The Empty Hours - Adriana Paz

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(aka "The Empty Hours" or "Palma Real Motel" or "Les heures creuses")

directed by Aarón Fernández Lesur
Mexico/Spain/France 2013

Seventeen year old Sebastian (Kristyan Ferrer, SIN NOMBRE) is charged with managing his uncle Gerardo's seaside motel while the older man is in the hospital being tested and operated on for an unspecified illness. He discovers that as a manager, he has to do a little bit of everything since the lusty laundry woman Lucha works full time at a hotel and only helps as a favor to his uncle, the night watchman has not been able to procure a new maid (nor offer any explanation as to why it is so hard to find a trustworthy one), works out a deal with the coconut vending boy who has been stealing from the motel's palms, and takes on some of his uncle's renovation plans out of boredom. Into this monotonous existence comes realtor Miranda (Adriana Paz, NOT FORGOTTEN) set on establishing a routine of her own by establishing the motel as the regular meeting place for her and her married lover Mario. As Miranda waits for her lover who goes from being late to postponing and missing their meetings, she passes the time trying to get to know the reserved Sebastian, possibly unaware of - or perhaps very aware of - his increasing desire for her.

Eric Cotenas

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Theatrical Release: 23 July 2014 (France)

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DVD Review: Strand Releasing - Region 1 - NTSC

Big thanks to Eric Cotenas for the Review!

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Strand Releasing Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	1:41:15
Video	2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 8.99 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	Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles	English (optional)
Features	Release Information: Studio: Strand Releasing Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical Trailer (16:9; 1:43) • Trailers for 'Refuge', 'Post Tenebras Lux', 'The Amazing Catfish', and 'Bicycling with Molière' DVD Release Date: August 19th, 2014 Amaray Chapters 8

Comments

Some edge enhancement seems to have been baked-in to the transfer, but Strand Releasing's progressive, anamorphic dual-layer disc gives it the highest bitrate encode possible taking into account the space reserved for the 448 kbps audio track and the trailers sharing the disc space.

The restrained Dolby Digital 5.1 audio suits the film's atmosphere, with some background atmosphere (wind, rain, passing cars) and only particularly busy during a bar scene. The optional English subtitles are without any noticeable errors other than the use of "100ft2" instead of square or the two in superscript. As usual, the only extras are a trailer for the film and trailers for four other Strand current and forthcoming releases.

- Eric Cotenas

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