DEFA Fairy Tales Collection Blu-Ray Review – A Magical, Surreal Tumble Down A Rabbit Hole Of Classic Stories

The wildly surreal, music- and color-saturated world of fairy tale films or Märchenfilme from East Germany’s DEFA Studios are one of the great, still-overlooked subgenres in world fantasy filmmaking. Part Sid & Marty Krofft Saturday morning kiddie psychedelia, part sturdy Socialist moralizing, the Märchenfilme were one of DEFA’s most popular genres from the 1950s to 1970s.  We’re thrilled to collaborate again with the DEFA Film Library at the Univ. of Massachusetts Amherst on this first-ever Blu-ray release of five of their best fairy tale gems!

SNOW WHITE (SCHNEEWITTCHEN) – 1961, 63 min., dir. Gottfried Kolditz.  This lovely live-action version of the classic Bros. Grimm tale is in many ways the prototypical DEFA fairy tale film, with Doris Weikow radiating storybook charm as Snow White. Scanned in 2K in 2014/2015

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD (ROTKÄPPCHEN) – 1962, 72 min., dir. Götz Friedrich.  Red Riding Hood (Blanche Kommerell) faces off against some of the mangiest and most terrifying forest creatures ever conceived, including The Big Bad Wolf (Werner Dissel) — basically an American Werewolf in East Germany.  Sure to give your 6-year old self nightmares for life. Scanned in 4K in 2016

MOTHER HULDA (FRAU HOLLE) – 1963, 57 min., dir. Gottfried Kolditz.  Lazy daughter Pechmarie (Katharina Lind) and hardworking stepdaughter Goldmarie (Karin Ugowski vie for the approval of magical Frau Holle, who lives in an insanely artificial Pee Wee’s Playhouse-meets-Lidsville underground world. Scanned in 2K in 2013

THE DEVIL’S THREE GOLDEN HAIRS (WER REIßT DENN GLEICH VOR’M TEUFEL AUS)  – 1977, 92 min., dir. Egon Schlegel.  Crazy fantasy/comedy about a clumsy young man (Hans-Joachim Frank), who is forced to rob three hairs from the Devil (Dieter Franke). The Devil’s psychedelic lair with shrunken heads and gruesome Halloween décor must be seen to be believed. Scanned in 2K in 2012

SNOW WHITE AND ROSE RED (SCHNEEWEIßCHEN UND ROSENROT) – 1979, 70 min., dir. Siegfried Hartmann.  Excellent fantasy / fairy tale about peasant girls Snow White (Julie Juristová) and Rose-Red (Katrin Martin) trying to outwit an enraged dwarf (Hans-Peter Minetti) guarding a jewel-filled mine. Would make a good double bill with HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS. Scanned in 4K in 2016

For thoughts on DEFA Fairy Tales, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required: 

Video Quality

The films in the DEFA Fairy Tales set arrive on Blu-Ray in their original aspect ratios with 1080p masters derived from new restorations by the DEFA Foundation in Berlin. The exact details of each restoration can be found in the film descriptions above. There is a text card preceding each film warning that the restoration was conducted from the best available elements and that there could be some source limitations at play that impact the overall experience. While I understand the need to set expectations, these films, by and large, look amazing. 

Deaf Crocodile has taken what was provided to them by DEFA and ensured that they are presented in their best light with a fabulous encode. The new transfers showcase a striking amount of depth and enhanced detail within the whimsical production design and costumes. The frame is replete with plenty of detail to observe and enjoy. These restorations clean up nearly all potential damage for a clear viewing experience outside of some fleeting, barely perceptible blemishes. The natural film grain of the original photography remains intact while revealing so much texture in the background environments. There is a terrific amount of detail present with commendable textures on the fabrics and the set design. Colors are vibrant and bold throughout each journey, especially with specific lightning schemes. Black levels are deep with no semblance of black crush or compression artifacts. Deaf Crocodile has treated these titles with the utmost care. 

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray set comes with a worthy DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio split mono track for each film in the original German (with optional English and English SDH subtitles). One of the most pleasant aspects of this set is the effective scores composed to bring these timeless tales to life. Any instances of music or singing emanate confidently through the room without wavering fidelity. These films indulge in some wondrous sound effects that are given the necessary identity within the mix. Dialogue comes through clearly without anything distracting from important information. There are no signs of weakness or fragility in any of the noises. The tracks execute everything with purpose and clarity, clear of damage and other unwanted shortcomings. Each film executes its unique sonic characteristics with the necessary care you deserve from the track. Deaf Crocodile has come through once again for fans. 

Special Features

The Deluxe Edition Blu-Ray of DEFA Fairy Tales arrives in a hard slipcase package that is a beauty in person. The release also includes an 80-page, bound book featuring rare production photos and essays by film scholars Qinna Shen, Rolf Giesen, Walter Chaw, and Alexandra Heller-Nicholas. There is also a new written interview with Stefan Kolditz, son of Snow White and Mother Hulda director Gottfried Kolditz. All of this provides great insight into the films, the themes, the creatives, and the behind-the-scenes details in a thoughtfully written style. The on-disc special features are as follows: 

• Audio Commentaries: Film historians provide commentary tracks that provide great context for German cinema and society of the time, the adaptation of these classic narratives, the production of the films, and much more. These are well-rounded and informative listens for fans. 

• • Snow White Audio Commentary: Film historian Samm Deighan

• • Mother Hulda Audio Commentary: Film historian Michael Brooke

• • Little Red Riding Hood Audio Commentary: Film historians Shelagh Rowan-Legg and Anne Golden

• • Snow White & Rose Red Audio Commentary: Film historian Samm Deighan

• Socialist Fantasies, The Brothers Grimm, and DEFA Studios – Fairytale Filmmaking in East Germany: An 18-minute visual essay by film historian Evan Chester that takes a look at the history of DEFA studios adapting fairytales, the approaches to some of the works found in this set, the reception and legacy of the films, the work of the directors and performers, and more.
•  A Fairytale Discussion with Stephen R. Bissette: There is a massive 95-minute conversation between Deaf Crocodile’s Dennis Bartok and comics artist (Swamp Thing), film historian, and author Stephen R. Bissette. Throughout this discussion, the two discuss personal relationships to classic fairytale films and so much rich history from the genre. This is like listening to your two smartest friends have a very engaging chat. 

Final Thoughts

DEFA Fairy Tales is a collection of films that captures the creativity and magic of storytelling in a way that is not often prioritized in the modern cinematic landscape. Whenever you hear the phrase “fairy tale” these days, it is typically relegated to something intended for children that adults probably would not enjoy on the same level. Those who understand the nature of the genre will know this is simply not true. Fairy tales are often quite sinister, and those made in East Germany found in this set synthesize the volatile political climate of the time into narratives that capitalize on the darkness. Couple this with a boundless sense of creativity in the physical construction of these worlds, and you are left with films that surprise and delight dreamers of all ages. Deaf Crocodile has released a Blu-Ray set which sports a commendable A/V presentation and a sterling assortment of special features. This is the type of set that keeps our love of physical media burning. Recommended 

DEFA Fairy Tales is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Deluxe Edition Slipcase exclusively through Deaf Crocodile and DiabolikDVD. 

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

Disclaimer: Deaf Crocodile has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.