rosel Zech with Juliane Lorenz" is a conversation between the two that was filmed in 2003. Rosel Zech started out in theater (like many of R.W. Fassbinder actors) working with top German directors, and through Fassbinder she met Juliane Lorenz, editor of many of Fassbinder's films. This half-hour conversation between the two provides some fascinating insights into the career and personal life of Fassbinder. "Dance with Death" is a roughly hour-long 2000 portrait of actor Sybille Schmitz, that uses interviews with relatives and colleagues, as well as clips from her films, to illustrate the actor's wild rise and fall. The documentary delves into the actor's enigmatic life, particularly her fate after World War II and the circumstances of her death in 1955, which inspired R.W. Fassbinder to make his own "Sunset Blvd." version of a similar star. Like most real-life tales that inspire melodrama, this is a story full of tragedy and pain. "I Don't Just Want You to Love Me" is a 97-minute 1992 documentary about Fassbinder. In it, director Hans Gunther Pflaum interviews members of the Fassbinder "family," like actors Hanna Schygulla, Harry Baer, and Ingrid Caven and Fassbinder's mother, Liselotte Eder. The film's trailer rounds out the disc. This set also features a 52-page booklet featuring the essay "Heartbreak House" by film critic Kent Jones and production histories by author Michael Töteberg.

Like I said above, I can't recommend this film enough. "Veronika Voss" is worth the cost of the 3-Blu-ray set on its own. It would make a terrific double-bill with "Sunset Blvd." 

Colin Zavitz