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Tchao Pantin: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: France, 1983
Director: Claude Berri
Writers: Alain Page, Claude Berri
Cast: Coluche, Richard Anconina, Agnès Soral, Mahmoud Zemmouri, Philippe Léotard, Albert Dray, Mohamed Ben Smaïl, Pierrick Mescam, Mickaël Pichet, Vincent Michel Paul Filliatre, Annie Kerani, Vincent Martin

Release Date: July 29th, 2024 (UK), July 30th, 2024 (USA)
Approximate running time: 94 Minutes 16 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 12 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono French
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK), $39.95 (USA)

"Bensoussan (Richard Anconina) is a small-time drug pusher in the 18th Arrondissement of Paris. Being trailed by suspicious patrol cops he takes refuge in a petrol station and strikes up a conversation with night manager Lambert (Coluche). As Bensoussan continues to drop in on Lambert they develop a friendship. But it isn't long before problems arise for Bensoussan and Lambert feels a responsibility to the the young tearaway." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Tchao Pantin was restored in 4K from the original negative by Pathe ini 2014, under the supervision of cinematographer Bruno Nuytten. The film was delivered to Radiance as a High-Definition digital file."

Tchao Pantin comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 33.5 GB

Feature: 27.1 GB

The source looks great, flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity and compression are solid, black levels are strong, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in French with removable English subtitles. The audio is in excellent shape, the dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (1 minute 30 seconds, LPCM mono French with removable English subtitles), an archival documentary titled Once Upon a Time… Tchao Pantin on the film featuring interviews with writer-director Claude Berri, novelist Alain Page, stars Richard Anconina, Mahmoud Zemmouri, Agnés Soral, and cinematographer Bruno Nyutten (51 minutes 43 seconds, LPCM stereo French with removable English subtitles), an interview with French cinema scholar Dr. Michael Abecassis (7 minutes 27 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 24-page booklet (limited to 3000 copies) cast & crew information, an essay titled C’est L’histoire D’un Mec - Coluche The Sad, Kind Clown written by Manuela Lazic, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Claude Berri directed Tchao Pantin. He is also known for making The Two of Us, In a Wild Moment, Jean de Florette, Manon of the Spring, and Uranus.

The narrative revolves around a middle-aged loner who works at a gas station and becomes friends with an orphaned drug dealer.

Tchao Pantin is a character-driven crime/drama about two characters who couldn’t be more unalike, yet they form an unbreakable bond. The first half of the narrative is all about getting to know these two characters, while the latter half is a revenge film. These two characters are well defined, and when tragedy befalls one of them, it is not hard to feel the loss that the other character feels. Though most of their interactions are mundane, these are universal moments that most viewers can identify with.

The main draw is Coluche’s (Inspector Blunder) portrayal of Lambert, a loner who works at a gas station. Tchao Pantin was his one and only foray into the crime/drama genre; he’s most known for his work in the comedy genre. That said, he delivers a phenomenal performance in which he fully immerses himself. His performance would earn him a César (French cinema’s equivalent of the Oscars) for best actor.

The other performance of note is Richard Anconina’s (Itinerary of a Spoiled Child) portrayal of a drug dealer named Bensoussan. His character is the polar opposite of Lambert; he’s an impulsive character whose actions eventually catch up with him. He delivers a captivating performance that at times rivals Coluche’s tour de force performance. That said, the rest of the cast are great in their respective roles.

From a production standpoint, Tchao Pantin is a film that archives its goals. Its narrative does a fantastic job of drawing you into the lives of Lambert and Bensoussan. Pacing is more deliberate in the first half, while things pick up considerably in the latter half. That said, the tone shift in the latter half is considerably darker than in the first half. Another strength of cinematographer Bruno Nuytten’s (Camille Claudel) Neo Noir visuals is that they perfectly reinforce the mood. Ultimately, Tchao Pantin is an extraordinary exploration of revenge and redemption whose final moments linger on in your mind.

Tchao Pantin gets a solid release from Radiance Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and insightful extras, highly recommended.