The new Criterion Blu-ray of Brink of Life (So Close to Life) is part of their Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema 100th Anniversary 30 Blu-ray Boxset (reviewed, as a work in-progress, HERE). It shares the dual-layered Blu-ray with Waiting Women. We have compared it below to Artificial Eye's Classic Bergman 5-disc Blu-ray set as So Close to Life reviewed HERE. The Criterion has a marginally higher bitrate and shows less information in the frame - the AE shows rounded corners. But the running time of the Criterion is 3-minutes longer and I am still investigating why (unless it is the US version vs. the UK version?). The Criterion is brighter and has superior contrast. It is from the 35mm original negative and starts with this source-text screen:

The film is presented in its original Swedish language, on a mono 24-bit linear PCM track. Dialogue is clear, flat and consistent.  There are optional English subtitles on this Region-Free Blu-ray.

There are no extras at all on the Blu-ray disc, only the two films; Waiting Women and Brink of Life.

I was floored by Brink of Life on Blu-ray, when I watched Artificial Eye's Classic Bergman 5-disc Blu-ray set as So Close to Life. But my admiration for the film and director has only grown and I would say this is an essential part of Criterion's Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema 100th Anniversary 30 Blu-ray Boxset.

***

ON THE Artificial Eye Classic Bergman 5-disc Blu-ray set: Wonderful. I am immensely impressed with Artificial Eye's Blu-ray package of Classic Bergman. I was overjoyed  to see some of the director's work I had never seen before - and in solid 1080P transfers.

I did some comparisons below - where applicable - to SD versions. In short - the Criterion Sawdust and Tinsel was picture-boxed, modestly cropped and the Sandrew PAL editions were boosted, muddy and very video-like. The Artificial Eye Blu-ray image improve as the films get younger with So Close to Life looking the best. It has fabulous contrast, excellent detail, a pleasing sheen of grain and even some depth. Sawdust and Tinsel and Dreams are likewise excellent for presentation appearance. There is minor frame specific damage marks and scratches and It Rains on Our Love has fluctuating contrast in the beginning. But overall I am very happy with these transfers (essentially single-layering for the features) with mid-20's or higher bitrates.  

The audio is very clear in original Swedish mono via a robust linear PCM track(s) and there are optional English subtitles. I noted no significant flaws such as pops. There was a bit of depth in spots but this was not originally carried in abundance in any of the five films.

Supplements: Sharing the Dreams disc we get 'Women and Bergman' It runs 1/2 hour and is transferred in HD. Producer/Director Eva Beling brought together four prominent Ingmar Bergman actresses; Gunnel Linblom, Bibi Andersson, Pernilla August and Elin Klinga to discuss their work with Bergman in film and theater. Renowned Swedish film critic Nils Petter Sundgren, who has followed Ingmar Bergman throughout his career, hosts the program. It was originally Broadcast on Ingmar Bergman's birthday July 14th, 2008 on Swedish Public Television. On the So Close to Life disc we get the 52-minute long 'Men and Bergman' where Thommy Berggren, Börje Ahlstedt, Thorsten Flinck and Erland Josephson discuss their work with Bergman sharing personal stories and anecdotes - hosted again by Sundgren. Both extras are in Swedish with English subtitles.

I think AE should be very proud of this package. I was floored by the films and thrilled with the a/v of the Blu-ray rendering. This is really a valuable use of the new format - creating a supremely important film-like package fir your Home theater enjoyment. It overflows with value and we give it our highest recommendation.