Ugo Tognazzi (La grande bouffe) is an innocent playboy holiday rep in Greece who is picked up by two secret agents (Michel Piccoli, Le Mépris and Mario Adorf, The Italian Connection). Suspected of being part of an underground resistance, he is to be transported by the agents to Athens where he will be interrogated by superior officers. Their journey is the start of a cat-and-mouse game that beautifully plays on Tognazzi’s screen persona with the thrilling tension of Costa-Gavras’ Z. Newly restored in 4K by Studio Canal, Peter Fleischmann’s paranoid thriller is made available on Blu-ray for the first time.

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Video Quality

Weak Spot debuts on Blu-Ray courtesy of Radiance Films with a 4K restoration of the Original Camera Negative by StudioCanal. The colors are faithfully saturated with deep hues filling up the screen. The contrast is steadfast in all scenarios with firm highlights and no obvious instances of black crush. The shadowy moments present some welcome depth to the image. There is not much in the way of softness to the photography at any stretch. The new transfer leaves the natural grain structure intact so as to preserve the delicious ‘70s cinematography. This allows for subtle details to emanate in the clothing, backgrounds, and natural environments. This source has been given a thorough and considerate clean-up with virtually no lingering specks. Radiance Films has delivered an impressive visual presentation that reaches a high level of quality.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with an LPCM 2.0 mono track in the original French which handles the material without a hiccup. Dialogue holds up with exceptional clarity and without any ugly signs of distortion. Conversations never get drowned out by the sound effects or the score. The precisely constructed narrative allows for the deliberate deployment of environmental sounds and other textural elements. The score from Ennio Morricone comes through with fetching fidelity. There is ostensibly nothing in the way of age-related wear and tear. Radiance Films has done well here. Optional English subtitles are provided.

Special Features

The first-pressing of the Radiance Films Blu-Ray of Weak Spot includes a booklet featuring new writing by Kat Ellinger. This gives great insight into the work of Peter Fleischmann, the depiction of masculinity in cinema, and more. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Audio Commentary: Critic Travis Woods provides a sturdy track that examines the film from an analytical viewpoint while giving rich background details to the production and the political climate that birthed this story.

Michel Piccoli: A five-minute archival interview with the actor and producer in which he discusses his work with Peter Fleischmann, adapting the story from a novel, the universal themes of the narrative, and more.

Lovely Jon: A new nearly 27-minute interview with the soundtrack expert who discusses the impeccable work of composer Ennio Morricone.

Final Thoughts

Weak Spot is a tense, paranoid gem that manifests the real fear of governmental retaliation and withering under a tyrannical regime. The film starts on a terrifying note that shifts gears into a pseudo-buddy movie with two men who are against the ropes. The movie plays with different tones to great effect, and the ending is one that will stick with you for a while. If you live for a political thriller, this one is very entertaining. Radiance Films has released a Blu-Ray featuring a great A/V presentation and some noteworthy special features. This is a great start to the new year from one of our favorite labels. Recommended

Weak Spot will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on January 28, 2025.

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

Disclaimer: Radiance Films 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.