The Only Way: 4k Restoration – VCI Entertainment (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA/Denmark/Panama/UK, 1970
Director: Bent Christensen
Writers: Bent Christensen, John Gould, Leif Panduro
Cast: Ebbe Rode, Helle Virkner, Jane Seymour, Ove Sprogøe, Martin Potter, Benny Hansen, Kjeld Nørgaard, Bendt Rothe

Release Date: August 15th, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 87 Minutes 6 seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: G
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $24.95

"In April 1940, the armies of Nazi Germany invaded Denmark. The Danish government promised peaceful cooperation on the condition that Denmark's Jews remain free. The Nazi's agreed. In October, 1943, the agreement was broken..." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "4k Restoration".

The Only Way comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.1 GB

Feature: 17.1 GB

Though the source looks clean and comes from a 4K restoration, this transfer is not without its shortcomings. Flesh tones and colors look off in the opening moments, but fortunately, as the film progresses, they both improve. The image looks crisp, the black levels look good, and there are no major issues in regards to compression. Also, there appears to be some grain management.

Audio: 3/5

This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix in English with removable English subtitles. Though the audio sounds clean, it sounds flat and lacks depth. That said, dialog comes through clearly enough to follow. It should be noted that there is some dialog in German, and the included subtitles translate all dialog, not just the German dialog. Also, the lack of the original mono soundtrack is disappointing.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a short film about the liberation of Nazi concentration camps titled Reunion (19 minutes 46 seconds, Dolby Digital 5.1 English with removable English SDH) and promos for other titles also released by VCI Entertainment.

Summary:

The Only Way is a wartime drama that recounts the events of October 1943 in Nazi-occupied Denmark. The narrative revolves around a Jewish family who are forced to flee Denmark when the Nazis start to round up Jews. The narrative does a good job building tension as the Nazis searches for Jews intensify, leading towards a finale in which all the main characters' fates hang in balance.

That said, despite the narrative doing a good job delivering tense moments, there are many moments where the narrative tends to drag. These are mundane moments that showcase characters' daily lives before they’re forced to go into hiding and flee Denmark. Fortunately, for most viewers, these lulls in the narrative should not be that big of a deal. With a solid final act doing a superb job culminating the events that preceded.

Though The Only Way is a well-put-together film, it feels more like a made-to-television film than a theatrical film. The use of actual locations enhances the story at hand, and all around, the performances are all very good. The Only Way is notable for being Jane Seymour’s (Somewhere in Time) first speaking role in a feature film. Also, when it comes to the score, it is not effective; it does not enhance the story at hand. Ultimately, The Only Way is a film about an important moment in time; unfortunately, its execution of said subject is bound to turn some viewers off.

The Only Way makes its way to Blu-ray via a serviceable audio/video presentation from VCI Entertainment.

Written by Michael Den Boer