Sophie Scholl (2005/Region Four/4/PAL Import/Madman DVD)
Picture: C Sound: C+ Extras: B- Film: B
PLEASE NOTE: This DVD can only be operated on
machines capable of playing back DVDs that can handle Region Four/4 PAL format
software and can be ordered from our friends at Madman Entertainment at the
website address provided at the end of the review.
In yet another untold story from the horrors of Germany
during WWII, a young woman named Sophie
Scholl (2005) helped to distributed fliers denouncing Hitler at the growing
peak of his power and paid the ultimate price.
Unrepentant, she is arrested and the process of what to do with her
began, along with her friends. Now a
legend, it is hard to believe Director Marc Rothemund’s excellent film was not
a hit in the United States
and was barely released in that market.
It deserves much better.
Fortunately, it was a critical and commercial success in
many other markets and we get to see it on DVD from Madman Entertainment. Julia Jentsch is the title character, an
amazing performance that is real from the first frame and is non-stop
believable to the end. The supporting
cast is also great and Fred Breinersdorfer’s screenplay is very well rounded,
making one of the best films on the subject of late.
As much about the events as Nazi Germany itself, Sophie Scholl like Valkyrie, shows that
plenty of Germans were not happy with what happened to their country and those
who stood up paid a high price. At least
they had the courage, which is missing when similar things have happened in
other countries of wealth in recent history.
A lesson learned indeed.
The anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image is oddly softer
than a new film should be throughout, with motion blur and a lack of depth and
detail. This has been issued elsewhere
on Blu-ray, so why this is so poor makes no sense. However, Director of Photography Martin
Langer has created a very good looking film and it feels like it is from its
period. The
Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is all we get for a film that seems to have a 5.1 mix
and it sounds good, but not great. Extras
include Deleted Scenes, Interviews with contemporary witnesses and the Original
Theatrical Trailer.
As noted
above, you can order this PAL DVD import exclusively from Madman at:
https://www.madman.com.au/actions/channel.do?method=view
-
Nicholas Sheffo
