Elena (Andrei Zvyagintsev)

[pro-bassoonist]

Elena Blu-ray REVIEW





NEWS/TRAILER
https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=10000

Independent British distributors New Wave Films have revealed that they are planning to bring to Blu-ray Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev's (The Return, The Banishment) Elena (2011), starring Nadezhda Markina, Andrey Smirnov and Aleksey Rozin. The preliminary release date set by the distributors is February 11th.

Last year, Elena won the Special Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival.

Middle-aged couple Elena (Nadezhda Markina) and Vladimir (Andrey Smirnov), come from different walks of society. He is a well-off businessman; she is a former medical worker, now a housewife. Having met late in life, each has children from previous marriages. Elena's son is unemployed and constantly asking for money. Vladimir's daughter is a careless young woman whose contact with her father is irregular and strained. Their worlds rupture when a heart attack puts Vladimir in hospital and he makes a significant decision: his daughter will be the only heiress of his wealth. The shy and submissive Elena's hopes of helping her son and grandchildren secure a better life are crushed, triggering a desperate plan...

Update: Extras Detailed

Video interview with director Andrey Zvyagintsev
Original trailer

Pro-B

[pro-bassoonist]

I would also like to recommend The Banishment, Andrei Zvyagintsev's second film. It is astonishingly beautiful. I like The Return as well, but thought that The Banishment was the more complete film. It is currently available only on DVD via Artificial Eye. Great transfer (for a DVD)

Fantastic director!





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Pro-B

[nitin]

pro-b, any word on blus for his earlier films? I love both, and although the transfers for both are more than adequate, they would look stunning on blu (and also would be without the compression issues).

Will also pick this up when the price is a bit more affordable.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by nitin

pro-b, any word on blus for his earlier films? I love both, and although the transfers for both are more than adequate, they would like stunning on blu (and also would be without the compression issues).

Will also pick this up when the price is a bit more affordable.

I have not seen any info on possible upgrades, Nitin.

You should pick up Elena for your library. It is more subdued than the previous two films, but still very effective.

Pro-B

[Dubliner1]

Watched the blu last weekend- excellent film.

[Dan8700]

So, I noticed this has been released by Zeitgeist with extras, and on a BD-50, but there is only one frame match to make a comparison and, judging from that, I can't understand if the Zeitgeist, beside being darker, has been degrained or not... any other reviews and/or comments?

Zeit https://images3.static-bluray.com/re...7_18_1080p.jpg
New Wave https://images.static-bluray.com/rev...0_12_1080p.jpg

[GxyExpress999]

US Zeitgeist release:

[laidbacklarkin]

Lovely film although a bit too leisurely paced. Acting is top notch, the exchange b/w father and daughter at the hospital was a home run.