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El sur
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray B - United Kingdom - British Film Institute Review written by and copyright: James-Masaki Ryan (23rd January 2017). |
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The Film
 “El sur” (1983) Told in narrated flashback, Estrella (played by Sonsoles Aranguren) reminisces about being an 8 year old girl living in the countryside in the northern part of Spain - an only child to her parents Augustin (played by Omero Antonutti ) and Julia (played by Lola Cardona). Her father Augustin was a wondrous figure in her memories. He was a doctor, rode a motorbike, did magic, and had a mysterious power of enchantment both to her and the people in the countryside town. While Julia was an important part of her life as the mother, her memories were made up mostly of her relationship to and also her distance from her father. One day her grandmother, Augustin’s mother (played by Germaine Montero) and the family caretaker Milagros (played by Rafaela Aparicio come to visit from the south of Spain to see Estrella and her family for the first time since she was a baby. Estrella is fascinated by the South - she has never been there and only heard of it through word of mouth. She knows the weather is warm and the people speak a little differently, as heard from Milagros’ accent, and that her father was from the south but moved up north with no intentions of going back. Estrella learns little by little of her father’s past - his time in prison during the Civil War, the reason why he never talks to his father anymore, and discovering about a long lost love that he had never gotten over. Victor Erice was a film critic and short film director who made an international splash with his debut feature film “The Spirit of the Beehive” in 1973. The story, set during the Spanish Civil War and seen through the eyes of a young girl was a masterfully crafted subtle and beautiful film about innocence during a horrific time. Erice did not make a follow up film until 10 years later in 1983 with “El sur” (“The South”), based on a short story by Adelaida Garcia Morales. Like his first film, his follow up also features the world seen through the eyes of a young girl, but in this case it follows the main character from the age of 8 to 15. It is also a spiritual successor, taking place in a world following the aftermath of the Civil War - a divided country which included politically and socially divided families. Also like “The Spirit of the Beehive”, the magic of cinema is a main part of the plot. In “The Spirit of the Beehive”, the character of Ana watches the 1931 “Frankenstein” - and the experience changes her view of the world forever. In “El sur”, the father watches films featuring an actress who used to be his former love (played by Aurore Clement), and one that he could never see again in real life after leaving the south. In both films of the characters watching a movie, they are more than just watching a screen - they are watching a reality that is possible but out of reach. Ana sees an innocent child-like being like herself on screen. Augustin sees a woman who gets shot in the heart and killed - a love unfulfilled. In “El sur” there is also a great shot of the Spanish poster of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Shadow of a Doubt” - which is another film about a young girl who starts finding out secrets of a family member, though in that film it is the girl’s uncle. Time and space are crucial elements of Erice’s work, using the frame to show vast landscapes of the Spanish countryside in lingering shots, while also using enclosed spaces and darkness such as the movie theater scenes and the father’s attic. Time is also emphasized and played with using the non-linear structure. The opening of the film starts with the 15 year old Estrella waking up to her mother searching desperately for her father, which Estrella knows has left the family for good and never to return. Together with narration by the adult Estrella and soon cutting to the 8 year old Estrella and the memories of her father, the story continues with a mostly linear story to bridge the mystery of the father together. Erice expanded the short story of “El sur” to a 400 page script - expanding the mother character who didn’t even have a name in the short story and much more development between the daughter and father. Unfortunately the production encountered difficulties in which the production was halted midway through before the final act was to be filmed. Originally the film had three acts - Estrella as an 8 year old in the north, Estrella as a 15 year old in the north (played by Iciar Bollain, and Estrella as a 15 year old going to the south. The third act was never completed, but the film was post produced with the completed footage in the north and ending with Estrella getting ready to go to the south for the first time. Erice was distraught but the filmed material was edited and screened first at Cannes in 1983 and followed by a theatrical release in Spain the same month. The reactions from critics and the press were overwhelmingly positive. No one had thought the film was unfinished and even the producer felt the film was complete with the ending of the dream of going to the south rather than actually showing the reality. Erice still felt that the film was unfinished and sadly there never was a reshoot given to make a true “director’s cut”, only existing on paper and in Erice’s mind as a film that is one hour shorter than it should have been. Regardless whether one considers it finished or not, the film that exists in its current state is a somber and beautiful film about a father-daughter relationship where memories last forever. Note this is a region B Blu-ray which can only be played back on region B or region free Blu-ray players
Video
The British Film Institute presents the film in 1080p in the AVC MPEG-4 codec in the original theatrical 1.66:1 aspect ratio. Using a high definition master provided by Video Mercury Films Spain, the picture is sadly a disappointment. For the positive side, the film has been cleaned so dust, specs, tears, and other damage have been removed and the framing is correct with no telecine wobble of the image. On the negative side, the film seems to have gone through some digital manipulation. Noise reduction erases subtle hues and creates blotchy patches of color on walls, skies, and some clothes, and edge enhancement is given to figures being especially noticeable on people in contrasted backgrounds. The worst example might be around the 15 minute mark where the father is walking out in the field. The blue skies look digitally blotchy, the forked stick he is holding looks zig-zagged rather than straight lines, and his figure looks to have a border all around him. Not every scene looks bad but there are some that stand out more than others. Overall it is certainly watchable but it does not do justice for the magnificent film. The film is the original theatrical cut and runs with a runtime of 94:54.
Audio
Spanish LPCM 1.0 The original Castilian Spanish audio is presented in lossless mono. The audio has been cleaned up with no troubles of hisses or pops, and dialogue is easy to hear. It is not a powerful track with background music and effects being very subtle and quiet. Overall it is not going to blow anyone away but it does sound fine for the film. There are optional English subtitles in a white font for the film. There are no troubles with errors with spelling or timing.
Extras
BFI has released “El sur” in a Blu-ray+DVD dual format release. The film and the extras on the Blu-ray are repeated on the DVD which is in PAL region 2. Víctor Erice interviewed by Geoff Andrew (plays over the film) (83:05) This interview was conducted on stage following a screening of Erice’s segment of the omnibus film “Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet” on September 2nd 2003 at the National Film Theatre. The questions are asked by festival programmer Geoff Andrew in English and Erice speaks in Spanish which is then translated by an interpreter. Erice discusses the film that was screened, along with his life as a critic, how he became interested in cinema, as well as thoughts and stories about his own feature films including “El sur”. Note that this is an audio extra and plays over the first 83 minutes of the film. With this audio track on, it is not possible to switch from the film’s audio and the interview audio via remote. The audio is clear and there are no dropouts or errors with the microphones, although when they ask for audience questions, they are nearly impossible to hear. Andrews sometimes repeats the question but not every time. in English and Spanish with English interpretation LPCM 2.0 with no subtitles "Haunted Memory: The Cinema of Víctor Erice" featurette (13:04) This video essay by Cristina Alvarez Lopez and Adrian Martin with Martin narrating features clips of Erice’s films. This is not the rapid-fire analysis and trivia commentary track that is associated with Adrian Martin but a slower more “Erice” piece of the emotional content and use of time in Erice’s work. in 720p AVC MPEG-4, in 1.33:1 1.66:1 1.78:1, in English/Spanish LPCM 2.0 stereo with burned-in English subtitles for the Spanish portions Theatrical re-release trailer (1:34) Great gorgeous music accompanies the trailer featuring the narration from the older Estrella character. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4, in 1.66:1, in Spanish LPCM 2.0 stereo with burned-in English subtitles 20 page booklet The booklet includes essays, photos, and credits for the film and the Blu-ray/DVD. The first essay is ”My Father The Hero” by film critic Mar Diestro-Dopido. The essay goes quite in depth with the analysis of “El sur” and a spoiler warning is given. The second essay is ”Victor Erice and the Poetry of Time” by Geoff Andrew who was also featured in the audio interview as the interviewer. This essay is centered on the director rather than just the film “El sur”. Last there is ”El sur Reviewed” by critic Tim Pulleine which was originally published in Monthly Film Bulletin in January 1984. This marks the first time the film has been made available on Blu-ray or DVD in the UK. The film was previously released on Blu-ray in Spain twice - once by Veritice Cine which had no extras and later by Divisa which only had minor extras such as the trailer, gallery, and filmographies. The UK release is not exactly stacked with extras on the single layer disc, but the lengthy interview does cover quite a lot of ground.
Overall
“El sur” may be an unfinished film in the director’s eyes, but in the eyes of many audiences around the world they begged to differ. Beautiful and sentimental, the story of a young child and her view of the world and her father in a divided country is something that many people can relate to in almost any generation past, present, and future. BFI’s release unfortunately has a questionable video transfer but fine audio and generous extras. The film comes highly recommended, but please take some reservation with the video quality.
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