Vitalina Varela Blu-ray

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

Directed by Pedro Costa
Portugal 2019

Following on from his exquisite works Horse Money, Colossal Youth, Casa de Lava and Blood, Vitalina Varela is the latest film from Pedro Costa.

Winner of the prestigious 'Best Film' and Best Actress' Awards at the 2019 Locarno Film Festival, and the Silver Hugo Jury Prize at the Chicago International Film Festival, Costa's film follows the titular Vitalina, a woman left behind in Cape Verde when her husband leaves to find work in Portugal. Years later, she finally makes the journey to Lisbon herself but arrives three days after his funeral. Alone and isolated in her late husband's home, Vitalina is determined to persevere and confront the ghosts of the past.

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Suddenly, in the sumptuous darkness of a neighborhood haunted by solemn shadows, the deep red of bloody sheets. Vitalina Varela is too late; all she can do now is settle her husbands affairs. She will mourn no unfortunates: facing bitter and fallen men, she resolves to rebuild the memory of a solid shared house in Cape Verde, blueprint by blueprint and wall by wall, fighting the sad reality of a life that could not be built under a decent roof in Portugal.

Posters

Theatrical Release: August 14th, 2019 (Locarno Film Festival)

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Comparison:

Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Grasshopper Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover	Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray	Grasshopper - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	2:04:29.400 94% PAL Speedup	2:10:04.087
Video	1.33:1 1080i (25 fps) Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 49,676,285,772 bytes Feature: 38,343,815,616 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.99 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video	1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 40,417,732,246 bytes Feature: 29,020,462,848 bytes Video Bitrate: 23.33 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Second Run Blu-ray:
Bitrate Grasshopper Films Blu-ray:
Audio	DTS-HD Master Audio Portuguese 1682 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1682 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) LPCM Audio Portuguese 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit	DTS-HD Master Audio Portuguese 2506 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2506 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) LPCM Audio Portuguese 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles	English, Portuguese, None	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Second Run 1.33:1 1080i (25 fps) Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 49,676,285,772 bytes Feature: 38,343,815,616 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.99 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • An introduction to the film by critic and author Chris Fujiwara (4:13) • Pedro Costa in an exclusive and expansive filmed conversation with Maria Delgado recorded at the ICA Cinema, London, March 2020 (1:18:08) • Pedro Costa: Companhia – a short film about Costa’s installation exhibition at the Serralves Museum, Porto in 2018 (12:26) • Film trailers and teasers made by the director (0:42, 1:15, 0:53, 1:49) • 24-page booklet featuring writing on the film by Daniel Kasman Blu-ray Release Date: August 31st, 2020 Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters 12	Release Information: Studio: Grasshopper 1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 40,417,732,246 bytes Feature: 29,020,462,848 bytes Video Bitrate: 23.33 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Exclusive interview with Pedro Costa at the Toronto International Film Festival (40:53) • "Chantal + Pedro," a short film in which Chantal Akerman and Pedro Costa (or rather, their films) meet in a movie theatre, by Júlio Alves (2020, 8:27) • Theatrical Trailer (2:13) • Booklet featuring an essay by critic Jonathan Rosenbaum Blu-ray Release Date: September 8, 2020 Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters 13

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Grasshopper Films Blu-ray (October 2020): Grasshopper Films also transferred Pedro Costa's 2019 Vitalina Varela to Blu-ray. Without getting into a huge discussion on the director's wishes - this is a progressive transfer and runs 5.5 minutes longer (no PAL speedup). Not surprisingly, it looks even better than the Second Run (but this is despite having a lower bitrate) - a very crisp, dell defined image handling the contrast to a slightly higher degree. Colors also shift slightly. It just looks superior and jaw-dropping on my system.

In the audio, both offer the same two options, however Grasshopper gain a small advantage with their 5.1 surround being 24-bit (as opposed to Second Run's 16-bit.) This improvement may be marginal for most. Grasshopper add optional English (but not, also, Portuguese) subtitles and there Blu-ray is likewise region FREE.

Grasshopper have some good supplements as well starting with an exclusive 41-minute interview with Pedro Costa at the Toronto International Film Festival, a 2020 short film (8.5 minutes) by Júlio Alves entitled "Chantal + Pedro," in which Chantal Akerman and Pedro Costa (or rather, their films) meet in a movie theatre. There is also a theatrical trailer and the package contains a liner notes booklet featuring an excellent essay by critic Jonathan Rosenbaum.

So... I raved about the Second Run image, how do you think I feel about the superior Grasshopper 1080P? :) It's beautiful and a mesmerizing film experience. Those who couldn't buy the Second Run because of their geographic location - can, hopefully indulge in this North American Grasshopper Blu-ray release. Don't hesitate.

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ADDITION: Second Run Blu-ray (September 2020): Second Run have transferred Pedro Costa's 2019 Vitalina Varela to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "director-approved HD transfer of the film". It looks magnificent on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. This film is stunningly attractive in 1080i (25 fps - as shot by the director and transferred as per his wishes.) Contrast is sublime. What a beautifully visual film experience via this impressive HD presentation.

NOTE: We have added 40 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Second Run provide the option of a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround (16-bit) or a linear PCM stereo track (24-bit) in the original Portuguese language. In keep with its vérité expression, there is no score nor extensive dialogue. There is very minor use of the separation but everything some through clean and sharp in the lossless or the uncompressed transfers. Second Run offer optional English or Portuguese subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Second Run Blu-ray offers a new 4-minute introduction to the film by critic Chris Fujiwara (author of Defining Moments in Movies: The Greatest Films, Stars, Scenes and Events that Made Movie Magic.) Included is an extensive 1 1/4 hour conversation with Pedro Costa in an exclusive interview with Maria Delgado recorded at the ICA Cinema, London, in March 2020. He is a fascinating director and it's wonderful to hear his approach in his own words. I appreciated seeing Pedro Costa's short film Companhia (Company) about his installation exhibition at the Serralves Museum, Porto in 2018. There are four short film trailers and teasers made by the director and the package has a 24-page liner notes booklet with photos and an excellent essay by Daniel Kasman.

Vitalina Varela is another masterpiece from Pedro Costa. It is 'pure cinema' - that we rarely get to indulge in today. This is a hypnotic visual experience that is so penetrating it's hard to put into words. The Second Run Blu-ray provides an excellent a/v presentation with very appreciated supplements. I'm so thrilled that they have gone to such lengths to respect Horse Money and Vitalina Varela with exceptional packages. We are very fortunate and I would like to congratulate them, again, on another essential release - that should be prominently mentioned in our year-end poll. Our absolute highest recommendation. Do NOT miss this experience!