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 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "I Was at Home, But...")

 

Directed by Angela Schanelec
Germany / Serbia 2019

 

The films of Angela Schanelec have bewitched and mystified audiences with her unique, elliptical depictions of everyday life. Winner of the 'Best Director' prize at the 2019 Berlin Film Festival, I Was at Home, but... explores the impact of a devastating tragedy on a family, as they come to terms with grief, longing and life after the death of a loved one. Schanelecs films have a rhythm and tone all their own, and I Was at Home, but... achieves a remarkable balance of quiet poetry, wry humour and raw emotion. 2019 Berlin International Film Festival / Winner: Silver Bear - Best Director 2019 Mar del Plata Festival / Winner: Best Director 2019 San Sebastián Festival / Winner: Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Award An elegantly radical mystery... Classically composed and gorgeously immersive, the new film from Angela Schanelec is a bizarre, mystifying work that is oddly comforting despite its many puzzles.

***

After a 13-year-old student disappears without a trace for a week and suddenly reappears, his mother and teachers are confronted with existential questions that change their whole view of life.

Posters

Theatrical Release: February 12th, 2019 (Berlin Film Festival)

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Review: Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover

CLICK to order from:
Distribution Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:45:07.166  
Video

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 43,599,553,856 bytes

Feature: 28,459,929,600 bytes

Video Bitrate: 29.94 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio German 1890 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1890 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
LPCM Audio German 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Second Run

 

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 43,599,553,856 bytes

Feature: 28,459,929,600 bytes

Video Bitrate: 29.94 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• A new and exclusive filmed interview with director Angela Schanelec (2021) (31:57)
Three early short films by Angela Schanelec:
• Lovely Yellow Colour (Schöne gelbe Farbe, 1991) (4:37)
 • Far Away (Weit entfernt, 1992) (9:11)
 • Prague, March '92 (Prag, März 92, 1992) (14:45)
Booklet featuring a new essay by critic and journalist Carmen Gray


 Blu-ray Release Date: March 29th, 2021
Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 12

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Second Run Blu-ray (March 2021): Second Run have transferred Angela Schanelec's I Was at Home, But... to Blu-ray. It is cited as a "High Definition, director-approved presentation of the of the film". It looks gorgeous on a dual-layered disc with a high bitrate. It is in the 1.66:1 aspect ratio. It is clean, crisp, bright, detailed with frequent depth and a highly pleasing, consistent 1080P image.

On their Blu-ray, Second Run provide the option of a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track (16-bit) or a linear PCM stereo (24-bit) in the original German language. There aren't many separations or aggressive effects at all in I Was at Home, But.... however, the audio is likewise clean and as flawless as the video. No score is credited but we do hear the music of Henry Mancini's Moon River and David Bowie's Let's Dance performed by M. Ward when Mom is dancing with the kids. Second Run offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Second Run Blu-ray offers a new 1/2 hour exclusive filmed interview with director Angela Schanelec from this year (2021) discussing the motivations for the film, style and methodology. Second Run also include three early short films by Schanelec - all made in the 90's; Lovely Yellow Colour (a Godard-inspired structuralist sketch), Far Away and Prague, March '92. They run about 20-minutes in total. The package also includes a liner notes booklet featuring a new essay by critic and journalist Carmen Gray.

Angela Schanelec's I Was at Home, But... is one of those rare modern cinema examples that captivates with its own rhythms, delicate pacing while relying far less on the unique eccentricities of its plot. The antithesis of Hollywood, superficial, over-produced movies. I was reminded of the films of Kelly Reichardt or Lucile Hadzihalilovic. I Was at Home, But.. is wonderful 'slow cinema', mysterious, thoughtful - I enjoyed every minute of it. The Second Run Blu-ray exposes this film to a wider audience with its region freedom and it includes interesting extras; revealing interview, short films and the booklet. Recommended!

Gary Tooze

 

Menus / Extras

 

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Box Cover

CLICK to order from:
Distribution Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray


 


 

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