Formerly known as missflores

I just saw Festen for the first time and was very impressed with the movie but not with the R1 dvd release. What is the best release this movie to buy? Are any of the ones from other regions better than the R1?

Hendrik

...what's wrong with the R1 release...?...

(From Ian Jane's review for DVD Talk:
Video:
The film was shot for a fullframe presentation and that’s how Universal’s DVD is displayed as well. Picture quality is quite good, though due to the nature of the ‘Dogme 95’ style of filmmaking sometimes the lighting is too dark and the image is a wee bit muddy from time to time because of that and of course, again due to the style, there is a lot of shakey camera work. Those stylistic choices aside, there’s a nice high level of detail in the film and not too much in the way of mpeg compression to complain about. The transfer isn’t going to blow your mind or anything, but it looks pretty good.)

. . . . . .

Daniel Windsor

The Region 1 disc is a complete disaster. Horrible.

The UK disc is superior but it's not perfect. I noticed a few pops in the soundtrack but once I had a look at the US disc I realised it meant nothing.


That DVD review above must have been written by someone from outerspace.

Hendrik

...oh...

FYI: the Danish, Dutch, French, and German DVDs get very low marks for image & sound - and, of course, none of those feature (optional) English subtitles...

. . . . . .

pro-bassoonist

Daniel,

I would very much like to know why you think the R1 disc is a disaster. The sound "cracks" that the R2 has should be a good enough reason for people to look at the R1 disc and reconsider owning the R1 instead (with this said on my R2 disc I hear the "cracks" only on one spot).

I would love to read some arguments from both sides (you and the reviewer) as there seems to be too big of a gap in your opinions.

Pro-B

Daniel Windsor

Hmmm.

Well, let's put it this way: I'd put the Region 1 DVD in my top 10 worst transfers. It's right up there.

As the film is produced within the Dogme principles, it is meant to look a certain way. That way is how it's seen on the UK disc.

The R1 disc looks like it's been taken from a PAL VHS. It's truly awful. I remember reading the above review and thought it was crazy. It says "Picture quality is quite good" and "The transfer isn’t going to blow your mind or anything, but it looks pretty good."

I think he might of been watching it on one of those James Bond LCD wrist watches from the 80s

Daniel Windsor

I posted about this bad DVD Celebration (Festen) Dogme 95 -TERRIBLE DVD! in July.

I notice I mention 'Canadian' -Is it the same release I wonder?

pro-bassoonist

Indeed. I am quite certain that the Canadian edition has nothing to do with the US one. Furthermore, In this specific case I would welcome a graphic comparison by DVDBEAVER that focuses specifically on the sourcing of the print.

Pro-B

Eventium

I think some of you may be underestimating Dogme.

pro-bassoonist

in what sense?

Pro-B

Eventium

In the sense, that Festen wasn't exactly shot digital. It's supposed to look cheap.

pro-bassoonist

Well, I believe that everyone around here is aware of that. What Daniel points out in his comment is the sourcing of the print (in this case, cheap PAL to NTSC, VHS port....)

Pro-B

Daniel Windsor

I'm not saying it's literally a PAL VHS to NTSC port. I was trying to say just how bad it looked.


It has more artefacts than the Indiana Jones Trilogy

mrwilson

I think the PQ between the R2UK (oop) and R1 was very similar but the subs on the R1 are terrible. The R2UK had nice removable subs.

DVD Smurf

My Review on Festen

The 10 Rules of Dogme 95

Sidenote: I love my R1 DVD.