The Prince Blu-ray Review

Artsploitation presents "The Prince" in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded on a BD-25 with an MPEG-4 AVC. The video bitrate averages a solid 26285 kbps, resulting in a visually sharp picture even within the grimy setting of the prison. Notable is the inky black quality that stands out, especially in the numerous dark scenes with minimal fill light. Some noise reduction has been applied, reducing the grain seen in festival prints but retaining a decent level of texture and detail. Overall, the video presentation scores a commendable 4.25 out of 5.

The film maintains an excellent definition throughout its 95-minute runtime, although the post-production choices have affected shadow delineation—black levels are purposefully crushed to enhance the grittier aesthetic of the prison environment. This artistic choice is most evident when comparing the graded film to the ungraded deleted scenes included as extras. Although "The Prince" doesn't aim for ultra-sharp definition, the softer focus aligns with its raw and visceral style, ensuring a pristine overall presentation. The package also includes ten chapters for easy navigation through the movie.

"The Prince" Blu-ray audio presentation features a Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround mix (448 kbps) and a downsampled Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo version at the same bitrate. The primary focus for this review is on the 5.1 mix, which is crucial for this dialogue-driven film. The soundtrack, while not lossless, delivers an acceptable performance with Angela Acuña's original score benefiting most from the expanded soundstage, balanced effectively across all five channels. The center channel does an admirable job in focalizing the music, providing a rich auditory experience for the song "Ansiedad," initially sung by Nat King Cole.

Dialogue reproduction is adequate, though it occasionally requires volume adjustments, particularly when characters mumble. The rear channels offer limited ambient support, contributing minimally to the overall immersion but ensuring the dialogue remains clear. Optional English subtitles are provided in a white font and display in a relatively large size, enhancing readability. Despite the non-lossless audio, the mix serves well within its constraints, offering an engaging audio experience.

Overall audio performance rates moderately with minor imperfections in dialogue clarity and ambiance. While a lossless track could have potentially elevated the auditory experience further, the existing mix ensures that Angela Acuña's compelling compositions stand out, enriching the narrative effectively in a home viewing setup.

The extras included in the Blu-ray release of "The Prince" offer an engaging deep dive for fans. The deleted scenes provide uncut, explicitly detailed sequences that add context to the film's narrative, particularly the darker sexual themes. Interviews with cast members and the co-writer, Luis Barrales, shed light on character development and behind-the-scenes insights into the movie's production. Additionally, the inclusion of various Artsploitation trailers offers a preview of similar genre films. All extra features are presented in high-definition and Spanish with English subtitles, ensuring a comprehensive viewing experience.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scenes: Three extended scenes providing additional and explicit detail.
• Interviews: Insights from actors Alfredo Castro, Gastón Pauls, Juan Carlos Maldonado, and co-writer Luis Barrales.
• Bonus Previews: Trailers for Artsploitation Films like "Animals", "Benjamin", "Dead Dicks", and "Death in Buenos Aires".

"The Prince" (El Principe), directed by Sebastián Muñoz, is an unflinching, sexually charged prison drama set against the backdrop of 1970s Chile, during the last days of Salvador Allende. The film, adapted from Mario Cruz's novel, focuses on Jaime (Juan Carlos Maldonado), a young man imprisoned for murdering his best friend in a crime of passion. Jaime's new environment subjects him to the brutal and violent social politics of a squalid Chilean prison, exploring his complex journey of self-discovery and maturity.

Jaime quickly falls under the protection of Ricardo, also known as "The Stallion" (Alfredo Castro), a gruff yet charismatic patriarch within the prison hierarchy. Their relationship, initially predicated on transactional sex for protection, evolves into an emotionally wrenching yet tender bond. The film's handling of explicit sexual content and its portrayal of male and female frontal nudity demands viewer discretion. Notably, director Muñoz and co-writer Luis Barrales intersperse flashbacks through editor Danielle Fillios's intercutting technique to explore Jaime's sexual identity struggles leading up to his incarceration.

"The Prince" is notable for its sociopolitical undertones and progressive queer politics, depicting a kind of queer utopia amidst the sadomasochistic environment of the prison cells. The interplay between Jaime and other inmates like Potro and his rival Che Pibe (Gaston Pauls) forms the emotional and narrative core of the film. Despite its rich thematic canvas, the film's pacing is occasionally hampered by a wobbly flashback structure, and some characterizations, particularly Potro's, lack the necessary sympathy to fully engage the audience.

Overall, "The Prince" effectively conveys an earnest, brutal portrayal of prison life and an unlikely love story. Its narrative embraces certain prison drama tropes for salacious effect while retaining a raw, dramatic authenticity, earning it the Queer Lion award at the Venice International Film Festival.

The Prince" Blu-ray presents a mixed bag for home theater enthusiasts. Visually, the transfer is commendable, offering a clean image with a strong color palette that effectively captures the film's stark and often bleak atmosphere. The detail is reasonably sharp, aiding in the immersive quality of the visuals without any noticeable artifacts or significant flaws. The presentation authentically conveys the grim setting of the narrative, underlining the harsh realities faced by the characters. However, it must be noted that the audio, though clear, is limited by its lossy nature, undermining the overall experience, particularly during more intense scenes where richer sound dynamics would have been beneficial.

The narrative itself grapples with heavy themes as it delves into a young man's brutal experiences within a prison environment. The film does not shy away from explicit content and unflinching violence, contributing to an intense viewing experience. Nevertheless, the pacing is uneven, hindering engagement and momentum. This inconsistency often disrupts the film's narrative drive and makes it less compelling than its more polished genre counterparts. While "The Prince" bears similarities to Jean Genet's works, such as Fassbinder's "Querelle," it fails to fully capture the same level of thematic depth or sophistication.

Artsploitation Films has put forth a decent effort in curating this Blu-ray release. Despite an imperfect audio performance, the visual transfer is robust enough to warrant attention. Additional extras included in the package are sparse and unremarkable, thus providing minimal additional value beyond the main feature. Given these mixed aspects, a recommendation leans towards renting "The Prince" before making a purchase decision. For those seeking similar thematic explorations executed with greater finesse, consider Fassbinder's "Querelle" or Haynes's "Poison.