Martha: A Picture Story Blu-ray

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

Directed by Selina Miles
USA 2019

In 1970s New York, trailblazing street photographer Martha Cooper captured some of the first images of graffiti at a time when the city had declared war on it. Decades later, Cooper has become an influential figure to the global movement of street artists.

"Directed with infectious zeal, it's a photographer bio-doc that always feels to be in motion, especially given its excellent editing, fascinating subject, and narrative ambition." - RogerEbert.com

"1977, the Bronx was burning down. No one really wanted to write that graffiti was an interesting thing. But I don't want to shoot something that's done with permission. It's an outlaw art. That's what makes it thrilling." - Martha Cooper

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In 1970s New York, photographer Martha Cooper captured some of the first images of graffiti at a time when the city had declared war it. Decades later, Cooper has become an influential godmother to a global movement of street artists.

Posters

Theatrical Release: April 25th, 2019 (Tribeca Film Festival)

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Review: Utopia - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Utopia - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:25:20.365
Video	1.78:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 21,795,884,059 bytes Feature: 18,246,212,736 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.92 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 English 2019 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2019 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Subtitles	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Utopia 1.78:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 21,795,884,059 bytes Feature: 18,246,212,736 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.92 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Martha Cooper Studio Tour (06:20) • Os Gemeos Extended Interview (07:10) • Official Trailer (01:45) Blu-ray Release Date: June 29th, 2021 Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters 10

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Utopia Blu-ray (July 2021): Utopia has released Martha: A Picture Story on an all new single Blu-ray. The 2019 digitally-shot documentary smoothly transfers to this digital medium. The disc features a modest bitrate throughout the picture's running time. There is little to nitpick here, with this Blu-ray showcasing a sharp image, even when using various forms of media (stills, old video footage, old film footage, etc.) Colors are strong, and the various street art and graffiti look appropriately eye-catching.

Utopia's Blu-ray of Martha: A Picture Story sports a 5.1 16-bit DTS-HD Master audio track. The documentary is quite lively, much like its subject, and this surround track features quite a bit of upbeat and varied music. This is all while keeping the occasional talking-heads sequences loaded towards the center and front channels. The music in the documentary is credited to Adit Gauchan and Vincent Goodyer while the soundtrack features artists such as; Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Leikeli47, Portico Quartet, Slowthai and Mura Masa, Fanfara Ciocarlia, The Acid, The Dynatones, Amanaz, and The Carnations. There are optional English subtitles on this Region 'A' Blu-ray from Utopia.

Utopia's Blu-ray of Martha: A Picture Story features a few extras. The first is a studio tour featuring Cooper spending 6-minutes giving us a glimpse at her (other) workspace. We also get a 7-minute extended interview with Os Gemeos. The film's official trailer rounds out the Region 'A' Blu-ray from Utopia.

Utopia's Blu-ray of Martha: A Picture Story is a wonderful introduction / summation of the art and career of Martha Cooper. Fans of street-art and tagging/graffiti will find a lot to love here, regardless of whether they are familiar with Cooper or not. The various other artists that make appearances also share their love of Cooper, and her work. Recommended to those curious.