In 1930s Berlin, Max (Clive Owen) sleeps with German SA officer Wolf (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), only to see him killed by his fellow Nazis the next morning as part of the Night of the Long Knives. Refusing an offer of new papers from his Uncle Freddie (Ian McKellan) for fear of leaving his boyfriend Rudy behind, Max and Rudy are found by the Gestapo, to whom Max lies about his homosexuality and his relationship with Rudy. Bound for the Dachau concentration camp, Max will have to reckon with his identity, and his dignity, in the face of terrible persecution.

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Video Quality

Bent returns to Blu-Ray with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in its original 1.78:1 derived from a digital restoration. This new release is the exact same disc as the one released in 2019 from Film Movement Classics, only with the addition of an optional slipcover through OCN Distribution. We don’t know the exact details of the restoration, but we are largely impressed by the depth and detail on display. There may be a hint of filtering at play, but there is little to complain about in terms of detail. We did not spot any egregious specks of print damage.

The shots of the labor camps are packed with disturbing details that are easily noticeable thanks to this transfer. Once you make it past the vibrant opening bacchanal, colors are purposefully muted to suit the dour mood. Skin tones are natural and consistent with distinct facial features easily noticeable in closeup. Black levels hold up just swell with very little in the way of crush. Digital noise does not present as a tremendous issue here. This presentation is strong and allows the film to look its best. Film Movement Classics has done an admirable job with this one.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with a grand LPCM 2.0 track with optional English SDH subtitles. The music and the stirring score from Philip Glass sound rich and full of life throughout the film, as it underscores the heartwrenching emotions at play. There is never a moment when it threatens to steal focus from the dialogue, and the track maintains a commendable balance so that dialogue comes through clearly. Environmental sounds such as tumbling rocks or moans from prisoners are rendered well alongside everything else. There do not seem to be any serious instances of age-related wear and tear. Film Movement Classics has treated this one as well as you would hope.

Special Features

This Blu-Ray set includes a multi-page booklet featuring a Director’s Statement and the essay “Leveraging Suffering and Persecution in Bent” by film critic Steven Alan Carr. These provide a great analysis of the themes of the story, comparisons to the stage play, and more. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Behind The Scenes Footage: A 12-minute collection of raw footage from the production of the film.

Streets of Berlin Music Video: The nearly three-minute video from Mick Jagger is provided.

Interviews: There are several brief interviews with the cast and creative team provided in which they discuss their role in the production.

- Brian Webber (1:42)

- Clive Owen (1:52)

- Ian McKellen (1:33)

- Lothaire Bluteau (2:22)

- Martin Sherman (1:41)

- Mick Jagger (1:41)

- Sean Mathias (2:14)

Trailers: The 2018 Trailer (1:52) and the Original Theatrical Trailer (2:35) for Bent are presented here. There are also trailers provided for The Quiet Earth, Edward II, and Antonia’s Line.

Final Thoughts

Bent is a powerful look at the pain of being gay in World War II and the turmoil that comes with trying to survive. Clive Owen delivers an amazing performance that is at once extremely charismatic and heartbreakingly vulnerable. Given the subject matter, the material is obviously a tough watch, but there are also subtle moments of beauty and connection that make it worth it, This is one you will not soon forget. Film Movement Classics has released a Blu-Ray that features a strong A/V presentation and a couple of engaging supplemental features. Recommended

Bent is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Film Movement Classics and OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.