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(aka "Paradies: Hoffnung" or "Paradise: Hope")

 

directed by Ulrich Seidl
Austria/France/Germany 2013

 

Although even slighter in narrative (and running time) than the trilogy's other entries, Ulrich Seidl's PARADISE: HOPE features the most sympathetic of the series' female protagonists. It flirts with youth and sex comedy conventions in its setting and antics, but is as much about the blurring of lust and love (emotional in the first, spiritual in the second, and paternal here). Although it isn't dependent on ones viewing of the previous two films, a familiarity with their protagonists does add shadings to one's perception of young Melanie (Melanie Lenz). Sent off to a diet camp while her mother is engaging in sexual tourism in Kenya (see PARADISE: LOVE) and her aunt is on a local religious mission (see PARADISE: FAITH), Melanie soon finds her only respite from the regimented activities at the camp - overseen by discipline-minded trainer (Michael Thomas, ANOTHER NINE AND A HALF WEEKS) and a more pleasant dietician (Viviane Bartsch, THE PIANO TEACHER) - and the jaded sex talk of her roommates to be the gentle attentions of the camp's doctor (Joseph Lorenz). Melanie's feeling of lust and need for paternal affection (far from divorcing herself from interaction with her mobile phone, she tries to contact her mother multiple times and reaches voicemail just as her mother had in the first film) seem just as confused as the doctor's responses which go past inappropriate but not much farther... and Melanie just might lose her virginity in a way she hadn't imagined (although one that is not unusual in the circumstances).

Eric Cotenas

Poster

Theatrical Release: 18 December 2013 (USA)

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DVD Review: Strand Releasing - Region 1 - NTSC

Big thanks to Eric Cotenas for the Review!

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Distribution

Strand Releasing

Region 1 - NTSC

Runtime 1:31:36
Video

1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 7.7 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

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

Bitrate

Audio German Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles English (burnt-in)
Features Release Information:
Studio: Strand Releasing

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1

Edition Details:
• Photo Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer
• Trailers for 'Paradise: Love' and 'Paradise: Faith'
• Trailers for 'I Used to Be Darker', 'Post Tenebras Lux', 'Zaytoun', and 'The Future'

DVD Release Date: January 14th, 2014
Amaray

Chapters 8

 

Comments

In keeping with the their releases of the first two films in the trilogy, Strand Releasing's dual-layer DVD features a progressive, anamorphic rendering of the film with burnt-in subtitles (although some of their other recent releases have included optional subs). The image is in keeping with the previous entries, it's a little grainier thanks to the Super 16mm lensing (mastered in 2K and screened in both 35mm and D-Cinema formats) but captures the stark whites of the camp buildings and more naturalistic tones of the surrounding woods nicely. The German 5.1 track is restrained as fits the settings and the general lack of musical accompaniment (apart from some instances of source music). There are no extras except for the trailer, trailers for the other films in the trilogy, as well as trailers for other Strand releases.

  - Eric Cotenas

 


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DVD Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

 

 

Distribution

Strand Releasing

Region 1 - NTSC

 




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