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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r
(aka "Beröringen")

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/direct-chair/bergman.htm
 USA / Sweden 1971

 

With his first English-language film, a critical and box-office disaster, Ingmar Bergman delivered a compelling portrait of conflicting desires. In The Touch, a chance encounter between seemingly contented housewife Karin (Bibi Andersson) and David (Elliott Gould), an intense American archaeologist scarred by his family’s past, leads to the initiation of a torrid and tempestuous affair, one that eventually threatens the stability of Karin’s marriage to a respected local surgeon (Max von Sydow). Upon its release, the filmmaker declared this emotionally complex and sensitively performed film to be his first real love story.

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Karin Vergerus (Bibi Andersson) is a beautiful young Swedish woman and a seemingly happy wife and mother, married to Andreas (Max von Sydow), a very reserved surgeon. When David Kovac (Elliott Gould), an archaeologist from the United States, arrives in the area, Karin becomes strongly attracted to him and his inherent sense of freedom from mundane life. As Karin and David begin an affair, the two must contend with the effects that the romance has on their lives.

Posters

Theatrical Release: June 26th, 1971 (Berlin International Film Festival)

Reviews                                                                              More Reviews                                                                                 DVD Reviews

 

Review: Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover

   

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Also available on Blu-ray from BFI in the UK:
Distribution Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:55:08.818   
Video

Disc Size: 49,138,103,012 bytes

Feature Size: 20,420,917,248 bytes

Average Bitrate: 20.19 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

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

Audio

LPCM Audio English | Swedish | French 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles English (SDH), English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Criterion

 

Disc Size: 49,138,103,012 bytes

Feature Size: 20,420,917,248 bytes

Average Bitrate: 20.19 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• shares the Blu-ray Disc with A Serpent's Egg

Ingmar Bergman (55:24)


 Blu-ray Release Date: November 20th, 2018

Custom Blu-ray Case

Chapters 22

 

 

Comments:

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

The Criterion Blu-ray of The Touch is part of their Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema 100th Anniversary 30 Blu-ray Boxset (reviewed, as a work in-progress, HERE). The Touch shares this Blu-ray with The Serpent's Egg. See comparative captures, a listing of technical details, extras etc., on this page.

The Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) 1080P transfer is in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio on another dual-layered Blu-ray with a modest bitrate. The HD presentation looks pleasing with, bright colors (yellow roses), rich deep black levels and impressive contrast. The Blu-ray visuals are a bit thin but show some depth. The presentation is consistent and the source text indicates that it is from a 35mm interpositive:

Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) again use a linear PCM 2.0 channel mono transfer at 24-bit with original English, Swedish and some French used in the film (this is the director's preferred English/Swedish version). There aren't an abundance of effects - some crowd noises and a score credited to Carl Michael Bellman, Peter Covent and Jan Johansson with pieces like Liksom en herdinna and Sax Kitten. There are optional English subtitles on the region FREE Blu-ray disc.

The only extra is 55 minutes - a documentary by Stig Björkman about the early years of the 70's in Ingmar Bergman's professional and private life shot during the filming of The Touch.

The Touch is a tragic, unrequited, love story. I had known that Ingmar Bergman did a film with Elliott Gould, but I had never seen it - mainly disinterested because of the critical in difference. Bibi and Max can do no wrong in my eyes. I enjoyed it as a highly interesting suprise. I thought it was a very good film and the 1080P presentation and this Blu-ray adds further value to Criterion's massive package.

Gary Tooze

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Box Cover

   

CLICK to order from:

   

Also available on Blu-ray from BFI in the UK:
Distribution Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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