Here Is Your Life Blu-ray Review

Presented in the aspect ratio of 1.67:1 and encoded with MPEG-4 AVC, Jan Troell's "Here Is Your Life" arrives on Blu-ray with a striking 1080p transfer, courtesy of Criterion. This presentation was derived from a meticulous 2K scan of the original 35mm camera negative, executed on an ARRISCAN film scanner. The restoration process, involving Digital Vision's Nucoda Film Master for color grading and Digital Vision's Phoenix along with the Foundry's NUKE for restoration, shows remarkable care. Under the supervision of Peter Bengtsson and Mats Forsberg from Chimney Pot, Stockholm, with colorist Mats Holmgren, the film undergoes an impressive facelift, showcasing exquisite detail and clarity throughout its runtime.

The restored black-and-white cinematography is exemplary; from the breathtaking inky blacks providing a profound sense of depth to the nuanced gradations of grays that enrich the film’s visual narrative. Image stability is commendable with no large debris, damage marks, cuts, or stains present. The consistent grain structure pleases purists by preserving the film's original texture without unnecessary sharpening adjustments or digital alterations. Despite minor density fluctuations during transitions and some negligible age-related wear, the visuals maintain their vibrancy and authenticity, highlighting facial features, clothing, and intricate set designs with remarkable precision.

Moreover, the expertly balanced color gradation enhances select sequences where light brown/gray tones were intentionally desaturated by Troell, creating striking contrasts. Additionally, shadow separation is handled superbly with no noticeable crush issues, and overall image stability is excellent. Collectors and Criterion enthusiasts will undoubtedly appreciate this highly successful restoration of a classic Swedish film on a Region-A locked Blu-ray release, necessitating either Region-A or Region-Free Blu-ray players to access its content.

The Blu-ray release of "Here Is Your Life" offers an impressive Swedish LPCM 1.0 audio track that, despite its mono configuration, delivers excellent depth and clarity. Erik Nordgren's score enhances the film significantly, providing a rich auditory experience that supports the emotional and narrative landscape effectively. The audio has been fully remastered, and it is evident as there is an absolute absence of background hiss, allowing viewers to enjoy the pristine quality of the film’s sound.

Despite the inherent limitations of a mono track, the audio performance is robust with crystal-clear dialogue—a crucial aspect for a dialogue-heavy film. The separation between dialogue, sound effects, and Nordgren’s score creates a natural and lifelike soundstage. The midranges are perfectly balanced, ensuring that every spoken word is comprehensible. Furthermore, the newly added English subtitle track reads authentically and aligns well with the original Swedish dialogue, providing a seamless viewing experience for non-Swedish speakers.

The Blu-ray extras for "Here Is Your Life" provide a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the film's background and production. Featuring interviews with key figures such as director Jan Troell and actor Eddie Axberg, the content delves into Troell's filmmaking journey and the adaptation of Eyvind Johnson's story. Mike Leigh’s introduction adds critical context, while the inclusion of the short film "Interlude in the Marshland" offers a deeper understanding of Troell's cinematic approach. These extras are a valuable addition that enhance the appreciation of the film’s artistic and technical aspects.

Extras included in this disc:

• Mike Leigh Introduction: Acclaimed British director introduces Jan Troell's film.
• Jan Troell and Peter Cowie: An in-depth interview with the director discussing his career and the film’s production.
• Eddie Axberg: Interview with actor Eddie Axberg about his role and interactions during filming.
• Bengt Forslund: Producer discusses the film's development and reception.
• Interlude in the Marshland: A segment from the omnibus film "4 X 4" directed by Jan Troell.
• Leaflet: Illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by Mark Le Fanu.

Jan Troell's "Here Is Your Life," inspired by Nobel Prize winner Eyvind Johnson's four-part novel, is a captivating cinematic journey that immerses you in the world of Olof Persson (Eddie Axberg). Initially perceived as shy and reserved, fourteen-year-old Olof leaves his family to experience life on the road. His journey through the Swedish countryside is characterized by various exploitative jobs, each adding layers to his maturing persona. From learning the art of projection under Mr. Larsson (Ulf Palme) to romantic entanglements and rallying for workers' rights, Olof's journey is a nuanced exploration of personal and social awakening.

Troell's direction showcases a fluid narrative where the passage of time is uniquely handled—sometimes pausing to offer contemplative moments, other times accelerating to propel Olof through pivotal life lessons. Unlike Truffaut's "The 400 Blows," which finds its visual poetry in bustling Paris streets, "Here Is Your Life" marvels at Sweden's raw, natural beauty, often feeling like a documentary on rural life. The film's timeline, spanning approximately 168 minutes, includes surreal segments in color with a gramophone-produced soundtrack that evokes early post-silent era films, heightening its period authenticity.

Olof's evolution is brilliantly brought to life by Eddie Axberg, whose relatable performance ensures an emotional connection with the audience. The film's episodic structure, though meandering at times, encapsulates Olof’s ever-changing circumstances amidst societal upheavals during the Great War. This extended runtime might feel taxing for some, yet it offers an exhaustive yet engaging portrayal of Olof's quest to find his place in a transforming world. As we witness Olof navigating through life and love with notable appearances by actors such as Max von Sydow, Troell invites us to embark on an intricate, emotionally resonant journey that leaves viewers both exhausted and eager to revisit this profound cinematic experience.

Jan Troell's "Here Is Your Life" stands as a monumental piece in Swedish cinema, much akin to the transformative works of French New Wave directors such as François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard. Troell’s directorial debut draws stylistic distinctions from Truffaut's "The 400 Blows" while capturing the same emotional intensity. The recent 2K restoration of this film, released by the Criterion Collection, truly showcases its visual and narrative craftsmanship. The high-definition transfer is nothing short of stunning, enhancing the intricate beauty and emotional depth that characterize Troell’s work.

Criterion’s Blu-ray release is noteworthy for its technical excellence and abundant supplemental features. The audio-visual presentation is of top-tier quality, providing an immersive viewing experience that preserves the film’s original impact. Among the added features, a particularly valuable conversation between Jan Troell and film historian Peter Cowie offers profound insights into the film’s creation and historical context. These extras significantly enrich the overall package, making it a must-have for cinephiles and collectors alike.

Together with the great Bo Widerberg and Vilgot Sjöman, Jan Troell belongs to that special generation of directors that transformed Swedish cinema much like François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, and the rest of the New Wave directors did in France during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Troell's directorial debut, "Here Is Your Life," very much feels like Sweden's answer to Truffaut's first film, "The 400 Blows," though stylistically they are quite different. The film has been recently restored in 2K and looks fantastic in high-definition. Criterion's Blu-ray release also comes with a number of new supplementary features, including a very informative conversation between the Swedish director and film historian Peter Cowie, produced exclusively for this edition. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.