With his performances as Aphrodite Banks, Jules (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Candyman) has a place among London’s celebrated drag artists. One night after a show, he steps out to get some cigarettes and is brutally attacked by a man (George MacKay, 1917), out with a gang of his friends. Although Jules is able to recover physically, he withdraws from the outside world, traumatized. Months later, he recognizes his attacker by chance in a gay sauna. Without make-up and wrapped only in a towel, Jules is able to approach the other man incognito and find out who he is. He begins an affair with the closeted Preston, with a plan to take his revenge.

For in-depth thoughts on Femme, please see my colleague Phoenix Clouden’s review from its theatrical debut here.

Video Quality

Femme comes to Blu-Ray in a 1080p presentation that is lush and beautiful. This story oscillates between the glamor of the stage where Jules performs and the more reserved, internal world that he retreats into after the attack. The film is visually nimble, and the transfer handles every environment with a similar amount of care. The transfer unlocks texture within the clothing, makeup, and production design that adds significant depth to the picture. Skin tones are detailed and natural all around.

There are some very rich colors that capture the backdrop well, especially in some of the bold lighting choices in the club. There is nothing unnaturally boosted here, but there is an underlying vibrancy that makes the world come alive. Highlights are handled well with no instances of blooming, and the blacks are deep and do not suffer from crush or compression artifacts. Utopia has done an admirable job with this release.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with an effective DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that translates this story with care. The film uses music to great effect as it fills the room with an enveloping soundscape. The soundtrack digs especially deep in the low end which adds some texture to certain encounters when appropriate. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without ever being drowned out by competing sounds. Environmental effects flesh out the urban soundscape and make the world feel more immersive. The sound design is not overly flashy, yet you have to embrace the execution with sounds positioned perfectly in the mix. This is a first-rate release all around. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.

Special Features

Filmmaker Q&A: Directors Sam Freeman and Ng Choon Ping and actors Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and George Mackay take part in a 31-minute Q&A in which they discuss the idea behind the title, the dynamic between the performers, the intensity of the stunt work, thoughts on the ending, and more.

Making Of Featurette: A four-minute featurette in which the cast and creative team discuss the narrative, the characters, and more in broad terms.

Still Gallery: A nearly two-minute collection of stills from the production is provided.

Original Trailer: The minute-and-a-half-long trailer is provided here.

Booklet: There is a multi-page booklet included featuring the essay “Clarity of Vision” by film historian Alexandra Heller-Nicholas in which she examines the film and its themes in a very illuminating manner.

Final Thoughts

Femme is a tense and somewhat unusual psychosexual drama that subverts the cat-and-mouse trope to profound effect. The audience can never be quite sure where Jules is emotionally as he gets more intertwined with the character played to unsettling effect by George MacKay. You know revenge is the goal, but the movie does not give you an easy out as questions of repressed sexuality and internalized homophobia keep things from being black-and-white. The movie leaves you with these sobering questions as the credits start rolling and you slowly start to loosen your grip on the seat. This film is brought to life through a pair of unforgettable performances that will have you glued to the screen. It can be a tough watch, but it is a rewarding one. Utopia has released a Blu-Ray featuring a fantastic A/V presentation and a welcome commentary track. Recommended

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

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

Disclaimer: Utopia & 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.