The Inner Life of Martin Frost (2007) is one of writer-director Paul Auster’s (New York Trilogy, Smoke, 4 3 2 1) most beguiling works, an enchanting exploration of the mysteries of creation, presented here in a new 4K restoration overseen by Auster. After working for three years on a novel, Martin Frost (David Thewlis, Naked) borrows a friend’s empty country house for a long-needed rest. No sooner does he arrive, however, than an idea for a story comes to him. When he wakes the next morning, eager to begin his new tale, he is shocked to discover a young woman sleeping next to him in bed—the effervescent Claire (Irène Jacob, Three Colors: Red). Claire claims to be the homeowner’s niece, but it soon becomes clear that she is bound up with the story Martin is writing: is she a muse, a ghost, or a figment of his imagination? The Inner Life of Martin Frost is a philosophical mystery which functions as a testament to the perils and pleasures of storytelling. Kino Lorber is also proud to include the two-part interview Running Off to the Circus: Paul Auster on Film. In Part 1 Auster passionately discusses the formative movies that made him a cinephile, while Part 2 is a fascinating look at his career as a filmmaker, from Smoke to The Inner Life of Martin Frost and beyond.

For thoughts on The Inner Life of Martin Frost, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/z9pfsHI0T1Q?t=2990]

Video Quality

The Inner Life of Martin Frost debuts on Blu-Ray courtesy of Kino Classics with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 that is derived from a brand new 4K restoration overseen by director Paul Auster. This film has flown largely under the radar in dedicated cult film circles, and it is very rewarding to have this be given a second life. The presentation retains the natural film aesthetic throughout with image stability and delineation being top notch. The natural film grain of the presentation is resolved well without ever looking clumpy or like a frozen mess. This feature has never looked better.

Colors are well saturated with the natural hues of nature coming through in a lovely way. Skin tones are natural and consistent with subtle features such as facial hair easily noticeable in closeup. Black levels hold up favorably with no substantial instances of crush or banding observed. The picture showcases a few shots that look slightly soft in a handful of sequences, but this likely dates back to the original look of the film elements. Instances of print damage such as nicks and scratches have all been cleaned up immensely with overall clarity and detail looking wonderful. There are a few fleeting blemishes that have made it through the restoration gauntlet, but nothing that would ruin the look of the film. Kino Lorber should be commended for giving this one such a considered presentation.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a rock solid DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that serves this film really well. Dialogue and background noises are represented in harmony with all competing elements in the relatively reserved environment. The music establishes a lovely atmosphere as it spreads through the room flawlessly. Even with the strength of this element, nothing ever overpowers the dialogue or other important information. This disc maintains an impeccable sense of fidelity that is a joy to experience. This track shows no age related wear and tear such as hissing or popping. All of the sound effects and music appear to be faithful to the original intent. Kino Classic has done some fine work with this one. There are also optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film.

Special Features

Running Off To The Circus – Paul Auster On Film: A two-part 98-minute interview with director Paul Auster in which he delves deep into the movies that shaped his passion for cinema, the themes within his work, his work from the beginning of his career to the present, and so much more. This is jam-packed with information for audiences to dig into.

Making-Of Featurette: A 43-minute vintage featurette in which the cast and creative team discuss the origins of this narrative, how they came to collaborate with one another, the shooting locations, the production process, editing the feature, the initial response and more.

Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided forThe Inner Life of Martin Frost.

Booklet: This release contains a 18-page booklet featuring an interview with director Paul Aster conducted by Céline Curiol.

Final Thoughts

The Inner Life of Martin Frost is a very reserved tale which brings a real sense of magic to the process of self-expression and creativity. Some of the characters seem a bit too quirky or overwritten, but other than this the story unfolds in a most engaging manner. David Thewlis holds things together in his titular performance while Irène Jacob brings an ample amount of whimsy. This tale is more philosophically-driven than any overt action, but this remains a strength far more than it is a weakness. Kino Classics has helped rescue this one from relative obscurity with a new Blu-Ray with a great A/V presentation and a really substantial assortment of special features. If you are in the market for a terrific slice of independent cinema, do not pass this by. Recommended

The Inner Life of Martin Frost is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

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

Disclaimer: Kino Classics 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.