Thomas (Marquard Bohm, Kings of the Road) gets a ride to Munich where he finds his ex-girlfriend Peggy (counter culture activist and model Uschi Obermaier) who takes him in. In her flat he finds Peggy and her roommates have a commune-like lifestyle where they kill the men in their lives after five days, but will Thomas realize in time?
For thoughts on Red Sun, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
[youtube https://youtu.be/5A_zU_eoR2M?t=1462]
Video Quality
Red Sun debuts on Blu-Ray courtesy of Radiance Films with a 2K restoration of the Original Camera Negative overseen by director Rudolf Thome with additional cleanup courtesy of Radiance Films. Some fleeting shots contain a bit of softness, but overall this material holds up incredibly well. A few small specks of damage remain even with the new transfer, but it appears as if the source has been cleaned up with great care to restore it to its former glory.
The new transfer retains the natural grain structure that preserves the almost documentary-esque aesthetic. This allows for distinct details in the clothing and production design. The colors appear to be saturated well with hues permeating the screen. The contrast is very solid in all environments with firm highlights and no major instances of black crush. The dark and shadowy moments present some admirable depth to the image. Radiance Films has delivered a really good visual presentation that should impress any fan who scoops it up.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray comes with an LPCM 2.0 mono track in the original German (with optional English subtitles) that suits the film well. The film is more of a slow burn than a thrill-ride, but it is realized without issue. Outside of just generally coasting along on vibes, this is more of a dialogue-focused feature that keeps individuals clearly distinguished for a pleasant soundscape. Conversations never get overshadowed by the sound effects or the score. The music comes through with an unwavering fidelity. Everything element seems authentic with pleasing fidelity and very little in the way of age-related wear and tear.
Special Features
The first-pressing of the Radiance Films Blu-Ray of Red Sun includes a booklet featuring new writing on the film by Samm Deighan, newly translated archival letters by Wim Wenders, critic Enno Patalas and the German Film Evaluation Office on the film’s official submission, and much more. These all provide a great analysis of the film through an exploration of its themes, the talent involved and more. The on-disc special features are as follows:
- Select Scene Audio Commentary: Director Rudolf Thome and Rainer Langhans, Obermaier’s boyfriend and Kommune 1 member who served as inspiration for the film and was on set for the shoot, provide a commentary track in which they reflect back upon the production of this film, the stipulations that were in place in order to secure financing, the shooting locations, the state of the film industry at the time, working with the performers, the thematic resonance and more.
- Rote Sonne – Between Pop Sensibility and Social Critique: A 21-minute visual essay from scholar Johannes von Moltke in which he discusses his personal relationship to the film, the internal logic of the film, the hidden depth of the narrative, the social and cultural influences, the directorial techniques of Rudolf Thome, the aesthetic of the feature, how it was impacted by the era in which it was made and more.
- From Oberhausen To The Fall Of The Wall: A terrific 50-minute piece from academic and programmer Margaret Deriaz which takes a look at post-war German Cinema, the signing of the Oberhausen Manifesto in 1962 and the rise of New German Cinema, including the successes and challenges faced in the 1980s. This is a great piece if you want to get a crash course on several decades of German cinema.
Final Thoughts
Red Sun is a gentle thriller which steeps itself in a unique mood that gives it an almost otherworldly quality. The dramatic turns can be unexpected, but they are done with so little fanfare that it seems to not be the point. This feature feels spiritually closer to an experimental film, but it has the accessibility of a mainstream feature. The melding of the directorial eye of Rudolf Thome with the strong performances makes this one well worth exploring. Radiance Films has released a Blu-Ray featuring a really strong A/V presentation and some worthwhile special features. Those interested in exploring more of what New German Cinema has to offer should make this a priority. Recommended
Red Sun will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on June 20, 2023.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Radiance Films 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.
