Czech director Jiří Weiss’s breathtaking B&W fairy tale is one of the most unjustly neglected treasures of 1960s fantasy filmmaking, a hauntingly lyrical work with overtones of Wojciech Has’s THE SARAGOSSA MANUSCRIPT, František Vláčil’s MARKETA LAZAROVÁ and Cocteau’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. A handsome young shepherd (Jean Marais lookalike Vít Olmer) stumbles across a magical golden fern in the forest. A stunning, enigmatic forest fairy named Lesanka (Karla Chadimová) is sent to retrieve it but instead falls hopelessly in love with him. When he’s forced to join the army and heads off to war, she sews a seed from the fern into his shirt to protect him. While he’s away, though, he falls for the icily beautiful daughter of the commanding general (Dana Smutná) who demands he perform a series of Herculean tasks to prove his devotion to her. Director Jiří Weiss (1913 – 2004) was internationally acclaimed for dramas such as WOLF TRAP and ROMEO, JULIET & DARKNESS – here he worked with cinematographer Bedřich Baťka (who also photographed the legendary MARKETA LAZAROVÁ) to craft one of the most visually ravishing and hypnotic B&W wide screen fantasies of the era. Released by Deaf Crocodile, the Národní filmový archív and Comeback Company. In Czech with English subtitles.

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Video Quality

The Golden Fern debuts on Blu-Ray in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio with a 1080p transfer derived from a color graded HD master that had additional meticulous restoration work conducted by Deaf Crocodile. It is important to note that the master as delivered was very damaged with numerous issues including flickering, splice marks, and scratches throughout. The work put in by Deaf Crocodile allows this film to look better than it ever has outside of the original theatrical run, but those familiar with the high bar established by the label may be surprised to see a few more blemishes than normal. This is not a condemnation of the lovely master delivered by the label but a testament to the amount of hard work that went into making this look as good as it does against all odds.

The black-and-white photography is perfectly in line with the intended aesthetic of the feature. Black levels are quite strong with no semblance of black crush or compression artifacts. The contrast is in respectable shape and executed to perfection with a Fidelity In Motion encoding effort. The unique environments thrive in high definition with natural grain intact and nicely resolved. There is a stellar amount of detail present with exceptional textures on the costumes and the intricate production design. The new transfer shows off a great amount of depth across the board. Elements of the makeup and set design look astounding in their clarity. Deaf Crocodile has done an exquisite job of rescuing this one from a tattered fate.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray arrives with a faithful DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono track in the original Czech (with optional English subtitles). The presentation delivers everything it needs to with firm fidelity and free of damage or other ugly issues. The perilous journey undertaken by our protagonist is filled with lively sonic characteristics that hold up well in the speakers. Dialogue comes through clearly without the sound effects or the score stealing focus from important information. The film deploys some distinct sound effects that are given the obligatory presence within the mix. The score emerges well in relation to the competing sounds. Deaf Crocodile presents the audio just as well as the video side of the equation.

Special Features

The Deluxe Edition Blu-Ray of The Golden Fern arrives in a hard slipcase package that is a beauty in person. The release also includes a 60-page, bound book featuring an introduction by filmmaker Alexander Payne, essays by film historian Peter Hames and film critic Walter Chaw, and memories of cinematographer Bedrich Batka by writer William Robertson. This provides great insight into the film, the themes, the creatives, and the behind-the-scenes details in a thoughtfully written style. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Audio Commentary: Film historian Peter Hames and Czech film expert Irena Kovarova of Comeback Company provide an engaging and informative commentary track in which they provide great context for Czech cinema of the time, the adaptation of the source material, the thematic connections within the film, the background of the performers, the work of director Jiří Weiss, the production of the film, and much more.

Video Essay by Evan Chester: A 16-minute video essay from film historian Evan Chester is provided that delves into the thematic nuances of the film, the time period in Czech cinema, the fantasy aspects of the endeavor, the background of the creatives, and more.

Interview with Jiří Weiss Jr.: A new 58-minute interview with the filmmaker’s son Jiří Weiss Jr. moderated by Deaf Crocodile in which he discusses his father’s life and career. There are some interesting anecdotes about Weiss being around for the beginning of Czechoslovakia, the impact of The Great Depression, the trajectory of his career, and so much more.

Rare Early Jiří Weiss Short Films: A trio of rare films are provided that gives you a look at the early talent of the filmmaker.

- THE SUN SHINES ON THE RIVER LUŽNICE (NAD LUŽNICÍ SVÍTÍ SLUNCE) – 1936 – (9:58)

- SONG OF RUTHENIA (PÍSEŇ O PODKARPATSKÉ RUSI) – 1937 – (11:36)

- THE RAPE OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA (ULOUPENÍ ČESKOSLOVENSKA) – 1939 – (16:52)

Final Thoughts

The Golden Fern is a rewarding fairy tale that will make you reassess what takes priority in your life and how you receive criticism. As with most fairy tales, there is a lesson to be learned here, but do not expect everything to be happily ever after. Jiří Weiss shows an immense gift for crafting a distinct vision on screen and executing it with confidence. The film has a bit of an odd sensibility, and that is exactly why we love it so. Deaf Crocodile has released a Blu-Ray which sports a favorable A/V presentation and an excellent assortment of special features in lovely packaging. If you love what the label has been unearthing for you until this point, trust that they will not steer you wrong here. Recommended

The Golden Fern is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Deluxe Edition Slipcase exclusively through Deaf Crocodile and DiabolikDVD.

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

Disclaimer: Deaf Crocodile 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.