Robert Burns – Live (Special Interest)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C+     Extras: D     Program: B-

 

 

When I first heard about Robert Burns – Live, I thought it was another concert DVD by another music act the record labels might be trying to push or even a talentless one who was about to be blitzed against the will of the public at large.  Instead, this is Christopher Tait’s reenactment of the landmark Scottish writer and philosopher brought to life as if the long since passed author came back to life.

 

At first, this was like watching a Saturday Night Live (aka SNL) sketch with its basic lighting and the accent.  I thought Mike Myers and Dana Carvey were going to show up and start cracking jokes, but as I kept watching, I realized this was more serious and the better part of it kicked in.  Tati is not intentionally funny, but we are exposed to so little that is truly Scottish (a nationality of this author) and to see something done seriously is a nice change of pace.  It runs a mere 35 minutes, but offers an alternate perspective that is made better by its location shooting.  Another reason for the SNL effect is the appearance of the way it was shot.

 

The full frame image was shot on color videotape in beautiful Alloway, Scotland with what looks to be the analog PAL format.  It shows its limits and seems to be either older or shot on older equipment.  This includes some flaws in detail, though stills are also offered.  The PCM CD sound is basic stereo with no surrounds, and there are no extras either.

 

I have to say that I also found some playback difficulty on some DVD players.  The program seems to have been repeated on the DVD a few times for easier reference purposes, but this may confuse some players.  This is a strictly special interest DVD, but this is also the kind of thing the format should be offering on a more regular basis.  Too bad it was not longer.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo