Fox Lorber

Region 0 - NTSC

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 6,17 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Fox Lorber

Eureka / Masters of Cinema #60

NO AVAILABLE

Blu-ray

French (Dolby Digital 2.0)

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterboxed - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• Trailer (1:36)
• Production credits
• DVD-5

DVD Release Date: 27 April 1999
Keep Case

Chapters 8

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• Trailer (1:35)
• Booklet (40 pages)
• DVD-5
 

Chapters 17

Chapters 24

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (May 2019): Criterion release an all new 4K digital restoration of Bruno Dumont's debut film, "La Vie De Jesus". This is quite an improvement over previous SD DVD editions of the film. The dual-layered Blu-ray showcases the film in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio with a completely maxed out bitrate. Gone is the jaundiced looking tint of the DVD releases, showing much deeper greens and blues, while holding back on the yellows. The framing also reveals slightly more information, especially on the right side of the frame (while showing a little less on top, and more on the bottom). A robust contrast with a wide range of blacks gives the film a deeper, and less flat image. Certain shots can look a little over-exposed (notice the screen capture of the sun peeking through the clouds), though this is most likely due to the film being used. Probably the most notable upgrade from the standard definition DVDs is the clarity of the image. Background details that were once blobs have now sharpened, showing much more information. More outstanding work from Criterion.

Criterion include the film's original uncompressed 2.0 audio track, in 24-bit linear PCM. Composer Richard Cuvillier (L'Humanite, Xueiv) is credited with composing music for the film. It must be the diegetic music (marching band/music on the radio) since the film eschews the typical score underlying each beat. This vérité-like choice to eschew a typical score, emphasizes the day-to-day sounds in the film, whether they be the roaring motorbikes, blistering winds, or bleak silences. There are optional English subtitles on this Region 'A' Blu-ray.

Criterion's Blu-ray of "La Vie de Jesus" contains a handful of bonus features. "Bruno Dumont" is a new 16-minute interview with the director, shot by the Criterion Collection in 2019. In this talk, Dumont discusses his debut feature film. "Le Cercle de Minuit" is a 26-minutes of segments from 2 episodes of the French television program, hosted by Laure Adler. These segments feature interviews with director Dumont. The first episode was broadcast in May, 1997 and the second in June of the same year. These are surprisingly in-depth conversations with the filmmaker, something that was surely missing from North American television in the 90's. "Philippe Rouyer" is a 40-minute back-and-forth between Dumont and critic Philippe Rouyer from 2014. Also on this Blu-ray is the film's trailer. The cover features new artwork from Vivienne Flesher, and there is an essay from critic Nicholas Elliot in the accompanying booklet (not available to us at the time of review).

1997's "La Vie De Jesus" announced director Bruno Dumont as a new standout director. As he would continue to prove, Dumont is never one to shy away from controversy, and it should be noted that this film does feature a particularly racy sequence (penetration shot). That said, Dumont found a truly indelible cast of non-actors, reminding me of Passolini's casting of non-actors, welcoming their unique unpolished characteristics and talent. We get the real impression left is that of a true small-town bunch of young people, with their bottled up emotions ready to explode at any moment. Criterion's new 4K-restored Blu-ray is really appreciated, given the lackluster attention this film has previously received on physical media (could be due to that aforementioned adult shot). Recommended to adult cinephiles.

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