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Geek Vibes Nation
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
'Red Island' Blu-Ray Review - A Reflective, Child's-Eye View Of Colonization
Living on one of the last remaining military bases amidst a hedonistic group of French armed forces in 1970s Madagascar, ten-year-old Thomas begins to find cracks in the surface of his family's blissful existence on the idyllic island. Taking inspiration from his comic book hero Fantomette, Thomas spies on those around him, discovering the hidden and tangled political and sexual lives of the colonizers and the colonized. As relocation looms, Thomas questions whether the memories he has made are ones he should remember fondly. Simultaneously a sensual evocation of discovering the adult world and a sober reflection of what it represents, Robin Campillo's anticipated follow-up to his acclaimed 120 BPM weaves together the personal and political in a 'visually spectacular [and] masterful portrayal of colonialism through a child's eyes' (The Upcoming). For in-depth thoughts on Red Island, please see my colleague Will Bjarnar's review from its original theatrical release here. Video Quality Red Island arrives on Blu-Ray courtesy of Film Movement with a sumptuous 1080p presentation that perfectly captures the look of the film. This is a visually resplendent film with a significant amount of time spent around the community, and the camera soaks up every single moment of it. There is a fetching amount of detail in close-up shots, along with wide shots of the beautiful scenery. Colors are deftly saturated and especially vibrant within the foliage. Skin tones look natural, and there are some wonderful facial details present. Black levels are solid with no obvious crush, and highlights avoid blooming under the bright sun. Compression artifacts and other digital anomalies are fortunately not an issue. The film looks great in high definition. Audio Quality The Blu-Ray comes with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track in the original mixture of French and Malagasy that sounds lovely. The movie is primarily dialogue-driven with room to observe and luxuriate in the soundscape as a whole. Dialogue is clear without being burdened by the score or sound effects. This is not a film that commands a particularly robust low end, but there is some valuable texture at points. The track shakes things up with sounds of nature emanating out of the speakers. The film makes good use of panning effects to make the island come alive. Environmental sounds come through distinctly in the side and rear speakers. Overall, this track does a tremendous job of representing the film. Optional English subtitles are available. Special Features Audio Commentary: Director Robin Campillo provides a commentary track in which he discusses the process of making the film, the inspiration for the narrative, the fairy tale qualities, the performances, and more. Trailer (1:56) Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring the essay 'Masks Off: On Robin Campillo's Red Island ' by film critic Sam Cohen is provided here. This piece gives a well-rounded analysis and context for the historical aspects, themes, and plot developments, which strengthens your appreciation overall. Final Thoughts Red Island provides a unique entry point into the colonization of a community as seen through the wide, deeply observant eyes of a kid. Director Robin Campillo weaves in the stories of multiple different members of the community, but the limited lens means that some of the narratives feel a bit incomplete or superfluous. There is a mixture of tones that mostly works out well, but the clashes are jarring in a few key moments. The performances of the young newcomers are quite good, and the adults in the ensemble all feel completely authentic to the time period. It is not always the smoothest path, but the narrative journey is worth taking. Film Movement has provided a Blu-Ray with a splendid A/V presentation along with a valuable commentary track. Recommended Red Island is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome. Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray. Disclaimer: Film Movement and OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Film Movement Acquires N. America For ‘An American Pastoral' Doc Capturing Toxic U.S. Public School Meetings
EXCLUSIVE: Film Movement has acquired North American rights for French filmmaker Auberi Edler's documentary An American Pastoral, chronicling the struggles in a rural Pennsylvanian community over the future of its public schools. The cinema vérité-style work – produced by Les Films d'Ici Méditerranée – won the Best Directing Award at the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA). More from Deadline Film Movement Acquires U.S. Rights To Adam McKay & Alan Cumming EPd Philippines Land Grab Docudrama 'Asog' Film Movement Takes North America For Palestinian Director Scandar Copti's 'Happy Holidays' Doc Talk Podcast: Carla Gutiérrez And Irene Taylor From Amsterdam, Plus IDFA Chief Orwa Nyrabia Decries Left-Wing Policing Of Free Speech Film Movement have slated the work for a theatrical release in 2025, to be followed by a launch on leading digital platforms and the home entertainment marketplace. The documentary captures the battle for control of public schools in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, a picturesque town situated in the rolling farmland of Lancaster County. On the surface, it has all the charm of small-town America but behind its bucolic veneer lies a fracture in the making as local school board meetings turn into a battleground. After months of vitriolic debates over Covid-19 restrictions, budget priorities, and library books, four of the five long-serving Republican incumbents announce their retirement, leaving the door open for far-right Christian Nationalists to potentially seize control. The acquisition announcement was made by Film Movement President Michael Rosenberg and Arianna Castoldi, Head of Documentary Sales for Mediawan. 'In true vérité style, Edler offers no narration or commentary, instead letting the interpersonal dramas and behind-the-scenes events play out on screen in absorbing fashion,' said Rosenberg. 'At a time when politics has seeped into every facet of our lives, An American Pastoral shows how the fraying of our national fabric is playing out locally.' Further recent acquisitions for Film Movement include Marie Losier's Queer Lion-nominee Peaches Goes Bananas, Shall We Dance?, starring Oscar nominee Koji Yakusho, and Pedro Martin-Calero's The Wailing. Best of Deadline 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More 'The Last Of Us': Differences Between HBO Series & Video Game Across Seasons 1 And 2 'Ransom Canyon' Book Vs. Show Differences: From Quinn & Staten's Love Story To Yancy Grey's Plot
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Spanish Horror ‘The Wailing' Set for U.S. Theatrical Release After Film Movement Pickup (EXCLUSIVE)
Film Movement has announced the acquisition of U.S. distribution rights for Pedro Martin-Calero's unsettling horror feature debut 'The Wailing' ('El llanto'), a standout during its world premiere at last year's San Sebastian Film Festival. The announcement was made by Michael Rosenberg, president, Film Movement and Vicente Canales, managing director of Film Factory Entertainment, the film's sales agent. More from Variety Sexually Charged Indie Comedy 'Paying for It' Lands U.S. Distribution With Film Movement (EXCLUSIVE) Surveillance Thriller 'Stranger Eyes,' Venice Golden Lion Nominee, Nabbed by Film Movement for North America (EXCLUSIVE) Naomi Osaka-Produced Tennis Drama 'Julie Keeps Quiet,' Belgium's Oscar Entry, Gets North American Deal With Film Movement (EXCLUSIVE) The film, a Spain-Argentina co-production, earned Martin-Calero the Silver Shell for best director at San Sebastián and was nominated for the Spanish Academy Goya Award for best new director. It is set for a theatrical release in 2025, followed by digital and home entertainment releases. In the film, three young women separated by decades and thousands of miles are terrorized by the same ethereal threat that nobody, not even they, can properly see. The entity manifests more like a trick of lighting than anything corporeal. In each case, when the women attempt to confront the presence, they hear the same horrific wailing. Martin-Calero co-wrote 'The Wailing' with Isabel Peña ('The Beasts,' 'The Candidate'), an extremely accomplished scribe who frequently works with Rodrigo Sorogoyen. The film was produced by up-and-coming Madrid label Caballo Films, backers of partner Sorogoyen's films, including 'The Beasts' – co-written by Peña – which won the Spanish Academy Goya award for best picture in 2023 and a French best foreign film Cesar. The film's non-linear narrative has drawn praise from critics in Spain and abroad. Film Movement's Rosenberg says of his company's latest pickup: 'For his first feature-length film, Pedro really turns the horror genre on its head, creating something that is wholly original, deeply thought-provoking and rich with atmosphere. Between the superb turns from the trio of female leads and surprising narrative twists and turns, North American audiences are sure to leave the theater thinking about 'The Wailing' for a long time.' In addition to 'The Wailing,' Film Movement has acquired a range of international films, including Sean Devlin's 'Asog,' Sook-Yin Lee's 'Paying for It' and 'Julie Keeps Quiet,' which debuted at Cannes. Best of Variety What's Coming to Disney+ in March 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in March 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
