‘HOUSEKEEPING FOR BEGINNERS’ explores the universal truths of family, encompassing both the bonds we inherit and those we create. The narrative revolves around Dita, who, despite never aspiring to be a mother, finds herself compelled to raise her girlfriend’s two daughters—Mia, a tiny troublemaker, and Vanesa, a rebellious teenager. As their individual wills clash, a heartwarming story unfolds about an unlikely family’s struggle to stay together.
For in-depth thoughts on Housekeeping for Beginners, please see my colleague Cody Allen’s review from its theatrical release here.
Video Quality
Housekeeping for Beginners debuts on Blu-Ray with a 1080p presentation in its original 1.37:1 aspect ratio that brings this aesthetically humble movie to life. The transfer provides a sumptuous amount of detail and clarity, especially in unique aspects of the production design and some of the outfits. Objects hold up admirably in shadow by retaining their depth and avoiding banding in almost all instances. Black levels are firm and hold together without succumbing to crush. The highlights of the movie are robust with no blooming or clipping. The movie itself has a warm color palette that saturates the frame. No damage or digital noise was spotted that would distract from this transfer. Universal keeps up their good work for this one.
Audio Quality
The film arrives on Blu-Ray with a capably realized DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track in the native languages that holds up well. Dialogue and subtle sound effects are in harmony with the soundtrack where nothing gets lost in the mix. Surround channels get some gentle but effective activity during the scenes outside of the house, especially. The movie expands the environmental sounds to make the spaces feel more three-dimensional and lived-in. While not a showstopper, the low end adds a small bit of texture that enriches the atmosphere. Universal has treated this one well on the audio front. Optional English, English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles are provided.
Special Features
There are no special features provided on the disc.
Final Thoughts
Housekeeping for Beginners is another engrossing drama from Goran Stolevski that takes a small slice of life and brings it to a relatable place for all. Families come in all different forms, and they can be especially complicated at times. Sometimes you want to shake some of these characters, but the film does a nice job of capturing the heartfelt and hurtful corners of life in equal measure. The performances are very authentic and rewarding from the adult characters to the young children. This is an overlooked gem from the early part of the year. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray featuring a grand A/V presentation but no special features. This is recommended for any fan of independent cinema. Recommended
Housekeeping for Beginners can be purchased on Blu-Ray directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment 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.
