Vinyan

[pro-bassoonist]

Fabrice Du Welz's Vinyan (2008) is set to be released in Germany on September 11. Starring Emmanuelle Béart, Rufus Sewell, Julie Dreyfus. Screened at the Venice Film Festival.

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Official French site and trailer:
http://www.wildbunch-distribution.com/site/vinyan/

Variety:

"Vinyan," Belgian writer-helmer Fabrice du Welz's foray into English-language filmmaking, is a convoluted genre exercise that doesn't go down as smoothly as the long list of co-producers undoubtedly hoped. Intermittently compelling, Southeast Asia-set supernatural thriller plays like an uneasy combo of "Don’t Look Now" and Thai ghost stories. Despite some haunting images and an eerily transcendent perf from Emmanuelle Beart, general auds will find it hard to overlook the plot’s gaping holes and loose ends. Not completely satisfying for the Fangoria crowd, either, it’s unlikely to break out of the upscale horror ghetto.

The narrative centers on Jeanne (Beart) and Paul (Rufus Sewell), a European couple unable to accept the loss of their young son in the 2005 tsunami. Because they never recovered his body, Jeanne is obsessed with the idea that he’s been kidnapped by traffickers.

Loosely structured in three acts, pic follows the couple from Phuket to remote, outside-the-law jungle villages on the Thai-Burma border, and finally to the spirit world of the vinyan, souls unable to rest because of untimely deaths.

Opening section's gritty, realistic tone is undermined some 20 minutes in, when Paul agrees to pay criminals an enormous sum to transport them into outlaw territory. Second segment stresses the contrast between the privileged couple and the world they enter, and includes superfluous exotica. Nightmarish finale features the gruesome scene fanzines have been buzzing about.

The loose script permits various readings. Some might find its subtext about horrors of parenthood and a mother choosing offspring over husband, while others may find merely pretension and a lack of humor.

From the opening moments, the film belongs to Beart, who gives a performance of unsurpassed intensity in what look to be rather uncomfortable circumstances. Unfortunately, Sewell isn’t able to find equal depths in his character. Some of the Thai thesps register strongly, particularly Petch Osathanugrah, while others come off as caricatures.

Continuing his collaboration with du Welz ("The Ordeal"), talented lenser Benoit Debie provides some of the spookiest jungle cinematography this side of "Apocalypse Now." Scene of a naked Jeanne suffering her own personal calvary at the hands of mud-covered cannibal children has to be seen to be believed.

Behind-the-scenes credits are top-notch, particularly the sound design, although the hallucinatory visuals play stronger than the actual gore.

Camera (widescreen, color, DV-to-35mm), Benoit Debie; editor, Colin Monie; art director, Arin Pinijvararak; set designer, Prajak Ngamsap; costume designers, Geraldine Picron, Pensri Boonjareon; sound (Dolby SRD), Frederic Meert. Reviewed at Venice Film Festival, (noncompeting), Aug. 30, 2008. (Also in Toronto Festival -- Visions.) Running time: 97 MIN.

Pro-B

[Morriford]

Has anybody got this?
I'm wondering if is it presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.39:1?
I know the UK release is cropped but would really like to see this movie.
Thanks for the help...

[Dazza001]

Yes, it's in the OAR.

[Immersion]

Nice to see a superb review from PB:
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Vinya...y/6831/#Review

This was a unique experience/viewing, and I might see if I can pick up this German BD at some point.

[knifethrower]

Originally Posted by Morriford

Has anybody got this?
I'm wondering if is it presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.39:1?
I know the UK release is cropped but would really like to see this movie.
Thanks for the help...

Is the UK disc cropped? Comparing these two shots from the UK and the DE reviews suggests to me it might have been "opened-up" to 1.78:1 instead of cropped down. The technical information on IMDB lists Super35 as the shooting format which would lend itself to this. Not that opening up a "scope" film (and altering shot composition) isn't a movie sin, its just less of a sin than cropping away frame (and with the right setup you can correct opening the frame).

[Immersion]

My copy of this finally arrived today, and I'm excited to watch it again.

I was thinking the other day that I wish there were more films like this. It has quite a unique atmosphere and mood, and the only films I can think of which may be a little similar are L'intrus/The Intruder, and Nang Nak. Both have a certain uneasiness on Tai beaches, and are really atmospheric. Does anyone else think of some films that have a similar vibe?

[pro-bassoonist]

I would have recommended White Material, but you already have it in your collection.

Though lacking the exotic aura of Vinyan, the following films have similar atmospheric feel:



The best picks, however, would be:



Pro-B

[Immersion]

Thanks Pro-B, and I have only seen Kelin out of those. I must admit that I'm not a huge horror fan, but I do enjoy atmospheric and intelligent horror/dramas like Vinyan. I look forward to tracking these down and watching them.

White Material is also growing on me, as the first time I saw it I thought it was OK, but now I love the film. The same happened with Beau Travail, and L'intrus, that I watched multiple times within a week/month of seeing it the first time. I haven't liked her urban/city based films (Trouble Every Day, I Can't Sleep) as I find them a little sterile, but Beau Travail, White Material, and L'intrus (my favourite film), are all fantastic and very atmospheric.

[pro-bassoonist]

You are welcome, Immersion.

I could probably recommend a few titles that are on SDVD that I believe you would like. Are you interested? Take a look at Soda Puctures' catalog, they have some terrific atmospheric films.

Pro-B