‘Female Perversions’ Blu-Ray Review – Tilda Swinton’s American Debut Is A Nuanced Journey Into Desire

Eve Stephens (Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin), an ambitious and successful trial lawyer in Los Angeles, is up for appointment as a judge while juggling her proclivity for meaningless sex and her relationship with her kleptomaniac sister Madelyn (Amy Madigan, Field of Dreams). As she navigates intimate relationships with both male and female partners, including geologist John (Clancy Brown, Blue Steel) and psychiatrist Renee (Karen Sillas, Simple Men), Eve finds fantasy and reality converging, leading to a tense climax that will decide her personal and professional fate.

A contender for the Grand Jury Prize at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival, FEMALE PERVERSIONS marks the feature film debut of director and co-writer Susan Streitfeld as well as the American film debut of Tilda Swinton. Based on the 1991 psychology text Female Perversions: The Temptations of Emma Bovary by Louise J. Kaplan, Streitfeld’s film is an inspired amalgamation of erotic drama and psychological thriller set within the cutthroat environs of the Los Angeles justice system. Long unavailable on home video, Cinématographe is proud to present the world blu-ray release of Susan Streitfeld’s daring foray into the perverse in a brand new restoration from its original 35mm camera negative.

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Video Quality

Cinématographe brings Female Perversions to Blu-Ray for the first time with an AVC-encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 derived from a newly commissioned 4K restoration from the 35mm Original Camera Negative. This is a film that has been out of circulation for quite some time, so the care shown towards it really stands out for fans waiting for it to be treated with respect. This presentation eliminates nearly all print damage such as specks, scratches, and tears. The transfer delivers a consistent grain structure that preserves the filmic origins of the picture, showcasing discrete details within the various environments. 

Teresa Medina’s cinematography is key to establishing the picture’s atmosphere. The colors are fairly subdued, saturating the frame with exceptional hues in the costumes and set design. Skin tones appear natural, with a respectable amount of facial detail present in close-ups. Black levels are stable and never come up short in shadow detail. The picture never falls victim to crush, and highlights are firm with no trace of blooming. Cinématographe does great work with this release. 

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio stereo track that delicately realizes the sonic ambitions of the film. This is a primarily talky picture, and the dialogue comes through clearly without being overshadowed by competing noises. The sounds of the various locales spring forth to create fabulous ambient details and subtle elements. The score sounds great as it comes through with the utmost fidelity. All of the sounds in the mix seem properly executed so that nothing ever feels unnatural. Cinématographe has provided an audio track that hits all of the right notes. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided. 

Special Features

The Limited Edition version of Female Perversions comes beautifully packaged in a hard outer slipcase that opens up to a MediaBook that includes a bound booklet featuring new writing by film critic Kate Hagen, essayist Philippa Snow, and culture writer Madelyn Sutton, plus select archival photo reproductions. These essays delve into the film from multiple angles and each piece provides a great analysis in a thoughtfully written style. The on-disc special features are as follows: 

• Audio Commentary: Film critic and historian Alexandra Heller-Nicholas provides an informative commentary track that discusses the work of Susan Streitfeld, the background of the production, the work of the performer, how the film compares to the source material, the film’s reception, and more.

• Interview with Director/Co-Writer Susan Streitfeld: A new 23-minute interview with the filmmaker in which she reflects on key imagery in the film, what made the film a known commodity, the casting process, the distribution of the film, and more. 

• Interview with Co-Writer Julie Hébert: A new 13-minute interview with the writer in which she discusses adapting the novel with Susan Streitfeld, why the book left a lot of room for interpretation, elements of her life she included in the film, and more. 

• Interview with Cinematographer Teresa Medina: A new 11-minute interview with the director of photography in which she discusses working with light, how the movie was ahead of its time, working with Susan Streitfeld, what the movie means to her, and more. 

• Interview with Actress Karen Sillas: A new 14-minute interview with the actress in which she discusses coming on board the film, collaborating with Tilda Swinton, working with Susan Streitfeld, her thoughts on the film after all of these years, how her feelings have changed, and more. 

• Interview with Actress Frances Fisher: A new 13-minute interview with the actress in which she discusses her first impression of Tilda Swinton, the research she put into her character, the feeling of having a crew of primarily women on set, shooting on location, and more. 

• Interview with Actress Dale Shuger: A new eight-minute interview with the actress in which she discusses the refreshing nature of this character, some of the themes in the film, working with Susan Streitfeld, and more. 

Final Thoughts

Female Perversions is a feature that would not work as well if it did not come from the perspective of a female filmmaker. There are various sensitive topics broached throughout the journey that could have gone majorly awry without a delicate guiding hand to keep things tasteful and satisfying. The performance from Tilda Swinton gives you a great glimpse of what was to come for the beloved actress, and the rest of the ensemble is filled with engaging performers who meet her level of excellence. This is not a film with the largest profile, so it is rewarding to see it given another chance in the spotlight after all of these years. Cinématographe has provided a Blu-Ray that features a top-tier A/V presentation and a notable array of supplemental features. If you have an affinity for the talent involved, this release is not to be missed. Recommended 

Female Perversions is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray. 

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

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