The White Ribbon (AE Spine # 008 vs. Sony) [Blu-ray]
(aka "Das weisse Band - Eine deutsche
Kindergeschichte" or "The White Tape or the
Teacher's Tale")
(Michael Haneke,
2009)
Review by Brian Montgomery and
Gary Tooze
Studio:
Theatrical: X-Filme Creative Pool/Wega
Film/Les Films du Losange/Lucky Red
Blu-ray: Artificial Eye /
Sony
Disc:
Region: AE 'B'-locked /
Sony Region 'A'-locked
(as verified by the
Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player)
Runtime: 2:23:33.605 /
2:23:55.627
Disc Size: 43,917,487,158 bytes /
48,410,490,399 bytes
Feature Size: 33,604,454,400 bytes /
36,468,387,840 bytes
Video Bitrate: 18.10 Mbps /
26.89
Chapters: 9 (both)
Case: Standard Blu-ray case (both)
Release date: March 15th, 2010 /
June 29th, 2010
Video (same
for both):
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Artificial Eye - Region 'B'
Blu-ray
TOP vs. Sony - Region 'A'
Blu-ray
BOTTOM
Audio:
DTS-HD Master Audio German 1657 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1657
kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English 2077 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2077
kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio German 2783 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2783
kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles:
English, none (Sony
also offer English SDH)
NOTE: Reed tells us in email "Sony subtitles are much
smaller, less bright, and obtrusive than AE. On a film this
visually beautiful, every unnecessary compromising intrusion
becomes an abomination." (Thanks Reed!)
Extras (duplicated
on both):
• Making of Documentary (38:33)
• Portrait of Michael Haneke (50:08) -
entitled 'My Life' on Sony Blu-ray
• Cannes Film Festival featurette (18:35)
• Interview with Michael Haneke (14:59)
• Theatrical trailer
The Film:
Something is wrong in the village. Some
malevolent force, some rot in the
foundation. This wrongness is first sensed
in a series of incidental "accidents." Then
the maiming of a child takes place. This
forces the villagers, who all know one
another, to look around more carefully. Is
one of them guilty? How can that be? One
person couldn't be responsible for all of
these disturbing events. Have many been
seized in an evil contagion?
After the first screening of Michael
Haneke's "The White Ribbon" at Cannes,
everybody had theories about who "did it."
Well, we're trained to see such stories as
whodunits. Haneke is never that simple. It
all may have been "done," but what if there
seems to be no doer? What if bad things
happen to good people who are not as good as
they think they are? In Haneke's "Cache"
(2005), who shot the alarming videos spying
on the family? Are you sure? Haneke's
feeling is that we can never be certain.
Excerpt of review from Roger Ebert located
HERE
Image:
NOTE:
The below
Blu-ray
captures were taken directly from the
Blu-ray
disc.
Without the slightest hint of hyperbole, I
can honestly say that this might be the best
looking blu-ray that I've ever come across.
I literally cannot find anything to complain
about in this disc. The image is crystal
clear and, as you can see in the caps, very
minute details are presented with stunning
clarity. Take the fourth capture for
instance. There it appears that every last
straw is distinguishable from the others and
with exceptional levels of depth and
contrast. Of course clarity is only part of
the story when it comes to the image, and
the disc could have been ruined by damage,
macroblocking, manipulating the
contrast, edge enhancements, or other artefacting. Fortunately, none of these are
an issue here. I know that I've used a lot
of expressive adjectives and generally
sounded very effusive, but as I'm sure that
you'll see when you look at the caps, it was
also an accurate report.
Despite the technical superiority of the
Sony (notably high bitrate) I don't see any
significant differences between the two
editions. The Sony may be marginally sharper
at times, show a bit more depth and a shade
less noise in some of the darker sequences.
Unless you are projecting this larger than
120" I doubt many could tell the difference.
Artificial Eye - Region 'B' Blu-ray
TOP vs. Sony - Region 'A'
Blu-ray BOTTOM
Artificial Eye - Region 'B' Blu-ray
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Artificial Eye - Region 'B' Blu-ray
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Blu-ray BOTTOM
Artificial Eye - Region 'B' Blu-ray
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Blu-ray BOTTOM
Artificial Eye - Region 'B' Blu-ray
TOP vs. Sony - Region 'A'
Blu-ray BOTTOM
Artificial Eye - Region 'B' Blu-ray
TOP vs. Sony - Region 'A'
Blu-ray BOTTOM
Artificial Eye - Region 'B' Blu-ray
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Blu-ray BOTTOM
Artificial Eye - Region 'B' Blu-ray
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More Captures from the Sony
Blu-ray
Audio & Music:
The disc boasts a very impressive DTS-HD
Master Audio 5.1 in the original German, and
like the image, I can't find anything wrong
with it. The clarity and contrast are both
very strong, and although it may not have
the full level of richness blaring out of
all speakers like you might from last
summer's blockbusters, it's nevertheless
very nice, without any unwanted noise. The
disc comes with optional English subtitles
that are very clear and never intrude on the
image. Unfortunately, the disc is region B
locked.
Aside from the Sony being Region 'A'-locked
(and the AE 'B') the only other significant
difference in the discs is that the Sony
offers the option of English narrative for the German dialogue. We
don't recommend utilizing this feature. The
Sony has, by default, the original German
language (also in lossless) and optional
English subtitles (but in both standard and SDH).
Extras:
The disc also comes with a wealth of extras.
First up, there's an interview with the
director that as he discusses the origins of
the project and how it progressed through
several stages to its final project. Next,
there's a lengthy documentary about Haneke
that details both his projects and a glimpse
into his private life via his wife. Next up
is a look into the film's Cannes win,
complete with the typical Cannes panel
discussion. Finally, aside from a HD
trailer, there's also a "making of..."
documentary that details the film from it's
genesis through its production, and eventual
arrival in Cannes.
Extras appear to be duplicated on both discs
- I especially recommend the 50-minute 'My
Life'
(Portrait of Haneke).
Sony - Region 'A' Blu-ray
Menus (and supplements - duplicated on both)
Bottom line:
The film itself is an absolute masterpiece
with some of the most gorgeous
cinematography that I have ever seen.
Artificial Eye has done the film justice
with an exquisite package. This is
one of the easiest recommendations that I've
ever made. If you don't already own the
disc, then do yourself a favor and buy it
now. It's an absolute must own for anyone
interested in cinema, and my current front
runner for
Blu-ray
of the year.
I'll mirror Brian's comments
but those unfamiliar with the director
should note this has some highly unsettling
themes. Regardless, it is a masterpiece.
Brian Montgomery
May 2nd, 2010
Gary Tooze
June 2010
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