Review by Gary Tooze

 

Production:

Theatrical: Les Films Alyne

Video: Music Box Films

 

Disc:

Region: 'A'-locked (as verified by the Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player)

Runtime: 2:00:09.916

Disc Size: 24,740,415,541 bytes

Feature Size: 22,635,651,072 bytes

Video Bitrate: 21.98 Mbps

Chapters: 18

Case: Standard Blu-ray case

Release date: February 14th, 2012

 

Video:

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Audio:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1760 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1760 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)

 

Subtitles:

English (SDH), none

 

Extras:

• 6 Trailers (11:26)

 

Bitrate:

 

 

Description: An account of the early life of Maria Anna ‘Nannerl’ Mozart (Marie Féret), five years older than Wolfgang (David Moreau) and a musical prodigy in her own right.

“LIVELY and FASCINATING…A treat for classical music lovers and cinephiles alike.“

 

 

The Film:

The movie is an uncommonly knowledgeable portrait of the way musical gifts could lift people of ordinary backgrounds into high circles. We hear Papa in a letter complaining about the humiliations his family experienced by tight-fisted royals (they were kept waiting two weeks as one prince went out hunting). Leopold was a publicist, a promoter, a coach, a producer. It is possible that without him, Mozart's genius might never have become known.

Excerpt from Roger Ebert ath the Chicago Sun-Times located HERE

“Mozart’s Sister” has just started when the French director René Féret makes the point that his fictional look at the early life and times of Wolfgang Amadeus isn’t interested in the pretty manners and nostalgia of many period movies. In truth, the film has little to do even with Wolfgang, a side note in a story focused on his only sister who’s first seen squatting on the side of a road taking care of business at a short distance from her similarly engaged father, mother and brother. This is the Family Mozart, Mr. Féret seems to declare with this scene, stripped down and at their most human.

Excerpt from Manohla Dargis at the NY Times located HERE

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

Mozart's Sister appears quite strong on Blu-ray via a single-layered transfer.  The image quality appears to advance beyond its middle-of-the-road bitrate. There is noise - more than I would like - in the darker scenes but detail is impressive and there is some depth exported. Colors seem brighter and truer than SD could relate. This Blu-ray has a realistic 'period' feel (low level lighting) and the 1080P supports the distinctly realized art direction.  The 1.85:1 framed visuals are, predictably, spotless and I think it rises above its technical stats to some degree - looking very nice in-motion.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audio :

Audio is impressive via a DTS-HD Master 5.1 at 1760 kbps. The music is a treat in lossless. Aside from the obvious composer - we get a score by Marie-Jeanne Serrero. There is a distinctive crispness to the notes and an isolated score might have been a worthwhile authoring option. There are optional subtitles and my Momitsu has identified it as being a region 'A'-locked.

 

Extras :

There are no viable supplements relating to the film. We get 6 HD trailers - one of which is for Mozart's Sister.

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
While I enjoyed the examination of the title character I didn't really feel totally invested into the plot (if you can call it that). From the historical, and musical, standpoint Mozart's Sister is a fascinating film - though its 'period' distancing will be hard for many to embrace. The Blu-ray is decent and the digital noise may be more a factor off the production than the transfer. I may visit this again on day but for now only suggest those very keen on the subject matter indulge in a purchase. It can be very stiff, stayed or... rigid in its narrative style. This, however, is probably intentional. 

Gary Tooze

February 11th, 2012