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Peppermint Soda aka "Diabolo menthe" [Blu-ray]
(Diane Kurys, 1977)
Review by Gary Tooze
Production: Theatrical: TF1 Vidéo Video: BFI / Cohen Media
Disc: Region: 'B' / 'A' (as verified by the Oppo Blu-ray player) Runtime: 1:41:00.041 / 1:41:17.041 Disc Size: 36,184,976,714 bytes / 36,903,828,002 bytes Feature Size: 25,931,089,920 bytes / 30,480,949,248 bytes Video Bitrate: 28.00 Mbps / 36.00 Mbps Chapters: 12 / 11 Case: Standard Blu-ray case / Transparent Blu-ray CaseRelease date: July 24th, 2017 / February 12th, 2019
Video (both): Aspect ratio: 1.66:1 Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Audio: LPCM Audio French 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit Isolated Score: LPCM Audio French 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
LPCM Audio French 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles (both): English, none
Extras: • Theatrical trailer (2:30)• Interview with Diane Kurys (2008, 33:08): an interview with the director • Scrapbook (2008, 3:20): Diane Kurys explores her collection of photographs and production materials
•
Isolated Music and effects
score
• Interview with Diane Kurys (33:10) • Meeting with Composer Yves Simon (12:56) • Interview with Eléonore Klarwein (7:38) • Diane Kurys' Scrapbook (3:23) • French Restoration Trailer (1:33) • Re-Release Trailer (1:22)
Bitrates:
Description: Teenage sisters Anne (Éléonore Klarwein) and
Frédérique (Odile Michel) couldn't be more different:
introverted Anne is trying to understand the world around
her as she's on the threshold of adolescence; while
outgoing, politically aware Frédérique is beginning her
first love affair.
The Film: Kurys' impressive feature debut, based in autobiography, is a sensitive account of a year in the lives of two sisters - 13-year-old, introverted Anne, and outgoing 15-year-old Frédérique - in the early '60s. Without ever lapsing into melodrama, the film adopts a decidely un-nostalgic tone, lucidly charting the everyday oppressions of school life and the girls' difficult relationships with their parents - a separated Jewish couple - their friends and each other. Indeed, it's a harsh, unsentimental look at adolescence, with the '60s setting serving primarily to define the social and political context of the girls' rites of passage; at the same time, however, the film is invested with great warmth through Kurys' assured, sympathetic handling of her cast. Excerpt from TimeOut located HERE
The only thing more impressive than the wit and talent Diane Kurys
demonstrates in her writing and direction of "Peppermint Soda" — an
expert, utterly charming movie that miraculously happens to be her first
— is Miss Kurys's memory. Here is a letter-perfect recollection of what
it's like to be a 13-year-old, in this case a French schoolgirl, with
skinny legs and a bossy sister and a mother who doesn't understand she
may be ruining her' daughter's life if she keeps on refusing to let the
kid wear stockings.
Image : NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. The enchanting Peppermint Soda gets a transfer to Blu-ray from BFI. It's dual-layered with a high bitrate for the 1 hour 40-minute feature. The 1080P exports a beautiful image supporting the art-direction period's colors in the 1.66:1 frame. A few instances seemed a bit thin and video-like but in-motion the visuals are rich and appealing. It's pristinely clean showcasing plenty of depth. Textures are fine. This Blu-ray provides an appreciated HD presentation.
This looks like the same 2K-restoration with a slightly robust transfer - a max'ed out bitrate. The BFI is marginally darker with negligibly richer contrast. Pretty much the exact same 1080P image.
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Audio :BFI use a linear PCM 2.0 channel track (24-bit) in the original French-language. There are mild effects - crowds, beach waves, train etc. and a pleasant score by Yves Simon (also offered, with effects, as an isolated option.) Dialogue is clean and clean. There are optional English subtitles and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'B'-locked.
Same linear PCM (24-bit) track - I can detect no difference. The Cohen doesn't offer the isolated score track but also has optional English subtitles. The Cohen is Region 'A'-locked.
Extras : BFI include supplements. We get a 1/2 hour interview with Diane Kurys from 2008 - discussing the film, the writing process and the production. There is also a brief 'Scrapbook' section where Diane Kurys explores her collection of photographs and production materials. There is a theatrical trailer and the package has an illustrated booklet with full film credits and a new essay by Sophie Mayer and Michael Brooke.
Cohen add the same 2008 Diane Kurys interview and 'Scrapbook'. They add a short interview with actress Eléonore Klarwein and about 1/4 hour with composer Yves Simon, as well as a French Restoration trailer and an English Re-Release trailer. There is a liner notes leaflet with photos and credits.
BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Cohen Media - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
BOTTOM LINE:
Great film and now available in HD in Region 'A'. This deserves to be soon. Take your pick of the Blu-rays. Gary Tooze July 8th, 2017 February 4th, 2019
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About the Reviewer: Hello, fellow Beavers! I have been interested in film since I viewed a Chaplin festival on PBS when I was around 9 years old. I credit DVD with expanding my horizons to fill an almost ravenous desire to seek out new film experiences. I currently own approximately 9500 DVDs and have reviewed over 5000 myself. I appreciate my discussion Listserv for furthering my film education and inspiring me to continue running DVDBeaver. Plus a healthy thanks to those who donate and use our Amazon links.
Although I never wanted to become one of those guys who
focused 'too much' on image and sound quality - I
find HD is swiftly pushing me in that direction. 60-Inch Class (59.58” Diagonal) 1080p Pioneer KURO Plasma Flat Panel HDTV PDP6020-FD
Oppo Digital BDP-83 Universal Region FREE Blu-ray/SACD
Player APC AV 1.5 kVA H Type Power Conditioner 120V Gary W. Tooze ALL OUR NEW FORMAT DVD REVIEWS
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