Christopher Petit’s debut feature Radio On is the rare road movie from England. Since its 1979 release, it’s become a cult classic and has been recognized as one of the “100 Greatest British Films” (Little White Lies). Robert (David Beames), the film’s enigmatic protagonist, embarks on a road trip from London to Bristol, to investigate the recent death of his brother. A remarkable collection of art rock, punk, and new wave–David Bowie, Devo, Kraftwerk, Robert Fripp, Ian Dury, and more–soundtracks Robert’s journey. The austere urban and rural landscapes he drives through are beautifully and strikingly rendered in black and white by cinematographer Martin Shäfer (who had been Wim Wenders’ camera operator). As Robert drives westward, the radio newscasts he hears and the strangers he meets address the dire sociopolitical and economic state of “Winter of Discontent”-era Britain. Petit deftly melds these stylistic, narrative, and documentary elements, resulting in an undeniably eerie and reflective mood that casts a hypnotic spell on the viewer.

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

[youtube https://youtu.be/eDsAEdjuLRw?si=_RfbD9rODIiVgyD_&t=499]

Video Quality

Radio On arrives on Blu-Ray courtesy of Fun City Editions with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio that is derived from a 4K restoration of the 35mm Original Camera Negative. The presentation maintains the natural gritty, natural film aesthetic with image stability and clarity rendering with perfect clarity. Virtually all instances of print damage such as nicks and scratches have been eradicated. The film likely looks better than when it was first exhibited, as its natural appearance avoids any unsightly, clumpy grain frozen in the background.

The black-and-white photography maintains a firm contrast so that everything renders without issue. Black levels hold up well with no signs of crush or banding observed. Highlights are likewise firm and never come close to blooming. Elements of the clothing and production design show off a nice texture thanks to the crisp clarity. This film has been given the deluxe treatment with this restoration. Fun City Editions has offered up a dazzling presentation.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that properly unleashes the soundscape of this feature. From the opening moments, you can sense how important that music is going to be to the experience. The film uses music very effectively to conjure the appropriate mood, and every single tune emanates with unflappable fidelity. We did not spot any shortcomings or signs of age-related wear such as shrill high notes or distortion. Dialogue is rather sparse, but what does come through is rendered with great clarity. Every exchange comes through crisp and clear even with competing elements. This track comes alive to represent this sonic palette favorably. Fun City Editions has delivered a top-tier audio track. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Film historian and filmmaker Kier-La Janisse provides an informative commentary track in which she discusses the overlooked quality of this feature, the work of director Christopher Petit, the careers of the talent involved, the importance of music to the feature, the shooting locations, the themes of the feature, and much more that is worthwhile.

Before The Explosion Of The Image Bank: A new 37-minute interview with director Chris Petit in which he discusses his early days as an army brat, the impact of his time as a film reviewer, his approach to filmmaking, the songs that were used in Radio On, his balance of commercial and avant-garde projects, the experimental nature of some of his work, the issues with capturing sound, finding the film in the editing, and more.

A Little Bit Kitsch, But Ice Cold – Retro Futurism In Focus: A nearly 52-minute audio interview with Chris Petit conducted by BFI’s Vic Pratt in which he discusses the process of making the film, putting together the soundtrack, the realities of the production, key musical moments, and more.

Archival Video Interview with Chris Petit and Producer Keith Griffiths: A 42-minute archival interview with the director and producer covering some of the same material as the previous two interviews with some unique insights worth exploring.

Radio On (Remix) (1998): A 24-minute visual essay from Chris Petit with sound design by Wire’s Bruce Gilbert

Image Gallery: A collection of stills, production photos, and more is provided here.

Theatrical Trailer: The three-minute trailer is provided.

Final Thoughts

Radio On is a film that you feel more than you try to wrestle with on an intellectual level. That is not to say that the movie does not have layers, but director Christopher Petit wants you to give yourself over to the combination of sound and moving images that come together in a way that hits you on a visceral level. Some may find the film too meandering, but those who are more into the journey than the destination will appreciate what this one has going for it. Fun City Editions has delivered a Blu-Ray featuring a terrific A/V presentation and a plethora of supplemental features, If you are a fan of wandering road movies, this is worth a spin. Recommended

Radio On is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.

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

Disclaimer: Fun City Editions 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.