Ghosted (2009/First Run Features DVD)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C+     Extras: B-     Feature: C+

 

 

I have not been impressed by much of the output of Writer/Director Monika Treut, but I respect the voice of difference in her work.  Ghosted (2009) wants to be a murder mystery about a German woman whose female lover has disappeared, then has possibly been killed.  There is some mystery here, a little suspense, but it does not always add up and gets sidetracked by uneven pacing and scenes that interrupt the whole thing.

 

However, it is better than many of the formula thrillers I have had to suffer through, but did not stay with me either.  She shot this on video and that also has mixed results, but it is an ambitious, respectable showing and not bad.  Ironically, the bonus documentary included her is better, but more on that in a minute.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is a little softer than one would have liked, even for a digital video shoot, but color can be nice.  Some shots are awful, but a few are good.  Too bad a look never develops for this work.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is not bad, but has location audio issues and a few other flaws.

 

Extras include info on other First Run DVDs and Truet’s documentary, Tigerwomen Grow Wings from 2005. This look at three women in Taiwan (Opera singer Hsieh Yue-Hsia, novelist Li Aug and filmmaker Chen Ying-rong) is actually her best work to date and in 56 minutes shows us their lives, the changes in Taiwan and what the future may hold for these women, the country and world commerce.  That is the #1 reason to get this DVD.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo