Imagine Andrei Tarkovsky circa SOLARIS directing Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and you’ll come close to the existential weirdness of the wonderfully loopy Soviet-era sci-fi comedy KIN-DZA-DZA! Two average Muscovites – a plainspoken construction foreman (Stanislav Lyubshin) and a Georgian student carrying a violin case (Leo Gabriadze) – encounter an odd homeless man on the street who asks, “Tell me the number of your planet in the Tentura?” In a flash, they’re teleported across the universe to the planet Pluke in the Kin-Dza-Dza galaxy – a Tatooine-like desert world whose inhabitants are hilariously noncommunicative (their main words are “ku” for good and “kyu” for very bad) and where common wooden matches are tremendously valuable. A deadpan, absurdist mixture of Kurt Vonnegut, Monty Python, Samuel Beckett, and Jodorowsky’s never-made Dune where alien cultures are even more haphazard and WTF? than our own, the film is also a savage satire of bureaucratic idiocy and dysfunction no matter what political system you’re living under – or what planet you’re living on. Recently restored by Mosfilm for its first-ever U.S. release by Deaf Crocodile and Seagull Films. In Russian with English subtitles.
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Video Quality
Kin-Dza-Dza! debuts on Blu-Ray courtesy of Deaf Crocodile in its original 1.37:1 aspect ratio with a 1080p master derived from a glorious new restoration of the original 35mm picture elements by Mosfilm. We continue to be amazed by the level of care they put into their releases, and this is one of our favorites so far. The new transfer shows off a robust amount of depth and enhanced detail on this strange planet. The photography captures the momentous nature of the vast desert sprawl quite well. Certain elements of the gritty perspiration makeup and production design look quite impressive in their clarity.
The photography that captures the unique settings thrives in HD with natural grain intact and nicely resolved. There is a stellar amount of detail present with prominent textures on the raggedy costumes and the inventive and intricate production design. Colors are earthy in nature and are precisely in line with the intended aesthetic of the feature. Black levels are mighty with no trace of black crush or compression artifacts. The contrast is unparalleled, and there is absolutely no print damage to be found thanks to the careful restoration efforts. Mosfilm has rescued this gem for a new audience, and Deaf Crocodile has presented it with a glorious Blu-Ray release.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray comes with a solid LPCM 1.0 mono track in the original Russian (with optional English subtitles). The film implements some whimsical sound effects in the form of alien inventions and other flourishes that are given a notable presence within the mix. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without the special effects or the score overpowering important information. The film has a decent amount of dialogue, but quite a bit of it is one made-up word. There is no trace of sibilance here, and the odyssey at hand showcases prominent sonic characteristics that come alive in the speakers. The music comes through well in relation to the competing sounds. This track achieves a top-tier fidelity without damage or other unwanted issues. Deaf Crocodile is on fire.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Film critic Walter Chaw (Film Freak Central) provides an engaging and informative commentary track in which he provides great context for Russian cinema of the time, the background of the film’s title, the artistry of director Georgiy Daneliya, the tone of the film, the themes at hand, and much more. Chaw always lends an interesting perspective that we welcome.
- Interview with Leo Gabriadze: A 51-minute interview with the lead actor conducted by Dennis Bartok from Deaf Crocodile who discusses his father’s efforts in co-writing the script, how the film fits into Soviet film history, how he got the lead role, shooting in the desert conditions, analysis of the story, and much more that is well worth a watch.
- Interview with Stephen R. Bissette: An 84-minute interview with comics artist (Swamp Thing), film historian, and author Stephen R. Bissette conducted by Dennis Bartok from Deaf Crocodile in which the two dive deep into the film and its place in Soviet science fiction cinema. This is like listening to two of your smartest friends geek out over a movie they mutually love.
- Got A Match? On Vodka and Vinegar at the End of History: A nearly 17-minute visual essay from journalist and physical media expert Ryan Verrill (The Disc Connected) and film professor Dr. Will Dodson that gives great context to Soviet cinema, how the film uses language, the structure of the feature, and more.
- New 2023 Restoration Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.
- Booklet: A multi-page booklet is included in this release which features the essay “Was This Trip Really Necessary? Kin-Dza-Dza! and Its Wry Vision Of The Cosmos ” by writer Justin Humphreys which gives a great amount of context to the creative figures and the movie itself in a way that is quite illuminating.
Final Thoughts
Kin-Dza-Dza! is an unexpected triumph of science fiction storytelling with a bone-dry sense of absurdist humor and even a bit of heart underneath. The unique society that is quickly established in the narrative is endlessly fascinating and keeps you transfixed over a formidable runtime that goes by in a flash. There is an obvious care put forth in the inventive production design and other impressive craft elements. This is the type of movie that reminds us why we love movies so much. Deaf Crocodile has released a Blu-Ray which sports a stellar A/V presentation and a can’t-miss assortment of special features. If you find yourself in a cinematic rut of the familiar, this is the movie to shake off the cobwebs. Highly Recommended
Kin-Dza-Dza!s is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Deaf Crocodile, Vinegar Syndrome, and select indie retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Deaf Crocodile and 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
