Berlin, 1931. Jakob Fabian works in the advertising department of a cigarette factory by day and drifts through bars, brothels and artist studios with his wealthy and debauched friend Labude by night. When Fabian meets the beautiful and confident Cornelia, he manages to shed his pessimistic attitude for a brief moment and falls in love. Not long after, he falls victim to the great wave of layoffs sweeping the city, plunging him back into a depression, while Cornelia’s career as an actress is taking off thanks to her wealthy boss and admirer – an arrangement that Fabian finds difficult to accept. But it’s not just his world that is falling apart; all of Germany is about to self-destruct. Veteran German director Dominik Graf (Beloved Sisters) wowed audiences at the Berlin Film Festival with this dazzling adaptation of Erich Kästner’s classic of Weimar literature, set amid the twilight hedonism of pre-Nazi Germany.
For thoughts on Fabian: Going To The Dogs, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
Fabian: Going To The Dogs comes to Blu-Ray in an AVC encoded transfer in 1.37:1 courtesy of Kino Lorber featuring stylized cinematography derived from both digital and Super 8 cameras presented at different frame rates depending on the scene. As noted in the commentary, some of the aesthetic flourishes from Graf are meant to evoke a chaotic punk aesthetic, and it is one that I personally did not enjoy despite understanding the reasoning. Despite my issues with how the film looks at the source, this presentation is a gorgeous representation of the film that offers a stable image quality throughout.
The different styles of the film translate well on disc with most shots looking detailed and breathtaking. Graf captures some striking imagery that really pops in high definition. Not only do the textural details render cleanly, but specific pops of color leap off the screen. There is no evidence of compression artifacts or other digital nuisances outside a very minor bit in the darkest sections of certain locations. Skin tones look natural throughout the runtime. I do not see how this disc could have been improved significantly in high definition. It feels like a perfect showcase of the film.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track in its original German which evokes a very raucous mood that transports you to this point in history. While the film has fits and spurts of abrasive noise, overall this is a more subdued film that manages to come alive with the environmental sounds. The track creates a really nice soundscape of brisk wind and noises from the restless city. This is not an action-heavy film so the activity in the low end is very sparse, but a few moments provide some extra texture to the track. The music is showcased robustly here with an enveloping use of the surround speakers. The dialogue comes through crystal clear without ever being overpowered by the environmental effects or the score. The sound design is precisely thought-out with all of the sounds positioned just right in the mix. This is a lovely sounding release that brings the movie to life in a really thoughtful way.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Film Critic Olaf Möller, who happens to be friends with and an expert on director Dominik Graf, provides a pretty decent commentary track that features some extended pauses but delivers some great insight overall. There is discussion of everything from minor details like the reason for certain title aesthetics and the application of shifting frame rate to the process of adapting the novel and the work of the performers. There are actually insights shared within this track that make me soften on some of my nitpicks with the film once they are explained a bit.
- Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Fabian: Going To The Dogs is a blistering portrait of Germany right on the cusp of intense social change. The personal journey of our titular character provides the sprawling canvas that director Dominik Graf utilizes to encapsulate a moment at large. While some may be intimidated by the mammoth runtime, the film never drags as you follow this character through the joy and the sadness of his life. The only misstep in the execution of this feature is the disorienting shifts in the visual aesthetic which may work narratively but are not the most pleasing to witness. Kino Lorber has released a Blu-Ray featuring a stellar A/V presentation and an informative commentary track. If you are open to an atypical look at Germany’s history that is filled with grand emotions, do yourself a favor and check this out. Recommended
Fabian: Going To The Dogs is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Lorber 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.