On a remote island along Croatia’s Adriatic coast, 17-year-old Julija spends her days diving for eel with her domineering father Ante and watching other teens party on a nearby yacht. Julija bristles at Ante’s heavy handed cruelty and resents her mother Nela’s passivity. She longs for independence but is unsure how to achieve it, until the arrival of the rich and mysterious Javier seems to offer a way out. Javier is considering buying Ante’s land to build a resort, which would allow the family to escape their island isolation for the city. Once Ante’s employer and Nela’s lover, Javier flirts shamelessly with Nela and Julija, setting off a subtle battle of hypermasculine one-upmanship that pushes Ante to humiliate and control Julija even more. Flattered by Javier’s praise and stories of traveling the world, Julija sees him as the solution to all her problems. But does his affection portend freedom, or something more sinister? Winner of the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, lensed by award-winning cinematographer Hélène Louvart (The Lost Daughter, Never Rarely Sometimes Always), and Executive Produced by Martin Scorsese, Murina features a ferocious, star-making central performance by Gracija Filipovic and the most sumptuous images of the Mediterranean since The Big Blue. Equal parts fiery feminist outcry and stirring coming-of-age drama, the film announces director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic as a major new talent in world cinema.

For thoughts on Murina, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/uDkB8lyLRJc?t=1323]

Video Quality

Murina comes to Blu-Ray in a 1080p presentation that is truly a wonder. This takes place in a stunning location that is intentionally shot in a way as to not glorify the beauty, yet the film cannot completely suppress the visually rich experience complete with an incredible amount of detail. There are some very bold colors which capture the gorgeous nature of the environment. There is nothing candy colored here, but Kusijanovic frames the natural world in a way that makes it spring to life. White levels are handled well with no instances of blooming, and the blacks are deep and do not suffer from crush or compression artifacts. The transfer allows for some texture within the natural landscapes and production design that adds immense depth to the picture. Skin tones are detailed and natural all around. You could not ask for better from this presentation.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with both a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio track in the original Croatian and English that works perfectly in tandem with this story. The dialogue comes through clearly without ever being dampened by the sound effects. Environmental effects create a really fleshed out soundscape of nature that makes the world feel more lived-in. The film uses music in really satisfying ways which fills the room appropriately. The sound design is not pushed to its limits, but it remains pinpoint accurate with sounds positioned just right in the mix. This is far from an action-heavy film, but activity in the low end adds some textures to certain scenes such as with boat motors. This is a great sounding release all around. There are optional English subtitles provided.

Special Features

Introduction by Director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic: A minute-and-a-half introduction from the Metrograph in NYC which is primarily a programmer setting up the film and a brief moment with the director.

Q&A with Director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic: A 28-minute piece from the same screening which finds the director speaking with moderator and film critic Alissa Wilkinson from Vox in which they discuss the meaning behind the title, the casting of the film, the importance of architecture, bringing reality to the screen, Croatian cinema, the camerawork and more.

Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer for Murina is provided here.

Final Thoughts

Murina is a very engaging coming-of-age drama which deftly shows the challenges one can face trying to break free of everything they have ever known. The evolution of the story is honest without devolving into sensational developments. The performances are excellent across the board, and the craft behind the camera is beyond reproach. This is a highlight from international cinema this year. Kino Lorber has provided a Blu-Ray featuring a stellar A/V presentation and a couple of solid special features. If you are a fan of international cinema, this is a great introduction to a filmmaker who should be on your radar from now on. Recommended

Murina 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.