Footnote (2011/Sony Blu-ray)

 

Picture: B-     Sound: B-     Extras: C+     Film: B-

 

 

A drama with some ironic comedy, Joseph Cedar’s Footnote (2011) tells the tale a father and son who are prominent in the Jewish community but have some distance between them, though the son does not totally realize this.  Father Eliezer (Shlomo Bar-Aba) has several decades ago discovered a version of the Talmud that was so unique and different that if he could figure it out, it would be a breakthrough in the serious study of Judaism.  However, someone beat him to it and he has been miserable ever since, especially watching his son Uriel (Lior Ashkennazi) have some major successes of his own, as we discover in the opening sequence of a big event in honor of Uriel.

 

Though some things are predictable here, others are poignant and the more you know about Judaism, the more you will get out of this drama.  There are also ironies and other smart moments that make this serious storytelling.  I found the comedy not outright comical, but consistently so and that is not easy to do.  The performances all around are also impressive and even if some of this is not true (I could not tell you for certain), Footnote is well made and should more than please the audience it is aimed at.  More daring, patient viewers with longer attention spans who like challenging films will want to see it too.

 

The 1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image transfer has been stylized and has its share of subtle digital imaging, but this is pretty much the way the film is intended to look and I cannot imagine it looking better for what was desired as the resulting playback.  The DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 Hebrew lossless mix is dialogue-based and can be towards the front speakers or center channel at times, but this is well recorded overall.  Extras include An Evening With Joseph Cedar featurette and a Behind The Scenes featurette.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo