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

ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - October 11': Typical for Criterion they have one soft-pallet on the colors but heavier black levels - this brings up sharpness and the 1080P visuals exhibit some nice depth. Textured grain is evident. The Bongo edition looks good for SD but flatter, softer and more video-like beside the Criterion Blu-ray. Criterion skin tones seem to have warmed and the SD has a bluish/green tinge to it. I have never seen this theatrically but suspect the Criterion is more accurate with the overall appearance.

Criterion render their typical mono linear PCM track - again advancing beyond the SD - although subtly. There is still appears to be some minor sync-speed issue but it is not pervasive. There are optional English subtitles on the region 'A'-locked disc.

This is the first Criterion release for some time that has gone bare-bones on the digital supplement-front. There is a trailer but nothing more and the package contains a booklet featuring an essay by critic John Powers and a 1982 interview with director Michelangelo Antonioni by critic Gideon Bachmann.

Nice to see this without the PAL speedup and as clear and sharp - I definitely enjoyed the film more than a couple of years back. Identification of a Woman has really grown on me and I appreciate seeing it in 1080P. This lower tier Criterion pricing package is recommended - Antonioni fans won't want to miss out!

***

ON THE DVD: There are some very good things about this Mr. Bongo Films edition of this, previously unreleased, Antonioni film. It is in the correct aspect ratio of 1.85:1. It is dual-layered, anamorphic and even progressive. Picture quality is not bad at all - a shade glossy at times with some minor moiring. Overall, I'd say I was pleasantly surprised and quite happy with the end result of the image transfer. Detail, contrast and colors all seem very competent. It's not perfect but it's vastly better than I was anticipating having never seen anything from Mr. Bongo before. Listed as part of a 'TRIBUTE TO ANTONIONI SERIES' could we be too selfish to wish for the also unreleased Il Mistero di Oberwald (The Mystery of Oberwald) in the near future?

I thought the 2.0 channel audio had a few sync issues but I couldn't really nail an example and there are optional English subtitles in a larger-than-usual font. Again acceptable if imperfect.

Unfortunately, it was reported that this DVD edition would have some extra features but alas there are none. Still, I am very pleased to actually be able to see this Antonioni film on an English-friendly DVD. Certainly fans of the director should also be pleased that the transfer is so adept although supplements would have been the 'icing on the cake'. I'm still mulling over the film - it has an intangible quality that I was enjoying very much. I must watch it a least a few times. Until something superior comes along this DVD edition is certainly recommended at this very reasonable price! 

Gary W. Tooze