4K Ultra HD – Edition FR – Studiocanal- 162 min – 28 July 2021
Video format
• Intermediate Master: 4K
• Standard HDR: Dolby Vision
• Ratio: 1.85
Soundtrack
• Japanese DTS-HD MA 5.1
• Japanese DTS-HD MA 2.0
• English DTS-HD MA 5.1
• English DTS-HD MA 5.1
Subtitles
• English
• French
It is brought to the attention of our dear readers as well as the viewing equipment specified and used by each tester of the MaG team, the rendering may differ from one installation to another, whether or not it is calibrated, as well as personal preferences and expectations may influence the rating. Moreover, the images in the article are not representative of the edition tested.
WORK – King Lear in the time of the samurai
In 16th century Japan, Lord Hidetora Ichimonji decided to withdraw and share his estate between his three sons, Taro, Jiro and Saburo. But the distribution of this legacy will tear the family apart.
Slow and terrible family tragedy with Shakespeare accents (this is a very free adaptation of the King Lear), this warlike and melancholic epic with exciting power struggles, quasi-oniric staging, sumptuous costumes, totally inhabited interpretation (influenced by the theatrical tradition) and displacing landscapes, is a flamboyant « film will » Just diminished by an uneven rhythm in its second half.
IMAGE – Hell on Earth
Made from a 35 mm capture and restored in 4K in 2016, the very film image of this UHD Dolby Vision transfer brings little improvement to the previous Blu-ray release... In fact, the photograph of the work does not lend itself to it.
Nicely textured (the compression is solid and the silver structure more palpable) and discharged from the slightest rafistolage (neither DNR nor EE), it retains the softness of its details without adding an additional layer of sharpness.
Validated a few years ago by Shōji Ueda, the Ops leader, the dark calibration of colors continues. So apart from the slightly increased richness of the shades of the clothes and to a lesser extent those of the banners, the palette is and remains voluntarily attenuated.
Not particularly bright either (an average peak around 100 nits), even if the passages in broad daylight take advantage of the addition of a light radiance, the image now leads, during scenes in low light, to more darkness in order to add depth to the blacks (they needed it well) without however plunge them into the most total darkness.
SON – The madness of old age
If the VF does not have to blush, a Kurosawa film must be viewed in VO (in Japanese means).
Frontal above all (the surround voices are very little solicited) and provided with dialogues in all clear circumstances, the soundtrack knows a beautiful dynamic range and does not fail in terms of the restitution of its percussive score.
CONCLUSION – In time of chaos
Already victorious at its release in HD in 2016, the sum work of Akira Kurosawa gains a bit of nobility in 4K Ultra HD!
Artistic note
8
Video quality
8
Audio quality
8
0
[...] as a great amateur of Asian cinema, and especially of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, it is in the Japanese – but also Chinese – achievements that the creator [...]