Camilla Dickinson (2015/Cinedigm DVD)/Falling Star (2014/Indiepix DVD)/Flamenco Flamenco (2010/Music Box DVD)

Picture: C+/C/C+ Sound: C+ Extras: B-/C-/C+ Main Programs: C+/C/B-

Here are some new releases that go for something smart and different...

Cornelia Duryee Moore's Camilla Dickinson (2015) is a drama with occasional comedy based on the novel by Madeline L'Engle about the title character (Adelaide Clemens) having to deal with dysfunctional parents including a father (Cary Elwes) who is mixed and a mother (Samantha Mathis) who is cheating on her marriage and doing a bad job of covering it up if anything. She also has a best friend (a scene-stealing Colby Minifie, a real surprise here) whose brother (Gregg Sulkin) she starts to fall for.

They also have more functional parents (Camryn Manheim & Robert Picardo) in a New York City of many decades ago and their upper-class society. The script is class-conscious, but never overdoes it and tries to follow its story, but runs into its share of spots of predictability or points that don't advance the story as much. The casting works well, but even their talent and chemistry cannot help its limits, but it is worth seeing once for what works and is remarkable enough considering its limited budget. It looks so much better that higher profile, more expensive period pieces we've seen of late. Margaret Colin also stars.

Extras include a feature length audio commentary track by Moore & Producer Larry Estes, a Making Of featurette, Original Theatrical Trailer and Deleted Scenes that are pretty good with a few points that should have stayed in the film.

Luis Minarro's Falling Star (2014) is a historical drama set in 1870 Spain as their courts make the Italian Amadeo of Savoy the country's King. However, he is a man more interested in indulging himself that ruling, including a desire for young men, but this is only apparent. As a result, passions simmer, including among women (who turns up nude and semi-nude, but not as much as men) and male sexuality starts to show up in return of the repressed form. At 105 minutes, this is not bad, but many will find it slow.

As an historic work, it is just convincing enough with its set designs and costumes, while there is more than enough gay subtext and explicit gay sex scenes (though they are often variant solo ones to show the repression), so expect the unusual. I was reminded of Derek Jarman's Edward II (1992), but not as rich, bold or thorough, but this has its moments and the sex is never out of context. The curious and history minded will at least what to see it once.

A Making Of featurette is the only extra.

Carlos Saura's Flamenco Flamenco (2010) is a celebration of the music, dance, genre and talents of the long-standing genre that brings together the best in it today delivering remarkable performances that define and strongly deliver the music and art on the most robust and energetic of terms. Performers include Sara Barast, José Miguel Carmona, Montse Cortés, Paco de Lucía, Farruquito, Israel Galván, José Mercé, Estrella Morente, Soledad Morente, Niña Pastori, Miguel Poveda, Manolo Sanlúcar, Tomatito, Eva Yerbabuena and Antonio Zúñiga

Because it is an older artform, you might think only a few people perform it and it is nostalgia, but that is far from the truth (the late, great Charro becomes one of its greatest guitarists before she passed away) and is an art of pride, life and history like few others. There is nothing trivial or 'pop' about it and that is why this musical program is very much worth your time and a good look.

Extras include an interview with Carlos Saura entitled Painting On The Screen about the background artwork on the set, Making Of featurette, Faces of Flamenco featurette and Original Theatrical Trailer.

All three releases are digital shoots, with the anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image on Camilla the most film-like and the anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 presentation on Star is unabashedly a video shoot with a 'live' color look and all shot on sets, but it is the softest presentation here despite being color consistent. Flamenco is on another level being shot & lensed by the legendary Director of Photography Vittorio Storaro, here in an anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 presentation that looks fine. All three would definitely look better on Blu-ray and are professional presentations.

All offer lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 save the lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo on Star, but they are equally good and passable as the 5.1 tracks are only so dynamic and Star is a closely recorded, often quiet affair.

- Nicholas Sheffo