Antonia's Line Blu-ray - Willeke van Ammelrooy

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

(aka "Antonia" or "Antonia et Ses Filles")

directed by Marleen Gorris
Netherlands/Belgium/UK/France 1995

In the aftermath of WWII, strong-willed Antonia returns to her small hometown where she has inherited her mother's farm. Antonia, joined by her free-spirited artist daughter Danielle, ingratiate themselves with the town's tight-knit and eccentric community. As the years unfold, love and tragedy come to Antonia and Danielle and the pair foster a vibrant circle of strong, liberated women.

***

A strong-willed Dutch woman recalls her life in this uplifting picture that won the 1996 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Antonia (Willeke van Ammelrooy) is an elderly woman who wakes up one morning and realizes that this is the last day of her life. She begins to tell her story in flashback, beginning with her arrival home to the family farm after World War II with her daughter, Danielle (Els Dottermans). For the next fifty years, a variety of colorful characters come and go on the farm. Danielle becomes a painter, and decides she wants a child but no husband, so Antonia arranges the proper donation. Danielle giving birth to Therese (Veerle van Overloop), who laters has her own child, Sarah (Thyrza Ravesteijn), also without virtue of a husband. Antonia and her descendants come to symbolize the freedom of independent females, with little need for men in their lives.

Posters

Theatrical Release: 2 February 1996 (USA)

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Comparison:

First Look - Region 1 - NTSC vs. vs. Film Movement - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Eric Cotenas for the First Look DVD Screen Caps!

(First Look - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Film Movement - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT)

Box Covers
Distribution	First Look Region 1 - NTSC	Film Movement Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:41:26	1:42:33.147
Video	1.79:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: n/a mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	Disc Size: 31,731,123,344 bytes Feature Size: 28,534,075,392 bytes Total Bitrate: 34.99 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Film Movement
Audio	Dutch Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo	Dolby Digital Audio Dutch, Middle (ca. 1050-1350)448 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps
Subtitles	English (burnt-in)	English, none
Features	Release Information: Studio: First Look Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterboxed - 1.79:1 Edition Details: • 'Antonia's Family Tree' (character biographies) • Filmographies • Theatrical Trailer (1:50) • Previews DVD Release Date: 2002 Amaray Chapters 12	Release Information: Studio: Film Movement Aspect Ratio:- 1.78:1 Disc Size: 31,731,123,344 bytes Feature Size: 28,534,075,392 bytes Total Bitrate: 34.99 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC Edition Details: • Archival Interview with director Marleen Gorris (8:53) • Film Movement Trailers • 16-page Collector's Booklet with film essay by top film writer, Thelma Adams; cast and crew credits; chapter breaks; stills. Blu-ray Release Date: April 19th, 2016 Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters: 13

Comments

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

ADDITION: Film Movement - Region FREE - Blu-ray April 16': Film Movement's 1080P transfer shows more information on the right and bottom edges as compared to the letterboxed DVD from almost 14-years ago. It is dual-layered with a max'ed out bitrate but does tend to look a shade waxy and soft. It is brighter and shows more detail and the 1.78:1 presentation in-motion looks decent.

Unfortunately, the audio (original Dutch) is lossy Dolby but the film is not filled with effects and the score by Ilona Sekacz is fairly unremarkable. It sounds consistent if lacking depth. There are optional English subtitled on the Region FREE Blu-ray disc.

Extras include an 8-minute excerpt from a 1995 interview with director Marleen Gorris (with English subtitles), some Film Movement trailers and the package has a 16-page collector's booklet with film essay by top film writer, Thelma Adams; cast and crew credits and photographs.

I wasn't really into watching this initially, being aware of the focus, but I can't deny that this is an exceptional film - and it grew on me the deeper I got into the story. It offered wonderful performances and it was a pleasure to see it in a superior presentation than the letterboxed DVD. I'm a little ambivalent about the HD appearance but, it is possible that this may be the best we get and the film deserves its audience. To those keen to explore - we recommend. I found it significantly more impacting than I was pre-judging it.

- Gary Tooze

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First Look - Region 1 - NTSC

Film Movement - Region FREE - Blu-ray

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Screen Captures

(First Look - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Film Movement - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)
Subtitle sample (uncropped on DVD)

(First Look - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Film Movement - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)

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Report Card:

Image:	Blu-ray
Sound:	Blu-ray
Extras:	Blu-ray

Box Covers

Distribution

First Look

Region 1 - NTSC

Film Movement
Region FREE - Blu-ray

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