Orchestra Rehearsal – Arrow Academy (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1978
Director: Federico Fellini
Writers: Federico Fellini, Brunello Rondi
Cast: Balduin Baas, Clara Colosimo, Elizabeth Labi, Ronaldo Bonacchi, Ferdinando Villella, Franco Javarone

Release Date: February 12th, 2018 (UK), February 13th, 2018 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 72 Minutes 12 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: PG (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Italian
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: OOP

"An allegorical pseudo-documentary, the film depicts an Italian television crew’s visit to a dilapidated auditorium (a converted 13th-century church) to meet an orchestra assembling to rehearse under the instruction of a tyrannical conductor. The TV crew interviews the various musicians who each speak lovingly about their chosen instruments. However, as petty squabbles break out amid the different factions of the ensemble, and the conductor berates his musicians, the meeting descends into anarchy and vandalism. A destructive crescendo ensues before the musicians regroup and play together once more in perfect harmony." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Orchestra Rehearsal was exclusively restored by Arrow Films and is presented in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio with mono sound.

The original 35mm camera negative was scanned in 2K resolution by RAI. The film was graded and restored on the Nucoda grading system at R3store Studios, London. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches and other instances of film wear were repaired or removed through a combination of digital restoration tools and techniques. Some instance of minor damage remain, in keeping with the condition of the original materials."

Orchestra Rehearsal comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 27.6 GB

Feature: 16.7 GB

The source is in great shape; flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, compression is solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Italian with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced, and the score sounds appropriately robust.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery titled Felliniana Archive Gallery (stills/lobby cards/posters/soundtrack art), a video essay by Fellini biographer John Baxter titled Orchestrating Discord (20 minutes 43 seconds, LPCM mono English with non-removable English subtitles for Italian film clips), an interview film scholar Richard Dyer titled Orchestrating Discord, he discusses Nino Rota and Orchestra Rehearsal (23 minutes 10 seconds, LPCM mono English with non-removable English subtitles for Italian film clips), reversible cover art, and a 24-page booklet (limited to the first pressing) with an essay titled In a Nutshell written by Adrian Martin, an essay titled Orchestra Rehearsal: In the Picture written by Tony Mitchell and information about the restoration.

Summary:

A television crew documents an orchestra revolting during a rehearsal.

Orchestra Rehearsal, like an earlier Federico Fellini film, The Clowns, is a quasi-documentary. Though simplistic, Orchestra Rehearsal is filled with cinematic flourishes that are undeniably Federico Fellini. In the hands of any other director, a film about orchestra rehearsal and revolting would not be as enthralling.

The opening setup revolves around the musicians discussing their instruments. The middle section of the film shifts the focus to the musicians and their revolt. And the final act provides a very satisfying conclusion to the events that have just unfolded.

Orchestra Rehearsal, by the way of music, uses the orchestra as a metaphor about society. Everyone must work together for a singular goal to achieve harmony. And anarchy reigns supreme when individuality becomes each character’s focus.

From a production standpoint, Orchestra Rehearsal is a film that far exceeds the sum of its parts. Its premise is superbly realized, and there is a deliberate momentum to the events that unfold. The visuals and Nino Rota's exemplary score perfectly fuse. Orchestra Rehearsal is also notable for being Nino Rota's final collaboration with Federico Fellini. Ultimately, Orchestra Rehearsal, Federico Fellini’s most politically overt film, is overflowing with social commentary.

Arrow Academy gives Orchestra Rehearsal a first-rate release that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a trio of informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer