Amarcord

Federico Fellini's Amarcord was actually the fourth Criterion release back in April 1998. Yet, watching the new restoration demo featurette, viewers will be amazed at just how much better the new transfer is, let alone how superior the image and sound qualities are to a VHS copy (the colors and crispness are absolutely breathtaking). Set in pre-WWII fascist Italy, Amarcord is a wonderfully picturesque fictionalized paean to Fellini's childhood hometown of Rimini, filtered through the director's larger-than-life imagination. Opening with a celebration bonfire in the town square (full of those surreal touches that eventually gave rise to the adjective Felliniesque), the film is essentially a series of vivid tableaux capturing slices of life in the seaside village, including a bickering family at the dinner table, kids with their faces plastered against the glass of a shop in gleefully rebellious distortion, a crazy uncle who refuses to come down from a tree for hours—simply repeating the refrain “I want a woman,” a teen boy's sexual encounter with a buxom tobacconist, and so on. Despite the constant presence of authoritarian figures around the edges of the action from both church and state, the joie de vivre of the film's subjects remains for the most part irrepressible. Presented in a gorgeous-looking two-disc set, DVD extras include audio commentary by film scholars Peter Brunette and Frank Burke, a deleted scene, the new 45-minute documentary “Fellini's Homecoming” (examining the director's complicated relationship with his hometown), an interview with star Magali Noël (who plays the voluptuous hairdresser Gradisca in the film), extensive audio interviews (with Fellini, his friends, and family), Fellini's drawings for the film, and a 64-page color booklet with essays and photos. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (R. Pitman)[Blu-ray Review—Mar. 1, 2011—Criterion, 123 min., in Italian w/English subtitles, not rated, $39.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1973's Amarcord boasts a great transfer and a mono soundtrack. Blu-ray extras are identical to the standard DVD release, including audio commentary by film scholars Peter Brunette and Frank Burke, a “Fellini's Homecoming” featurette examining the director's complicated relationship with his hometown (45 min.), an interview with star Magali Noël (16 min.), a restoration demo (6 min.), a deleted scene (4 min.), a “Felliniana” presentation of items devoted to the film from the private collection of aficionado Don Young, extensive audio interviews (with Fellini and friends and family), Fellini's drawings for the film, trailers, and a 64-page color booklet with an essay by scholar Sam Rohdie and Fellini's 1967 essay “My Rimini.” Bottom line: a welcome Blu-ray debut for one of Fellini's most beloved films.]