Property Is No Longer a Theft Blu-ray Review

Arrow Academy's Blu-ray presentation of "Property Is No Longer a Theft" offers a commendable AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. This release benefits from a meticulous restoration by The Museo Nazionale del Cinema, Torino, and the Cineteca di Bologna, with the film scanned at 4K resolution from the original camera negative and digitally restored in 2K. The audio was meticulously sourced and restored from the optical negative, with all restoration work completed at L'Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna. The transfer features an organic appearance with a thick, natural grain field that complements Petri's dynamic cinematography, although the constant movement and obstructions within the frame might obscure some detail.

The color palette leans slightly cool, which seems intentional to preserve the theatrical experience, though some elements like flesh tones can occasionally appear wan or drab. Dark segments, such as the interstitial confessionals predominantly set against black backgrounds, exhibit minor detail deficits that don't amount to full crush but can obscure subtle tonal nuances in shadows. This transfer offers very good detail levels overall, allowing viewers to appreciate the intricacies of Petri's filmmaking style despite the inherent challenges of his peripatetic camera movements and frequent use of obstructive compositions.

The Blu-ray edition of "Property Is No Longer a Theft" boasts a commendable LPCM 2.0 mono track, maintaining the original Italian dialogue. The track presents a clean and articulate audio experience, showcasing the film's distinct sound design. This is most notable during the opening montage, which captivates with its unique audio intricacies. Ennio Morricone's unorthodox score further enhances the film's soundscape, delivering an immersive auditory presentation.

Despite occasional sync issues, presumably due to post-looping—a common practice in Italian cinema—the fidelity remains high across dialogue, effects, and music. Every element is reproduced with remarkable clarity and balance, ensuring that viewers experience the film as intended by its creators. The precision in capturing the nuances of the original sound design highlights the overall excellence of this Blu-ray release.

In summary, "Property Is No Longer a Theft" on Blu-ray provides an unerring auditory presentation, underscoring its distinctive sound design and Morricone's stirring score. The LPCM 2.0 mono track effectively preserves the film’s audio integrity, offering viewers a rich and engaging listening experience free from significant issues.

The Blu-ray release of "Property Is No Longer a Theft" offers a robust selection of insightful extras that delves deep into the nuances of the film and its production. Each featurette provides a rich blend of personal anecdotes and professional insights from key contributors to the film, enhancing viewers' appreciation and understanding of this cinematic piece. Highlighted interviews with actors and production team members are well-produced, providing clear audio-visual quality and engaging content. Arrow continues to maintain its high standard with additional printed material that includes an informative essay and captivating pictures.

Extras included in this disc:

• My Name is Total: An appealing interview with Flavio Bucci, who portrays the scheming accountant in the film.
• The Middle Class Communist: An interview with producer Claudio Mancini.
• The Best Man: Features make-up artist Pierantonio Mecacci, who talks about his collaboration with Petri in general and this film in particular.
• Insert Booklet: Contains an essay and pictures.

Elio Petri's 1973 film Property Is No Longer a Theft serves as a searing critique of capitalism wrapped in dark comedy. The film opens with an arresting audio montage of the verb "to have," setting the stage for its examination of possession and envy—the twin pillars of capitalist society. Flavio Bucci plays Mr. Total, an unfortunate bank clerk who paradoxically suffers from an allergy to money, underlining the absurdities that permeate the narrative. Total's disoriented life takes a twist after a bank robbery, inexplicably involving a local butcher (Ugo Tognazzi), ignites his personal rebellion against societal norms. Through his escalating guerrilla tactics against the butcher, Petri's narrative exposes the moral decay inherent in all classes, subtly suggesting that both the haves and have-nots are trapped in destructive cycles.

Petri's film employs a variety of stylistic devices to underscore its themes, such as fourth wall-breaking monologues that offer philosophical digressions on class consciousness and societal inequities. These elements lend an eccentric, almost Looney Tunes-like atmosphere to the film, blending absurdity with deep critique. Notable moments like Total's obsessive theft of the butcher's belongings—including a knife and hat—amp up the film’s satirical edge while revealing the underlying neuroses driving each character. Petri’s work demonstrates how possession itself can corrupt, as evidenced by the butcher's readiness to commit insurance fraud rather than confront the reality of his situation.

Property Is No Longer a Theft extends the class warfare themes Petri explored in his preceding films Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion and The Working Class Goes to Heaven. The film challenges conventional dialectics, suggesting that instead of leading to synthesis, the struggle between haves and have-nots results only in entropy and moral decline. Through allusions to literary figures like Thoreau and Proudhon, Petri crafts a profound yet accessible exploration of capitalism’s corrosive effects, making for an engaging yet thoroughly thought-provoking viewing experience.

Property Is No Longer a Theft presents a fascinating exploration of socioeconomic disparities through a stylized, cartoonish lens. While its structure and writing sometimes falter with moments of clunkiness, the film makes insightful commentary on the division between the affluent and the impoverished. The narrative, albeit meandering, supports a thought-provoking discourse that challenges viewers to reflect on deeply rooted societal issues. Arrow Academy's Blu Ray release enhances this experience with precise attention to detail and high-quality technical execution.

Those accustomed to conventional, story-driven cinema may find the film's art-house essence somewhat challenging. It demands a sophisticated understanding and appreciation for abstract filmmaking, as its surface-level comedic elements mask a profound critique of cultural and economic inequities. However, for those willing to engage with its dense thematic material, the film offers enriching insights and an unconventional cinematic journey.

Property Is No Longer a Theft is a rather interesting film from a number of standpoints, one that has an undeniably cartoonish ambience but which is dealing in matters of almost epochal impact. The film's structure and writing is a little clunky at times, and its screed-like tendencies may tend to make it off putting for some, but this analysis of what separates the haves from the have nots makes some fascinating and cogent points. Technical merits are strong and the supplementary package interesting. Recommended.