Art Of Passion (1994/aka Unconditional Love)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Film: C

 

 

The search for the meaning of art is a profound one, but so many films about art get caught up in other issues that they do not work.  Some are even ambitious, like Arthur Bjorn Egeli’s Art Of Passion (1994, originally released as Unconditional Love by Prodigy) that ultimately do not hit the nail on the head as intended.  Steve (Pablo Bryant) wants to become an artist and is under the tutelage of a teacher whose idea of art makes little sense but is too conformist.

 

While staying in the great town of Cape Cod in its peak summer months, he works and works on his craft, but at the same time gets distracted by no less than three beautiful and interesting women.  Those relationships have their moments, though the film fails to explore them enough as the cut and cut down footage prove.  Like that, there was a better film in here somewhere, but the debate about art is so very badly handled that it ultimately undermines the entire film.

 

Acting by the unknown cats is not bad either, but Egeli ultimately talks about things only he knows the meaning of if that.  The art debate is especially lame and almost embarrassing.  The new title confirms this.

 

At least this was shot on film and the 1.33 X 1 image has some nice shots by Director Of Photography Teresa Medina, but this transfer is way too soft and since it was likely shot with a 1.85 X 1 aspect ratio in mind, anamorphic enhancement and/or an HD transfer would have helped bring out the great location.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo fares a little better, with faint Pro Logic surrounds at best from the original Dolby A-type analog theatrical sound, but like the picture, a second generation issue might be at hand in this presentation.

 

Extras include text talent files, stills, original trailer, four extra scenes that are often extended and should have remained in the film, interviews and text on the music by composer Michael Errington.  The menus take forever too, more noticeably so than usual.  What a mixed disc.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo