In a tiny rural village in Argentina, Rita Lopez, a pious yet insatiably competitive woman, decides that staging a miracle could be her ticket to sainthood. After discovering a lost statue in the back room of her chapel, she convinces her neglected but loving husband to help her orchestrate the grand reveal that will finally anoint her as the most admired woman in town. But before the unveiling, a jarring turn of events illuminates the hidden magic of her world, forcing her to reevaluate everything she once took for granted.

For thoughts on Chronicles of a Wandering Saint, please see my colleague Tristian Evans’s review from its original festival debut here.

Video Quality

Chronicles of a Wandering Saint makes its Blu-Ray debut with a fetching 1080p video presentation that translates the film for home viewing without issue. The image is free of blemishes with a complex, nuanced color palette permeating the screen. The film offers some deep colors within the production design and costumes that set the tone of the space. The skin tones are natural with an impressive amount of detail present in close-ups. The design elements reveal exceptional textural details that make the experience more tactile. The presentation unlocks a significant amount of depth in all spaces. Black levels reveal the slightest signs of banding in a few moments, but they largely maintain their depth. The highlights intentionally get pushed super hot in specific moments, but everything holds together admirably. This Blu-Ray is a formidable representation of this movie.

Audio Quality

Hope Runs High gives this Blu-Ray a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that is thoughtfully deployed throughout the narrative. Environmental flourishes activate the surround speakers with discrete ambient details that expand the setting. The results are invaluable with the fluid sound design never stumbling. Dialogue comes through clearly without being burdened by any competing sounds. The music is a rich part of this experience that rings out with fine fidelity. There is a small bit of texture in the lower registers, but it is not a standout in this regard. The audio track captures the reality of this narrative with great care. This film is presented in the original Spanish with forced English subtitles.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Filmmaker Tomás Gómez Bustillo and producer Gewan Brown provide a commentary track in which they discuss the background of the production, collaborating with the performers, the aesthetic of the film, what they learned as first-time feature filmmakers, and more.

Making Of Featurette: A nearly 13-minute piece in which Bustillo delves into the origins of the idea, the production of the film, working with different craftspeople, the qualities of the characters, and more.

Museum of Fleeting Wonders – Short Film by Tomás Gómez Bustillo: A 14-minute short film that acts as a welcome companion piece thematically to the feature film.

Conversation with Filmmakers Tomás Gómez Bustillo and John Patton Ford, Moderated by Taylor Purdee of Hope Runs High: A 48-minute conversation with Bustillo and the filmmaker behind Emily the Criminal is provided in which they discuss the path Bustillo took to becoming a filmmaker, the development of the project, various inspirations, the realities of the movie business, and more.

White Lies, White Light Video Essay: A five-minute video essay that delves into some of the central questions and themes of the film.

Original Trailer (2:10)

Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring an essay from journalist Andy Crump and an afterword from Hope Runs High’s Taylor Purdee is provided that explores the film in greater depth.

Final Thoughts

Chronicles of a Wandering Saint is an exquisite feature debut from Tomás Gómez Bustillo that executes a high-concept idea within a creative framework that never feels stifling despite being a smaller production. To reveal too much about the story would do a disservice to the potential audience, but it is filled with surprises and moving moments that resonate deeply. The movie is gentle yet very rewarding as it causes you to reflect on life and what is most important to you. It is among our favorite discoveries in recent memory. Hope Runs High has released a Blu-Ray featuring an amazing A/V presentation and a valuable selection of special features. Go into this one blind and prepare to be delighted. Recommended

Chronicles of a Wandering Saint 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: Hope Runs High 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.