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Directed by Sophie Fiennes
UK 2017

 

This electrifying journey through the public and private worlds of pop culture mega-icon Grace Jones contrasts musical sequences with intimate personal footage, all the while brimming with Jones’s bold aesthetic. A larger-than-life entertainer, an androgynous glam-pop diva, an unpredictable media presence – Grace Jones is all these things and more. Sophie Fiennes’s documentary goes beyond the traditional music biography, offering a portrait as stylish and unconventional as its subject. Taking us home with her to Jamaica, into the studio with long-time collaborators Sly & Robbie, and backstage at gigs around the world, the film reveals Jones as lover, daughter, mother, and businesswoman. But the stage is the fixed point to which the film returns, with eye-popping performances of “Slave to the Rhythm,” “Pull Up to the Bumper,” “Love Is the Drug,” and more.

***

Gender-bending performer Grace Jones gives cameras a glimpse behind-the-scenes of her life as a self-proclaimed globetrotting bohemian. Filmed over ten years, she reveals her family history and what made her the iconic artist she is today. Jean-Paul Goude also appears in this documentary. Directed by Sophie Fiennes.

Excerpt from B+N located HERE

Poster

Theatrical Release: September 7th, 2017 (Toronto International Film Festival)

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Review: Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

    

Also available in the UK, on Blu-ray, from Spirit Entertainment:

and, on Blu-ray, in Germany from Alive:

Distribution Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 2:00:28.554      
Video

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 46,567,581,626 bytes

Feature: 40,306,778,112 bytes

Video Bitrate: 32.00 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

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

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio English 3574 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3574 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English 2045 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2045 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentaries:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1973 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1973 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1996 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1996 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)

Subtitles English, French, None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Kino Lorber

 

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 46,567,581,626 bytes

Feature: 40,306,778,112 bytes

Video Bitrate: 32.00 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

Audio commentary with Grace Jones, director Sophie Fiennes, and Associate Professor of Africana Studies Judith Casselberry
Audio commentary with director Sophie Fiennes and critic Ian Haydn Smith
Q&A with Grace Jones and Sophie Fiennes, moderated by Piotr Orlov (Courtesy of Film Society of Lincoln Center)


Blu-ray Release Date: August 14
th, 2018
Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 8

 

 

Comments:

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

Kino has brought the 2017 documentary "Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami" on a dual-layered Blu-ray with a high bitrate. This rather unconventional documentary is composed of footage compiled over a decade or so. The 1.85:1 image quality ranges depending on the format on which it is being shot. There is a certain low-quality digital look to the personal footage of Jones recording or spending time with friends and family. This footage is juxtaposed with brilliant high-definition quality footage (16mm) of Jones performing on stage. The digital image is rather poor but this adds a certain character to the film, giving personal moments more of a home-movie vibe. This is an unusual approach for a documentary, but it is a refreshing one.

When Jones is on stage, the audio just booms. The 5.1 DTS-HD Master track is vibrant and sounds better than most live-recordings. The digital footage however falls within the limits of the format. Dialogue is clear and intelligible though. This low-quality digital sound, much like the picture, is intentional and provides the feeling of being in the room with Grace and company. There is also a 2.0 stereo DTS-HD track, but unless you don't have a surround setup, I wouldn't recommend it. There are optional French and English subtitles on this Region-A
Blu-ray.

Kino bring us not one, but two commentaries for "Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami". The first track features Grace, along with director Sophie Fiennes and Associate Professor of Africana Studies (Bowdoin College) Judith Casselberry. This is a very relaxed track, with Jones telling many fascinating stories, including meeting Nelson Mandela. The other track is a commentary with director Fiennes, as well as film critic Ian Haydn Smith. This track focuses less on the life and mythos of Jones, and more on the film production side of things. The two tracks rarely overlap as far as info, and both are wonderful to have here. Next up is a Q&A with Grace Jones and Sophie Fiennes, moderated by Piotr Orlov (Courtesy of Film Society of Lincoln Center). This is a really nice conversation, dealing with how Fiennes and Jones found each other, and their love and respect for each other is palpable. Finally, Kino also provides the film's trailer.

"Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami" is a unique and insightful take on not just Jones, but the idea of a documentary itself. By eschewing the typical documentary scenarios and methods (ie talking heads), the film feels more personal and impassioned. Director Fiennes and Jones make for a wonderful pairing and this
Blu-ray package from Kino is highly recommended. And those commentaries are well worth it alone. 

Colin Zavitz

 


Menus / Extras

 


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

  


 

Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

    

Also available in the UK, on Blu-ray, from Spirit Entertainment:

and, on Blu-ray, in Germany from Alive:

Distribution Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

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