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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "In the Basement" )

 

directed by Ulrich Seidl
Austria 2014

 

Long a profiler of the dark side of Austrian society, Ulrich Seidl follows up his "Paradise" trilogy (PARADISE: LOVE,PARADISE: FAITH, and PARADISE: HOPE) with a seriocomic documentary about what middle-class Austrians do in their basements, or IM KELLER (which are usually dens or rumpus rooms rather than dank storage spaces). An opera enthusiast leads an anti-Muslim hate group and conducts target practice and maneuvers in his basement shooting gallery in his basement. A middle-aged woman whose husband either died or walked out on her after she lost her child communes with a collection of lifelike baby dolls stashed in storage. A geriatric brass band shares an admiration for the Nazis, their leader keeps in his basement a museum dedicated to the Third Reich, and they make a yearly pilgrimage to Der Fuhrer's headquarters. A woman's hirsute male sex slave cleans the entire house (and other things) with his tongue before they retreat to the basement "red room" for his reward. A man who has learned everything he knows about sex "pleases" women in his basement dungeon, and an extreme masochist finds isolation in a cell within a cell. More humorous than shocking - even as it exposes extreme racism, intolerance, and ignorance that is becoming harder to conceal in modern first world nations - IN THE BASEMENT ends up feeling like someone else's parody of an Ulrich Seidl film or the director parodying himself even though this does not appear to be the case.

Eric Cotenas

Posters

Theatrical Release: 26 September 2014 (Austria)

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DVD Review: Strand Releasing - Region 1 - NTSC

Big thanks to Eric Cotenas for the Review!

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Distribution

Strand Releasing

Region 1 - NTSC

Runtime 1:25:27
Video

1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 8.33 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 German Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles English, none
Features Release Information:
Studio: Strand Releasing

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1

Edition Details:
� Theatrical Trailer (16:9; 2:25)
� Previews

DVD Release Date: 12 January 12th, 2016
Amaray

Chapters 8

 

 

 

Comments

With a brief running time and no extras, Strand Releasing affords this dual-layer, progressive, anamorphic encode a high bitrate that - combined with the largely static camera sequences results in a strong SD downconversion of the HD master. The Dolby Digital 5.1 track is restrained since this is a talk heavy film set in intimate interiors (with the exception of the shooting gallery). Optional English subtitles translate the sometimes rapid exchanges and talking heads. The only extras are the film's trailer and trailers for other Strand releases.

  - Eric Cotenas

 


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DVD Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

 

 

Distribution

Strand Releasing

Region 1 - NTSC



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