Fatherland Blu-ray - Gerulf Pannach

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

(aka "Singing the Blues in Red")

Directed by Ken Loach (as Kenneth Loach)
UK | West Germany | France 1986

Ken Loach collaborated with playwright Trevor Griffiths (Comedians) for this underseen political drama about an East German protest singer (played by Gerulf Pannach) who emigrates to the West when he falls foul of the authorities. He arrives to much interest from the media – and a potentially lucrative record contract – but wishes only to be able to perform his songs, and to find his father, another exile, who had left his home country during the 1953 East German uprising.

***

An intriguing departure for Loach, scripted by Trevor Griffiths, this concerns the voluntary exile of an East German Liedermacher (a kind of radical singer/songwriter) to West Berlin, where his worst fears are confirmed: he has swapped intimidation and censorship for the kind of 'repressive tolerance' that only American record executives and progressive GDR capitalists can convey in all its seductive horror. So far, so good. Superbly composed and cleverly paced, this story of one man's unillusioned exile gives way to a second half in which a thriller-style subplot concerning the singer's vanished father (tracked down to England) takes over, but fails to match the tension and interest of what has gone before. A flawed but always stimulating and intelligent film, with fine performances from Pannach (debuting as the exile) and Steiner (as his father).

Excerpt from TimeOut located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: September 1st, 1986 (Venice Film Festival)

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Review: Indicator - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Or buy directly from Indicator:
Distribution	Indicator - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:51:11.456
Video	1.66:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 49,041,214,938 bytes Feature: 32,609,050,176 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.99 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	LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles	English (SDH), English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Indicator 1.66:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 49,041,214,938 bytes Feature: 32,609,050,176 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.99 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Language Barriers (2021, 6:19): editor Jonathan Morris discusses his first feature-film collaboration with Ken Loach • Talk About Work (1971, 15:58): Loach’s documentary on youth employment, made for the Central Office of Information and photographed by Chris Menges • Right to Work March (1972, 42:13): campaign film documenting a five-week protest march from Glasgow to London that saw the participation of a number of cultural figures, including Loach and other filmmakers • Trailer (1:15) • Image gallery: publicity and promotional material • Original shooting script Limited edition exclusive 36-page booklet with a new essay by Frank Collins, an archival interview with Ken Loach, an extract from Loach on Loach, an overview of contemporary critical responses, new writing on the documentary films, and film credits UK premiere on Blu-ray Limited edition of 3,000 copies Blu-ray Release Date: April 26th, 2021 Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters 12

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (April 2021): Indicator have transferred Ken Loach's Fatherland to Blu-ray. This came out on Blu-ray by Twilight Time back in 2016 HERE. The image is neither crisp nor sharp and this may be a direction function of the original production. We don't have the Twilight Time to compare, but having seem captures it does seem very similar. It is so thick and heavy that it looks almost like it was shot on 16mm (it was 35mm.) This could have been a style choice with lifeless colors - I really don't know, but for anyone expecting a glossy, tight, vibrant image - you will be disappointed. It does show some grain and film-like textures, but generally looks unremarkable, flat and drab.

On their Blu-ray, Indicator use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original German and English languages (with occasional French mixed in). There isn't much aggression - some train noise etc. but mostly the music is notable. The score is credited to Béla Bartók (Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion and Mikrokosmos), Benjamin Britten (Cello Suite No. 2 in D Major, Op. 80), Christian Kunert and Gerulf Pannach. There are also pieces by Henry Purcell (Sonata for Two Treble Recorders) as well as Randy Newman performing his own Guilty. Indicator offer optional English or English (SDH) subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Indicator Blu-ray doesn't offer a commentary on this one but includes some relevant extras. Language Barriers is a new 6-minute interview with editor Jonathan Morris who discusses his first feature-film collaboration with Ken Loach, Fatherland. Talk About Work is Loach’s 1971 documentary on youth employment, made for the Central Office of Information and photographed by Chris Menges - running 1/4 hour. Right to Work March runs 42-minutes from 1971 and is a campaign film documenting a five-week protest march from Glasgow to London that saw the participation of a number of cultural figures, including Loach and other filmmakers. Lastly, are a trailer and image gallery of both publicity / promotional material and another with the original shooting script. Included in the package are a limited edition exclusive 36-page booklet (3,000 copies) with a new essay by Frank Collins, an archival interview with Ken Loach, an extract from Loach on Loach, an overview of contemporary critical responses, new writing on the documentary films, and film credits

I wasn't crazy about Loach's Fatherland although I was keen on the story even being a bit flummoxed by the second half. Perhaps I am at odds with the concept of a 'protest singer' although much music / poetry does enlighten. A commentary may have helped my appreciation. Part of Fatherland's value seems to be its lack of exposure - it was a film I had never seen and being Ken Loach, alone, may be an attractive enticement for some. The Indicator Blu-ray seems a well done package of an odd, under-discussed film. Intrepid, adventurous cinephiles may be in their element.