This week’s releases include a musical that rides its successful soundtrack; an unusually unique series; a new take on a classic narrative; and a trio …
This week’s releases include a musical that rides its successful soundtrack; an unusually unique series; a new take on a classic narrative; and a trio of Oscar-nominated Hungarian pictures. Colonel Redl (Blu-ray) Kino Lorber Set in the lead-up to WWI, the film charts the meteoric rise of Alfred Redl (Klaus Maria Brandauer) from a family of railway workers to his post leading counter-intelligence in the Austro-Hungarian Army, rubbing elbows with the Crown Prince (Armin Mueller-Stahl). His hidden homosexuality, however, is used against him by enemies of the state, putting both his professional standing and his country’s security in dire straits. The 1986 film was Hungarian director István Szabó’s third of four Academy Award nominations for best foreign language film and was his next feature following his 1981 win for Mephisto. Alfred is essentially lifted out of the gutters by a benefactor and given the opportunity to build a career in the military. It’s not a chance he takes lightly and he becomes a model cadet and, later, a by-the-book ranking officer. However, his power and success attracts a lot of negative attention from people who don’t appreciate his respect for the rules and want to take him down by any means possible. There is a homoerotic undertone underlying the entire narrative in spite of a lot of heterosexual sex, be it casual or marital. The movie ends somewhat brashly with an unusual revolving door of visitors before Alfred meets his unjust fate. Special features include: “The Central Europe of István Szabó”; remembrance of production designer József Romvári, directed by Sophy Romvari; and trailer. (Kino Lorber) Confidence (Blu-ray) Kino Lorber Set in Hungary during the waning days of WWII, János and Kata (Peter Andorai and Ildikó Bánsági) are forced to act as husband and wife in an effort to stay hidden in plain sight. Though they are both married to others, will they be able to maintain the illusion without giving in to their growing feelings for each other? This 1980 film garnered Hungarian director István Szabó his first Academy Award nomination for best foreign language film and won him the best director prize at the Berlin Film Festival. The impromptu couple represents two different perspectives. János is a member of the resistance, having knowingly risked his life to oppose the Nazi occupation. Kata, on the other hand, was oblivious to her husband’s resistance activities, but is forced into hiding when soldiers steak out their apartment. János’ actions are calculated and untrusting, while Kata is confused, scared and unprepared to deal with the situation. Much of the film unfolds in a small bedroom where the pair spend most of their time, imposing an unwelcome intimacy on the strangers that gradually pushes them into each other’s arms. The picture is an exercise in restraint driven by two great performances. Special features include: “The Central Europe of István Szabó”; remembrance of production designer József Romvári, directed by Sophy Romvari; and trailer. (Kino Lorber) Dispatches from Elsewhere: Season 1 (Blu-ray) RLJE Films The series is centred around four ordinary people (Jason Segel, Sally Field, André Benjamin and Eve Lindley) who feel there’s something missing in their lives, but they can’t quite put their finger on what it is. This diverse foursome is brought together by chance — or perhaps by design — when they stumble onto a puzzle hiding just behind the veil of everyday life.
