Electra, My Love Blu-ray - Mari Töröcsik

(aka "Electra, My Love")

directed by Miklós Jancsó

Hungary 1974

"A parable for the idea that revolutionaries must continually renew themselves" Miklós Jancsó

Revolutionary in form as well as content, Electra, My Love is one of the great Miklós Jancsó's finest works. Set amidst the open plains and grasslands of Hungary, and shot in twelve long, beautiful, intricately choreographed takes by cinematographer János Kende, it is a provocative call to arms against any system that rules without justice.

An expert in the symbolic expression of forbidden political ideas, Jancsó here radically reworks the ancient Greek myth as a philosophical reflection on the dialectics of power and oppression. Electra (seeking revenge for the murder of her father, the former king) attempts to rouse a cowardly and apathetic population against the rule of usurper tyrant Aegisthus. Jancsó's film examines issues of law, justice and power; the deliberate distortion of myth and reality reflecting the real horrors that Hungary had endured and was at that time still enduring. It s relevance for contemporary society is still potent and clear today.

Posters

Theatrical Release: December 12th, 1974

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Comparison:

Facets Video - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray

(Facets Video - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT)

Thanks to Eric Cotenas for the Facets screen captures!

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	Facets Video Region 0 - NTSC	Second Run Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:11:30 (4% PAL speedup)	1:14:12.291
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.86 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.66:1 - 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 24,696,600,221 bytes Feature Size: 18,845,952,000 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 30.00 Mbps
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Facets Video
Bitrate: Second Run Blu-ray
Audio	Czech Dolby Digital 2.0 mono	LPCM Audio Hungarian 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles	English (burnt-in)	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Facets Video Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: � Still Gallery DVD Release Date: 20 May 2003 Amaray Chapters 12	Release Information: Studio: Second Run 1.66:1 - 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 24,696,600,221 bytes Feature Size: 18,845,952,000 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 30.00 Mbps Edition Details: • The Evolution of the Long Shot (A hosszú snitt alakulásai) - a short film by cinematographer János Kende.(29:22) • Booklet featuring a new essay on the film by Peter Hames Blu-ray Release Date: September 26th, 2016 Transparent Blu-ray case Chapters 12

Comments

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

ADDITION: Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray September 16': It's wonderful to see more Blu-rays from Second Run after their editions of Apichatpong Weerasethakul's Mysterious Object at Noon, Pedro Costa's Horse Money and The Shop on High Street. Electra, My Love is advertised as 'presented from a brand new 2K restoration of the film by the Hungarian Digital Archive and Film Institute, supervised by the film's cinematographer János Kende.'

The 2003 Facets DVD was, like most of their output, a disaster and only worthy to se the film if no other format edition or option was available. It was in 1.33:1 open-matte and interlaced - filled with artifacts. The HD is in the original 1.66:1. Unfortunately, the Blu-ray source may also be compromised. The image quality of the 1080P looks like it has been over-digitized and there is no grain texture whatsoever. The visuals, while superior to the SD, are waxy and looked smeared akin to DNR. I'm pleased to report that in-motion I did not find this fatally distracting. The presentation is darker than the SD - and presumably the colors are more accurate although they appear fairly dull, for the most part. I have no evidence to suggest that this may not be the best digital presentation of Miklós Jancsó's Electra, My Love. This is on a single-layered disc with a high bitrate.

For the audio transfer, Second Run use a linear PCM in the original Hungarian language. The score is credited to Tamás Cseh - the actor and composer, known for Miklós Jancsó's Red Psalm. The sound is likewise imperfect - at the mercy of the source - but is clearly audible with notable flaws and three are optional English subtitles on the region FREE Blu-ray disc.

Second Run include an interview with cinematographer János Kende via a short film entitled The Evolution of the Long Shot (A hosszú snitt alakulásai) - he discusses working with Jancsó, it runs just shy of 1/2 hour and has English subtitles. The package contains a new booklet featuring a new essay on the film by Peter Hames.

The value here would be centered around the film. Fans of the director will definitely want to indulge. The 1080P video is, obviously, no demo but represents the best digital presentation you are likely to find for this rare, unique and exceptional film experience.

-Gary Tooze

DVD Menus

Facets Video - Region 0 - NTSC

Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray

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Screen Captures

(Facets Video - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)
Subtitle sample

(Facets Video - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)

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

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Distribution

Facets Video

Region 0 - NTSC

Second Run
Region FREE - Blu-ray

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