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directed by Carlos Reygadas
Mexico/France/Netherlands/Germany 2012
Whether the reflections of a dying
man or a look in the dreams and subconscious fears of the film's
handful of characters, Carlos Reygadas' POST TENEBRAS LUX
- which translates as "light after darkness" - is stuffed
full of compelling images, as ravishing as they are sometimes
repulsive. The "story" follows the lives of "New Age architect"
Juan (Adolfo Jiménez Castro), his wife Natalia (Nathalia
Acevedo), and their children living in the Mexican countryside
in pursuit of an idealized way of living. Class conflicts with
his handyman and the locals simmer under the surface (a former
alcoholic who introduces Juan to the local addicts support group
where he can't help but stand out as something akin to the local
gentry) and may actually have very little to do with the film's
climactic tragedy. The film instead focuses on the more obvious
tensions within the family including Juan's rage issues (which
he takes out on the family's female dog), his internet porn
addition, and his frustration with his wife's supposed frigidity
(is their holiday visit to a French sex sauna an attempt to
rectify this or something imagined by him or her). Their
daughter's opening sequence dream intimates a fear the child
herself cannot communicate or herself comprehend, and the son's
dream or hallucination of a CGI red devil (simultaneously
laughable and unnerving) prowling their home at night suggests
that even the children are not unaffected by these and other
tensions. |
Posters
Theatrical Release: 23 November 2012 (Mexico)
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Strand Releasing - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Drakes Avenue - Region 'B' - Blu-ray vs. Strand Releasing - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Big thanks to Eric Cotenas for the DVD Review!
1) Strand Releasing - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT 2) Drakes Avenue - Region 'B' - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Strand Releasing - Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT |
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Strand Releasing Region 1 - NTSC |
Drakes Avenue Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Strand Releasing Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:55:12 | 1:54:44.583 | 1:54:52.260 |
Video |
1.30:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
Disc Size: 23,825,446,689 bytes Feature Size: 21,508,491,264 bytes Average Bitrate: 17.99 MbpsSingle-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video |
Disc Size: 36,016,481,578 bytes Feature Size: 24,395,341,824 bytes Average Bitrate: 26.60 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate Region 'B' Blu-ray |
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Bitrate Region 'A' Blu-ray |
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Audio | English/Spanish/French Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo |
LPCM Audio Spanish 1536 kbps 2.0 /
48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit DTS-HD Master Audio Spanish 3864 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3864 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) |
Dolby Digital Audio English 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / DN -7dB |
Subtitles | English (burnt-in) | English, none | English (non-removable) |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Strand Releasing Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 12 |
Release Information: Studio: Drakes Avenue
Disc Size: 23,825,446,689 bytes Feature Size: 21,508,491,264 bytes Average Bitrate: 17.99 MbpsSingle-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details:
• Trailer (1:43) Chapters 18 |
Release Information: Studio: Strand Releasing
Disc Size: 36,016,481,578 bytes Feature Size: 24,395,341,824 bytes Average Bitrate: 26.60 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details: • Trailer (1:39) • Strand Trailers Blu-ray Release Date: December 10th, 2013 Amaray Chapters 12 |
Comments |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION - Strand Releasing - Region 'A' Blu-ray - December 8th, 2013: The North American release is more robust with a higher bitrate and superior black levels. We have also been informed that: "This is the only Blu-ray release to have certain scenes re-color graded and approved by Carlos Reygadas. In the other versions both scenes with the devil are lit incorrectly in one specific shot. These have been corrected in this Blu-ray release with Carlos’ help. Unfortunately the audio is standard Dolby 5.1 (not lossless) and the transfer doesn't take advantage of that particular attribute of the new format. So separations were not as crisp as the UK release but it still sounded beautiful. There are mandatory English subtitles on the region 'A'-locked release. The Deleted Scenes are exclusive to this release. There are almost 6-minutes worth and some will find the Video Diary interesting. Great to see this is region 'A' and looking that much richer. An easy recommendation for those, in North America, willing to venture to this style of cinema! *** ADDITION - Drakes Avenue - Region 'B' Blu-ray - September 2013: I was intrigued when Eric reviewed the DVD and am so glad to have, finally, seen this film in 1080P. It is such a visual experience that it really lends itself to viewing in the higher resolution - especially with the photographic effects utilized in the cinematography (clouded edges of the frame etc.). Although only single-layered the Blu-ray is almost 5 X the bitrate of the SD. For a film of this nature I'd say that makes all the difference in the world. As well as the linear 2.0 channel track we do get a DTS-HD Master 5.1 at 3864 kbps (both in Spanish) that exports some, keen, separations adding to the visual experience. There are optional English subtitles , in a large font, on the UK Blu-ray disc. Extras also go the way of the Drakes Avenue with 2 shortish, separate, interviews with Carlos Reygadas and Nathalia Acevedo plus a trailer.I found Post Tenebras Lux a fascinating piece of... art - akin to poetry. It touches themes of love, family through Mexican urban life, nature and so much more, This Blu-ray is absolutely recommended! ***
ON THE DVD: Strand's single-layer disc features a progressive transfer that frames the 1.37:1 frame in a 16:9 pillarboxed window. The bitrate is very low for a near two-hour film (the feature takes of 3.25 GB of the 3.82 total), and the image is rather flat-looking as a result (more's the pity considering the ravishing visuals). The Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo (although the back cover says 5.1) is atmospheric and forceful when needed, but not as impressive as a 5.1 track would be at giving an enveloping sense of environment here. The error-free English subtitles are burnt-in.The film's trailer is the only extra other than five trailer for other upcoming Strand releases. |
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1) Drakes Avenue - Region 'B' - Blu-ray LEFT 2) Strand Releasing - Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT
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1) Strand Releasing - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) Drakes Avenue - Region 'B' - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Strand Releasing - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) Strand Releasing - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) Drakes Avenue - Region 'B' - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Strand Releasing - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) Strand Releasing - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) Drakes Avenue - Region 'B' - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Strand Releasing - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) Strand Releasing - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) Drakes Avenue - Region 'B' - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Strand Releasing - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) Strand Releasing - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) Drakes Avenue - Region 'B' - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Strand Releasing - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) Strand Releasing - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) Drakes Avenue - Region 'B' - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Strand Releasing - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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More Blu-ray Captures
1) Drakes Avenue - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP 2) Strand Releasing - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Drakes Avenue - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP 2) Strand Releasing - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Drakes Avenue - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP 2) Strand Releasing - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Drakes Avenue - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP 2) Strand Releasing - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Drakes Avenue - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP 2) Strand Releasing - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Drakes Avenue - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP 2) Strand Releasing - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Drakes Avenue - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP 2) Strand Releasing - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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Distribution |
Strand Releasing Region 1 - NTSC |
Drakes Avenue Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Strand Releasing Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
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