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

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (January 2026): Criterion have transferred Jonathan Glazer's Birth to 4K UHD and Blu-ray. This package has one 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features. This marks a stunning upgrade from the film's previous subpar DVD (reviewed HERE) and inconsistent streaming versions, with a new 4K digital restoration supervised and approved by the director himself. Presented in Dolby Vision HDR on the 4K disc (with a 1080P BD included), the transfer preserves a natural film grain that enhances the icy, muted color palette of wintry New York with restraint, revealing subtle textures in fabrics, skin tones, and shadowy interiors that were muddied in earlier editions. This quantum leap in picture quality allows the long Steadicam shots and close-ups - such as the iconic three-minute hold on Nicole Kidman's face - to resonate with newfound clarity and depth, making the film's atmospheric detachment feel more immersive and haunting than ever before. Cinematographer Harris Savides (Zodiac, Elephant, Gerry, The Game) employs long, haunting Steadicam shots and icy visuals, evoking a perpetual winter that symbolizes lingering loss. Overall, the 2160P visuals convey a world rich in material wealth but devoid of warmth, using Kubrickian precision to explore themes of impermanence and the supernatural without overt explanation. It looks flawless.

While we are in possession of the 4K UHD disc, we cannot resolve the encode yet, and therefore, cannot obtain screen captures. We hope to add to this review at some point in the future. So, the below captures are from Criterion's 2025 1080P Blu-ray transfer.

NOTE: We have added 70 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

On their Blu-ray and 4K UHD edition, Criterion use a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track (24-bit) in the original English language. Complementing the visuals, Alexandre Desplat's (The Beat That My Heart Skipped, Wes Anderson's Asteroid City, The Grand Budapest Hotel and Moonrise Kingdom plus he has composed for The Ghost Writer, The King's Speech, Unbroken, Heal The Living, Venus in Furs, Argo, Lust Caution, Army of Crime, The Tree of Life etc.,) score is a chameleonic orchestral work that floats between ominous foreboding and deceptive cheer, manipulating themes to mirror the film's emotional ambiguity and social divides. From the opening sequence, the music introduces a light, sprightly woodwind jitter - slightly anxious and trill-like - that accompanies the jogger's run, infusing simple imagery with profound apprehension before shifting to battering brass and percussion as he collapses. This unexpected freshness in scoring, often veering into minimalism or swelling grandeur, ignores conventional cues to heighten the uncanny, with passages that can be heard as haunting or inappropriately uplifting depending on the listener. Desplat's main theme is subtly manipulated throughout - strong yet subdued, featuring ornate orchestrations that build, shriek, and shrink, evoking waltzes in minor keys to symbolize the endless, faltering dance of Anna's grief and faith. In climactic moments of uncertainty, low whirring vibrations akin to a heartbeat drone underpin symphonic flourishes, pushing toward the supernatural while embodying class tensions. The sound design, crafted by Johnnie Burn (The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Under the Skin,) enhances this with menacing low bass thrums and urban off-screen noises, filling aural spaces to amplify isolation and mystery. During the opera scene, a near-menacing thrum of strings aligns with the camera's close-up on Kidman, allowing the music to narrate her internal conflict as much as her expression does. The score's opalescent quality - unpredictable swerves and swoops - remains unmatched in Desplat's later work, serving as a "mystery of the heart" that resonates like a lingering dream. Criterion offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray and Region FREE 4K UHD.

Criterion's extras package (all housed on the included Blu-ray) significantly expands on the bare-bones 2005 DVD (which included only a trailer), offering a director-approved special edition that deepens appreciation for Birth's craft and legacy. Highlights include a 2004 archival interview with Glazer and Kidman (shy of 1/2 hour) discussing the film's provocative themes; a new 1/2 hour documentary with behind-the-scenes footage and fresh interviews from Glazer, producers, and cast members; a 24-minute program on the cinematography featuring camera operator Craig Haagensen (The Taking of Pelham 123) and first assistant Eric Swanek (Vanilla Sky,) delving into Savides' techniques; the original trailer; and an insightful essay - liner notes booklet - by author Olivia Laing exploring the film's metaphysical undertones.

Jonathan Glazer's Birth is a profound exploration of grief, identity, and the irrational pull of love, blending psychological drama with elements of surrealism and fairy-tale mysticism to create a work that has evolved from initial controversy to cult acclaim. I loved finding under-appreciated cinema like this. It is easily a masterpiece... of emotional depth and directorial precision, especially in light of Glazer's later works like Under the Skin and The Zone of Interest. And it has both Nicole Kidman and Lauren Bacall?!? At its core, Birth challenges viewers to confront the boundaries between reality and delusion, using a seemingly absurd reincarnation narrative to delve into the human yearning for connection beyond death. Thematically, Birth is a meditation on grief's enduring grip, portraying it not as a linear process but as a haunting presence that warps perception and reality. Anna's (Kidman) arc embodies this, as her initial resistance gives way to a delusional attachment to the boy, symbolizing the refusal to let go of lost love. Influences from fairy tales are evident: Central Park as an enchanted wood, Clara as a "wicked stepsister" figure with her hidden secrets, and the boy's retreat into a tree as a transformative symbol. Heavy Kubrickian influences permeate the film: the opening jogger sequence recalls The Shining's tracking shots, the final pietà echoes 2001: A Space Odyssey's Star Child, and elements like a spanking scene nod to Barry Lyndon. In retrospect, Birth endures as Glazer's most audacious early work, a film that defies genre - part supernatural, part melodrama, part metaphysical puzzle - while affirming the chaos of human longing. Its power lies in refusing easy answers, inviting viewers to ponder the absurdities of love and loss long after the credits roll. Criterion's 4K UHD edition of Birth is an essential resurrection of Glazer's haunting sophomore feature, transforming an underrated gem - long trapped in inadequate formats - into a high-definition showcase that honors its visual and auditory artistry while enriching its enigmatic narrative through thoughtful extras. This release not only affirms the film's status as a masterpiece of grief and surrealism but also serves as a testament to physical media's value in preserving cinematic enigmas, highly recommended for fans of Kidman's vulnerable performance, Desplat's score, and Glazer's precise direction. Absolutely brilliant - our highest recommendation.

Gary Tooze