Cosmos – Kino Lorber (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: France/Portugal, 2015
Director: Andrzej Żuławski
Writer: Andrzej Żuławski
Cast: Sabine Azéma, Jean-François Balmer, Jonathan Genet, Johan Libéreau, Victoria Guerra, Clémentine Pons, Andy Gillet, Ricardo Pereira, António Simão

Release Date: November 15th, 2016
Approximate Running Time: 102 Minutes 7 seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 French, DTS-HD Stereo French
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $34.95

"Witold who has just failed the bar, and his companion Fuchs, who has recently quit his fashion job, are staying at a guesthouse run by the intermittently paralytic Madame Woytis. Upon discovering a sparrow hanged in the woods near the house, Witold's reality mutates into a whirlwind of tension, histrionics, foreboding omens, and surrealistic logic as he becomes obsessed with Madame Woytis's daughter Lena, newly married to Lucien." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

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

Disc Size: 41.8 GB

Feature: 32 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are solid, and there are no issues with compression.

Audio: 5/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 French, DTS-HD Stereo French)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in French and a DTS-HD stereo mix in French. Both tracks sound excellent; dialogue always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and ambient sounds are well represented. Included are removable English subtitles.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (1 minute 42 seconds, DTS-HD stereo with text in English), an international theatrical trailer (1 minute 40 seconds, DTS-HD stereo French with non-removable English subtitles), a making-of featurette (7 minutes 43 seconds, DTS-HD stereo French with removable English subtitles), an introduction before a pre-screening with Paulo Branco, director Andrzej Zulawski, and the cast (7 minutes 37 seconds, DTS-HD stereo Portuguese and French with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with historian Daniel Bird.

Summary:

Looking for a relaxing getaway from their everyday lives, two young men visit a family-run bed and breakfast, and while they are there, a series of bizarre events unfold.

Cosmos would be the final film directed by Andrzej Zulawski, who would pass away a year later from cancer. He was an auteur in the truest sense; whereas most filmmakers have moments that pay tribute to their influences, his films are truly unique cinematic experiences that only could have been directed by him. In all he would only direct 13 theatrical feature films, of which the most notable are The Third Part of the Night, Possession, and On a Silver Globe.

Although Andrzej Zulawski often adapted his films from novels, his adaptations transformed into something else by the time he was done. For first-time viewers of the cinema of Andrzej Zulawski, his approach to filmmaking is best described as an assault on all of the senses. That said, there is no middle ground when watching an Andrzej Zulawski film; you either become engrossed by what's unfolding or run for the hills.

Content-wise, Cosmos has all the ingredients that have become synonymous with his cinema. The unconventional narrative features mundane situations turned into surreal moments. The opening setup is grounded (for an Andrzej Zulawski film) before the hysterics take over. Andrzej Zulawski’s films are known for exploring character traits not normally explored in more conventional cinema. When it comes to the performances, they are all outstanding; the cast fully immerse themselves into character. The most surprising aspect of Cosmos is how effectively Andrzej Zulawski weaves references to other films and directors. Ultimately, Cosmos is a fitting swansong for a filmmaker whose films have always challenged his audience.

Cosmos gets an excellent release from Kino Lorber that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and insightful extras; highly recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer