Nestled in a lush Swiss valley in the summer of 1900, 17-year-old Elisabeth is preparing to take her vows, when she receives the devastating news about her older sister Innocente’s mysterious death. Seeking answers, she returns home to assist her family only to discover that no one will discuss the tragedy. Confused and isolated, Elisabeth reconnects with three childhood friends — now young men — with their own cravings for truth and connection. Rapturously photographed by Marine Atlan and featuring a cast of young, unknown performers — Carmen Jaquier’s striking debut is an enigmatic mix of self-discovery, faith and sensuality.

For in-depth thoughts on Thunder, please see my colleague Cody Allen’s review from its theatrical debut here.

Video Quality

Thunder arrives on Blu-Ray courtesy of Dekanalog with a fetching 1080p presentation that represents this film ideally. This is a visually stunning film with the majority of time spent out in nature, and the camera soaks in every single moment of it. There is an impressive amount of detail in close-up shots, along with wide shots of the beautiful expanses. Colors are perfectly saturated and especially vibrant within the vegetation. Skin tones look natural, and there are some standout facial details present. Black levels hold firm with no crush, and highlights do not suffer from blooming. Compression artifacts and other digital shortcomings are nowhere to be found. The film has been treated with the utmost care.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track in the original French that sounds amazing. The movie is steeped in environmental sounds, and there is plenty of space given to immerse yourself in the soundscape. The track flourishes with the distinct sounds of nature radiating out of the speakers. The film makes admirable use of panning effects to capture a sense of place. Environmental sounds such as rain and wind come through well in the side and rear speakers. Dialogue is crisp and clear without being overshadowed by the score or sound effects. This is not a film that digs deep on the low end, but there is some subtle texture in a few spots. This track does a top-tier job representing the film. Optional English subtitles are available.

Special Features

Interview with Carmen Jaquier: A 19-minute interview with the filmmaker in which she discusses why she wanted to tell this story, researching this period of time and the impact it would have had on these characters, what she wanted to accomplish with this story, how they accomplished certain shots, and more.

Early Short Films by Carmen Jaquier: A trio of early films from the filmmaker are provided that complement the main feature quite well.

- The Girls’ Grave (2011) (18:57)

- At The Mermaid Parade (2013) (24:39)

- The River Under The Tongue (2015) (19:01)

Theatrical Trailer (1:35)

Booklet: A multi-page booklet is included featuring interviews with filmmaker Carmen Jaquier, cinematographer Marine Atlan, and composer Nicolas Rabaeus,

Final Thoughts

Thunder is a meditative narrative that soaks in the ambiance of its environment without ever feeling adrift. The story is tied to this point in the past, yet it has a resonance that feels timeless. The journey feels epic even when there is not much occurring beyond the immediate area. The lead performance is a powerhouse, and the supporting performances match her at every turn. This film is thematically rich and effective. Dekanalog has provided a Blu-Ray with a grand A/V presentation along with some valuable supplements. This is not one to be missed if you appreciate a dreamy drama. Recommended

Thunder is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.

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

Disclaimer: Dekanalog and OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.