‘Tótem’ Blu-Ray Review – A Profound Look At The Intersection Between Youth & Grief

In a bustling Mexican household, seven-year-old Sol is swept up in the whirlwind of preparations for her terminally ill father’s birthday party, led by her mother, aunts, and other relatives. As the day builds to an event both anticipated and dreaded, Sol and her family begin to understand the gravity of this year’s celebration. Lila Avilés directs a dynamic ensemble cast in this stunning sophomore effort—a warmly observed, poignantly funny, and emotionally expansive study of the ways we cope with grief.

For in-depth thoughts on Tótem, please see my colleague Matt Minton’s review from its original theatrical release here. 

Video Quality

Tótem comes to Blu-Ray in an AVC encoded transfer in 1.33:1 courtesy of Janus Contemporaries which provides a splendid presentation that faithfully captures the aesthetic of the feature. Colors are bold when it comes to the vegetation and key elements of the production design and clothing. Skin tones appear to be natural throughout the runtime with impeccable detail on display. This presentation offers a stable and consistent image quality from beginning to end without any notable deficiencies. This production does not showcase any signs of noise or compression as the household wows in high definition. This transfer is what you deserve on Blu-Ray, and any fan of the movie will be delighted by the care put into this one. 

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track in the original Spanish which captures this one effortlessly. The natural soundscape is filled with little flourishes that do a fine job of transporting you to this space. Dialogue comes through clearly without ever being overshadowed by the environmental elements. The music is showcased accurately with an immersive implementation of the surround speakers that provide distinct fidelity. The sound design is not overly aggressive, but it never struggles to perform. The track shows its worth with the sounds of nature. Activity in the low end helps provide additional texture to the world. This robust audio presentation brings the movie to life in a worthwhile manner. Optional English subtitles are provided. 

Special Features

The Janus Contemporaries Blu-Ray of Tótem includes a leaflet featuring the essay “Tótem: Parting Gift” by Michael Joshua Rowin in which he provides some good insight into and analysis of the film that helps highlight the deeper themes on display. The on-disc special features are as follows:  

• Meet The Filmmakers: A great nearly 17-minute conversation with director Lila Avilés in which she discusses the development of this story as her second feature, her love of cinema from a young age, the personal elements woven into the narrative, how she learned to make a film without going to film school, what she learned following her debut, and much more that you will not want to miss. 

• Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided. 

Final Thoughts

Tótem is a touching sophomore effort from Lila Avilés that admirably captures the powerless feeling that comes with being a child. There is great power in knowing your life is just starting out and is full of possibilities while also knowing you will soon never be the same. The performance from the young star is absolutely incredible and allows the movie to land as strongly as it does. There are some dull stretches that come with the territory, but you largely get sucked into the narrative. Janus Contemporaries has released a fantastic new Blu-Ray with a fetching A/V presentation and a couple of fine special features. Recommended 

The Janus Contemporaries edition of Tótem will be available to purchase on September 10, 2024, on Blu-Ray and DVD.

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

Disclaimer: Janus Contemporaries and The Criterion Collection 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.