Stealth
(2007/Water Bearer Films DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C- Film: B-
Not to be
confused with the awful fighter plane film with Jamie Foxx, Lionel Baier’s Stealth (2007) is a surprisingly smart
and entertaining film about a gay man who suddenly discovers he is Polish and
delves into anything and everything Polish he can within reason. His life in France is fine, but this is
allowed to cause so much of a disruption that his sister takes him to Poland
(borrowing a business car she uses for work) and his homosexuality is
reawakened when he meets a younger guy there.
Earlier
when he first announces he is Polish to a friend in disbelief, they talk about
Bjork and one of her favorite directors as an example of someone who looks like
him in a way that makes it hard to believe he is Polish. Spare us the Lars von Trier reference!
Fortunately,
this does not degenerate into a Von Trier and/or Dogme ’95 disaster and offers
a story with a real cross-section of well-developed (and well cast characters)
making this a film that exceeds being a “gay” film.
The
letterboxed 1.85 X 1 image can be soft and have some minor issues with depth
and even color, but it does not look bad otherwise and the locations,
compositions and editing are good. The
Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is limited and without surrounds, but is clean and
clear enough. The only extra is a
trailer, but it does not have English Subtitles!
- Nicholas Sheffo
