MovieChat Forums > Les enfants du paradis (1946) Discussion > Restored DVD + Blu-ray release

Restored DVD + Blu-ray release


The restored edition is stunning! I've just reviewed it here - http://pdmfilmreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/les-enfants-du-paradis-pg .html

What do you think?

Peter D. Marsay
Filmmaker/writer
My short film: http://vimeo.com/31021980

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I agree, stunning.

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[deleted]

I went to your review hoping you might be able to reassure me about the quality of the digital transfer, but you reviewed only the film itself (undeniably a masterpiece) and not the digital transfer from Pathe's restoration. So I still hesitate to order the blu-ray, based on the review of the technical aspects on blu-ray.com:

"While Pathe's restoration and reconstruction of this classic French film might well be very impressive, their high-definition transfer is disappointing. Traces of moderate to very heavy filtering corrections are easily noticeable throughout the entire film. Unsurprisingly, detail and clarity are seriously compromised. During many sequences colors and contrast also collapse, especially when light is restricted, and large blocks of gray become prominent. Because of the excessive filtering there is virtually no depth, while at times definition is so poor that it is absolutely impossible to see the fine details a 4K restoration should expose (see how in screencapture #20 the face of the man in the lower left corner is essentially filtered out). Additionally, Pathe's text description mentions the soft-focus effects of the original cinematography, but more often than not what is present here is an entirely different type of softness, one that is undoubtedly accomplished with the help of powerful digital tools (see screencaptures #10 and 11). Occasionally, there are even some halo effects/anomalies that pop up here and there (see screencapture #23). This being said, there are some portions of the film where one could get a basic idea of what could have been, mostly during the daylight sequences where there is an abundance of light and contrast levels are relatively stable (see screencapture #25), but even then often there is heavy smearing that tends to overwhelm the image. All in all, as far as I am concerned Children of Paradise's transition to Blu-ray is every bit as frustrating as Pathe's presentation of Jean-Pierre Melville's Le Samouraï. Obviously, there are other issues here, but the final result is undoubtedly disappointing."

I'd be interested in your take on these comments.

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Hi, I'm really sorry it's been nearly a year since you posted this so this won't be of much use, plus I don't have much to say on the topic! I hope you found the info you needed, and if you bought it were happy with the Blu-ray. I'm no expert on technical picture quality, and I'm sure that's the same transfer I saw so the information is likely correct. It didn't look especially breathtaking a transfer, but like you say I was just reviewing the film itself.

All the best, and apologies again the lateness and lack of help!

Peter D. Marsay
Filmmaker/writer
My short film: https://vimeo.com/43632174

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That came out in 2011. A remastered in 4K edition came out in 2016. From France with English subs.
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Les-Enfants-du-Paradis-Blu-ray/163705/

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