The Necessities Of Life (2008/Umbrella Entertainment/PAL Region Four/4/DVD
Import)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C Extras:
C Film: C
PLEASE NOTE: This DVD set can only be operated
on machines capable of playing back DVDs that can handle Region Four/4 PAL
format software and can be ordered from our friends at Umbrella Entertainment
at the website address provided at the end of the review.
Benoit
Pilon is building a reputation as a visual filmmaker who can do drams with a
good feel to them, but The Necessities
Of Life (2008) is the first film of his I have seen and though it does look
good and has a flow to it, the tale of a Inuit hunter (Natar Ungalaaq) circa
1952 with tuberculosis leaves his family behind to get treatment in Quebec
City. However, he is lost and wants to
go back home, in part to take care of his family that he loves so much.
That
makes the title of the film ironic and it does have its moments. There are things to like about this film, but
the predictability and familiarity with similar stories has the film playing it
safe too often, making it flat when all is said and done. I can see why people liked it, but I felt it
was a bit overrated and now you can see for yourself.
The
anamorphically enhanced 2.35 X 1 image is not bad and has some fine shots of
the locations delivered well by Director of Photography Michel La Veaux, but
this transfer is soft to very soft throughout.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has weak Pro Logic surrounds and that
combination seems to suggest the material is down a generation. The sound was originally issued in Dolby’s
advanced analog SR (Spectral Recording) system, but it does not sound as good
as it could. Extras include the trailer
and a Q&A with actor Ungalaaq at the Australian Canadian Film Festival 2009.
As noted
above, you can order this PAL DVD import exclusively from Umbrella at:
http://www.umbrellaent.com.au/
-
Nicholas Sheffo
