Hysteria
(2011/Sony Blu-ray)
Picture:
B Sound: B Extras: B- Film: B-
These
days, the media and even film has made sex a joke, so it is increasingly
difficult to find any release that is witty, knowing and smart about the
subject. Tanya Wexler’s Hysteria (2011) is one of those ever rare
exceptions, set in the late Victorian era, a doctor (Jonathan Pryce) is an
expert in dealing with the “illness” of the title in women, though it is really
about sexual oppression and most don’t know it, though some might and not want
to discuss it. He hires an assistant
(Hugh Dancy) to help him out, which goes well at first, but then he starts to
fall for his radical-for-the-time daughter (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and
complications will ensure.
He also
has a friend (Rupert Everett) who is working on a device to help the
“condition” that seems to be plaguing women and it turns out to be what will
become known as a vibrator, but the film is more about the people and politics
of the time. It is also classy, clever,
witty and sly about all things sexual, yet the screenplay never allows for any
missed chances to be (should I really say tongue-in-cheek) smart about the
situation and leaves no double-entendre unturned without being just about the
shallow side of things.
No, this
is not an epic or even a outright comedy, but a well
realized film about human nature and how it is often undermined by oppression
and other issues. Wexler has pulled off
a solid piece of filmmaking that deserves more attention, but to this day, people
are still uncomfortable with the
subject mater no matter how well it can be handled as it is here. I was pleasantly surprised overall and the
many mistakes that could have been made are not. Felicity Jones, Sheridan Smith and Gemma
Jones also star.
The 1080p
2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image transfer is slightly stylized to reflect
the era, but was shot in the Super 35mm film format and used all Fuji motion
picture stocks, stocks which it has been announced will be discontinued at the
end of 2012, so this is one of the last major film releases anyone will
remember shot with that product. Director
of Photography Sean Bobbit (McQueen’s Shame) has created a world that is
natural, yet palpable and we get a slight dense richness that is just enough to
b have us believe and feel we are there.
Color range is just fine and there are more than a few nice shots with
detail and even a couple of demo shots.
The
DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix is also impressive as this is more
than just a dialogue-based work and we get a consistent, warm, refined,
pleasant soundfield throughout, well recorded and with a fine music score
throughout. The combination is more
impressive than many might expect for a costume piece (thank Jane Austen for
lowering expectations) and will impress as well as surprise film fans and home
theater owners.
Extras
include a feature length audio commentary track by Director Wexler, Deleted
Scenes, An Evening wit Tanya Wexler, Hugh Dancy and Jonathan Pryce featurette,
highlights of the documentary Passion
& Power: The Technology of Orgasm (reviewed in its entirety on DVD
elsewhere on this site) and a Behind The Scenes featurette.
- Nicholas Sheffo
