Damnation – Arbelos Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hungary, 1988
Director: Béla Tarr
Writers: László Krasznahorkai, Béla Tarr
Cast: Miklós B. Székely, Vali Kerekes, Gyula Pauer, György Cserhalmi, Hédi Temessy

Release Date: December 14th, 2021
Approximate Running Time: 121 Minutes 16 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Hungarian
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $39.99

"DAMNATION (Kárhozat) chronicles the doomed affair between Bar Titanik regular Karrer (SÁTÁNTANGÓ’s Miklós B. Székely) and the cabaret singer (Vali Kerekes) he pines for while scheming to displace her brutish husband (György Cserhalmi)." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "restored in 4K from the original 35mm camera negative by the Hungarian National Film Institute – Film Archive under the supervision of Béla Tarr."

Damnation comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 39.9 GB

Feature: 31 GB

The source used for this transfer looks flawless. Image clarity, contrast, and black levels are solid throughout, and grain remains intact.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Hungarian, and included with this release are removable English subtitles. The audio quality is excellent; the dialog comes through clearly, and the ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include U.S. theatrical trailer (2 minutes 31 seconds, LPCM mono Hungarian with non-removable English subtitles and English titles), archival newsreels from the Oroszlány and Dorog coal mines, The Country is Asking for Coal External (2 minutes 16 seconds, DTS-HD mono Hungarian with removable English subtitles), and Coal Mining in Oroszlany (1 minute 59 seconds, DTS-HD mono Hungarian with removable English subtitles), an interview with composer Mihály Vig (13 minutes 49 seconds, DTS-HD stereo Hungarian with removable English subtitles), an interview with actor Miklós Székely jr. (11 minutes 47 seconds, DTS-HD stereo Hungarian with removable English subtitles), an interview with director Béla Tarr (10 minutes 27 seconds, DTS-HD stereo Hungarian with removable English subtitles) and a twelve-page booklet with an essay titled Disintegration & Revival: Béla Tarr’s Damnation written by Jay Kuehner and information about the restoration.

Summary:

Though Damnation’s narrative moves at a languid pace, it clocks in at just over two hours. The result is a riveting narrative that never feels overlong. That said, what makes Damnation so powerful is how it allows its characters to take center stage. And nowhere is this clearer than when it comes to intimate moments.

Performance-wise, the two leads deliver extraordinary performances; Miklós B. Székely in the role of a depressed man who’s obsessed with a nightclub singer and Vali Kerekes in the role of the woman he desires. The rest of the cast are very good in their respective roles.

Not to be overlooked when discussing Damnation are its visuals. black and white cinematography that looks striking and slow-moving camera movements, like a backward tracking shot that opens the film. Another strength is how much detail went into the sound design. And though there’s a score, it's sparse yet effective in reinforcing the mood.

Though it's easy to spot moments in any film that appear to be inspired by another film or how directors try to emulate other directors they admire. To do this with Damnation would be doing this film a great disservice since it's a unique cinema experience that is unlike any other film. Also, the way in which Béla Tarr directs Damnation feels free of any influences.

Damnation gets a definitive release from Arbelos Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer