Set in 1920s colonial Indochina, a pretty, virginal French teenager (Jane March) meets a handsome Chinese playboy (Tony Leung Ka Fai) from a respectable family. Going against the conventions of their respective societies, the lustful pair begin a torrid affair in a seedy Saigon neighborhood. Their strong attraction towards one another is only intensified by the illicit nature of their rendezvous. Given such circumstances, can their relationship last?
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Video Quality
The Lover debuts on 4K UHD Blu-Ray in North America courtesy of MPI Media Group with a tremendous presentation in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio in 2160p HDR/Dolby Vision. Not only is the film making its 4K UHD Blu-Ray debut over here, but the included Blu-Ray sourced from the same restoration is also the first Blu-Ray of the film released domestically. We love when a film that has been languishing in standard definition purgatory leaps right to 4K UHD. The film was previously released overseas from a 4K master back in 2015, but this presentation appears to have tweaked many of the flaws associated with that release, most notably eliminating the yellow filter that was placed over the video. This release appears to be a direct port of the recent Capelight release that debuted in Germany, only with American packaging.
This new transfer sports a picture that has the perfect amount of sumptuous film grain that resolves without any unnatural texture. It is true that many spots show a very thick level of grain, but at no point does the presentation betray the natural beauty of the cinematography with loose grain or unsightly banding. MPI has stayed away from any digital tinkering on this transfer, so this disc is free of DNR, compression artifacts and other encode issues. The period production design, makeup and landscapes are presented with absolute clarity and fine texture. In every new location you will find an array of subtle details that are newly visible thanks to the 4K resolution. The textures of the costumes and the sweat pooling on these intertwined bodies in the heat is eye-popping to behold with everything rendering without any issues.
A key aspect of this transfer is in the implementation of Dolby Vision/HDR. The color palette is warm and radiant throughout with a very nuanced visual presentation. Colors are far more complex, natural and precise to what was intended by the creative team with lovely saturation. The command over the contrast is especially helpful throughout when it comes to the different environments. Black levels maintain a deep appearance with notable detail in the shadows while the highlights present as more crisply defined with no instances of blooming to be found. Skin tones appear way more distinct and natural with healthy doses of fine detail apparent on faces such as makeup. This is a fantastic upgrade which gives this film the presentation it deserves.
Audio Quality
This 4K UHD Blu-Ray provides the original English soundtrack in glorious lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio, along with a French dub in DTS-HD 5.1 MA and a German dub provided in LPCM 2.0. The 4K UHD really captures the beauty of this soundscape, never feeling the need to be bombastic in a way that would be at odds with the personal, internal nature of the narrative. Dialogue is at the forefront of the show, and it renders crisp and clear without ever getting overshadowed by the music or sound effects. The stirring score from Gabriel Yared conjures up distinct emotions for the audience, never faltering when it comes to fidelity.
Atmospheric sound effects are rendered carefully within the mix so that directionality is never an issue. Environmental activity extends to the surrounds and rear speakers to make the world feel more spacious and immersive in a way that transports you to these bustling streets. The low end effects from the subwoofer adds a bit of light texture to a few moments to add to the experience. MPI offers up sonic dominance for consumers of this new release. There are optional English,French, Spanish and German subtitles included.
Special Features
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of The Lover comes in a Mediabook packaging which includes a booklet featuring the essay “The Lover: A Delicate Film” by historian Peter Osteried which provides a great amount of insight into and analysis of the film that helps highlight the deeper themes on display, the source material and more. The on-disc special features are as follows:
- Making-Of Featurette: A nearly 54-minute featurette which gives you a unique archival look at the production including the provenance of the source material, the career of Jean-Jacques Annaud, developing the script, finding the appropriate performers, the shooting conditions and much more. This is a really terrific piece which fans of the film will want to seek out.
- Interview with Novelist Marguerite Duras and Director Jean-Jacques Annaud: A 13-minute interview with the author only a few weeks after she got out of the hospital following a coma. Duras speaks about her youth, how she felt about the people close to her and what transpired in her life during this time, the importance of the intimate scenes and more.
- Unreleased Scenes: A nine-minute selection of outtakes not used within the film are presented without dialogue and a backing score.
- Picture Galleries: There are a selection of photo galleries for On Set, Filming Locations and Marguerite Duras and Jane March.
- Trailers: This disc includes the Theatrical Trailer (1:49) and the Instrumental Trailer (1:02). There are also trailers provided for Infidelity, The Concubine and Dream Factory.
Final Thoughts
The Lover is a difficult film to recommend due to the highly sensitive subject matter. The imbalance in power between the wealthy businessman and the underage girl is one entry in a laundry list of issues within this narrative. Yet, this is the truth of the author who wrote this original story, as well as the truth of many young people who have their adolescence upended by inappropriate figures. The film is intensely sexual, yet there is arguably even more revealed on an emotional level, often in tandem with the sexuality. The film is expertly constructed from a craft perspective and not aiming to be an exploitation film. It is a very impactful experience if you can get past some of the moral barriers. MPI Media Group has released a 5-star new 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a top notch A/V presentation and some solid special features. Recommended
The Lover is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray + Blu-Ray Combo Pack.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: MPI Media Group 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.