Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Disc:

Video:

Audio:

• Trailer (1:48)

DVD included

Bitrate:

 

 

 

The Film:

Capturing Aloys as the film goes on falls to Georg Friedrich, and while portraying someone who is initiall a blank may seem like a matter of doing extremely little, he manages to make the man an intriguing mix of frightened curiosity about the world despite an inability to interface with it. It's not exactly appealing - Friedrich seldom indulges in wide-eyed wonder and erupts in petulant anger when what he has is threatened. There is something child-like to Aloys, but Friedrich makes sure that while he's not the sort of walking temper-tantrum that middle-aged man-children are often portrayed as being, but he does skew more toward the difficult side of people who haven't fully developed than the charming, and Friedrich shows how the character's progress is fearful and uncertain.

Excerpt fromEyeForFilm located HERE

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

Aloys is as pristine on Blu-ray from Eureka out of the UK, as you might expect for a modern film transferred to a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate to be. Cinematographer Simon Guy Fässler creates a very sterile and desolate impression with gentle pans and full use of the 2.39:1 frame.  The mise en scène is a large part of the film's impression upon the viewer. I believe it was shot on digital - but it looks more like a soft, heavy film-like appearance. Regardless, the 1080P provides a rewarding, consistent, presentation.

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eureka offer both a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround at a healthy 3323 kbps (24-bit) and a linear PCM stereo track. Aloys is a passive film without much use for the surround separations although it was noted on, at least, a couple of scenes. The score is by two newcomers Tom Huber and Beat Jegen and it adds the same cold atmosphere, as the visuals, supporting the narrative. There are optional English subtitles and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'B'-locked.

Extras :

Not extras aside from a lone trailer but being 'Dual-Format' a PAL DVD of the feature is included.

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
Aloys is an excellent film - and the comparisons to Charlie Kaufman are spot-on. I kept thinking of Synecdoche, New York as I watched this. Perhaps as much about the wry tone as well as adeptly exporting emotions of loneliness, emptiness and hope. Aloys has a fascinating and unique edge to it - I almost wished it would have gone on longer. It's a great choice for Eureka to release on Blu-ray. The 1080P presentation is greatly appreciated by this reviewer.  Very strongly recommended! 

Gary Tooze

October 18th, 2016