Quiet Days in Clichy 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

Blue Underground’s 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Quiet Days in Clichy" marks a significant upgrade over previous versions, presenting the film in a brand new light. This combo pack features a remarkable 16-bit 4K restoration from the original camera negative, a stark contrast to the older Blu-ray sourced from a 35mm theatrical print. The meticulous restoration effort has paid off spectacularly, breathing new life into Jens Jørgen Thorsen’s cinematic endeavor. Viewers familiar with the film’s prior visual roughness, particularly noticeable during theatrical screenings, will be astonished by the clarity and vibrancy now on display. The restoration not only captures the stylistic essence Thorsen aimed to emulate from Jean-Luc Godard’s work but elevates it, ensuring the film's visuals are diverse and dynamic, ranging from low-light interior scenes to brightly lit exteriors, all while maintaining an impressively consistent organic quality.

The technical prowess of this release is undeniable. The inclusion of Dolby Vision HDR enhances every frame, drawing out the nuances of the film’s black and white aesthetic with deep blacks and well-resolved film grain that adds a rich, textural layer to the Parisian landscapes. The 2160p presentation reveals an extraordinary level of detail previously unseen, showcasing the Paris locations with newfound depth and definition. This clarity is further accentuated by the improved handling of highlights and shadows, a notable advancement from the 2011 Blu-ray edition. This version not only corrects previously noted flaws in image stability and density fluctuations but also extends the visual range, offering a fuller and more balanced viewing experience that pays homage to the original artistic vision.

Furthermore, comparisons with screenshots from the earlier Blu-ray release underscore the magnitude of this enhancement, revealing how this new 4K restoration provides viewers with additional image information, thereby offering a more complete and immersive cinematic experience. The meticulous attention to restoring the film's original aesthetics while utilizing modern technological advancements has resulted in a presentation that is both marvelously filmic and exceptionally faithful to its source material. The efforts by Blue Underground have ensured that "Quiet Days in Clichy" can be appreciated in unprecedented quality, making this release a testament to the enduring significance of preserving cinematic history with the highest fidelity possible.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Quiet Days in Clichy" boasts an English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 track, and it's quite a significant upgrade from its predecessors. Accompanied by optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles, this release makes no leaps towards a multi-channel audio experience but instead refines what is already there to near perfection. The 24-bit DTS-HD 1.0 Mono track offers a vast improvement over the Mono track found on the 2011 Blu-ray release, which suffered from various audio issues such as crackle, hiss, and overall degradation. This newly mastered track eradicates these problems, presenting a clean and balanced auditory experience that enhances both dialogue and sound effects without the detriments of its former edition.

Listeners should not expect an absence of character in the audio presentation; indeed, the track exhibits small dynamic and clarity fluctuations. These are not faults but rather intrinsic properties of the original recording, faithfully reproduced by the lossless track. Such minor fluctuations contribute to the film's authentic aural identity without introducing any egregious distractions. It's an honest representation that respects the source material's integrity while offering a cleaner, more streamlined listening experience.

This technical rejuvenation ensures that the audio quality strongly complements the visual improvements of the 4K UHD format. The updated track significantly elevates the overall viewing experience with its cleaner, more dynamic audio presentation. Although the track remains in its original mono configuration, the meticulous restoration process it underwent is evident in every scene. The result is a testament to the care invested in preserving the film's original essence while embracing the advancements in audio restoration techniques.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray extras for "Quiet Days in Clichy" offer a rich, technically detailed, and historically engaging exploration of the film's background and production. The inclusion of both a newly remastered vintage trailer and a fully restored deleted scene, presented in English with Dolby Vision/HDR, ensures that enthusiasts experience the highest fidelity visuals. Archival interviews with key figures like Joe McDonald and Barney Rosset add depth, revealing insights into the film's music composition and its controversial history, while Rosset’s discussions extend to broader topics on censorship and literary battles. Enhanced by high-quality galleries curated by Gregory Chick, featuring promotional materials, book covers, and poignant court documents, this release blends technical excellence with cultural significance. The reversal cover featuring original poster art rounds off the package, making it a must-have for collectors and cinephiles alike, capturing the essence of free love and expression through meticulously preserved extras.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailer: Newly remastered vintage trailer for Quiet Days in Clichy.
• Deleted Scene: A newly discovered, fully restored deleted scene.
• Songs of Clichy: An interview with Joe McDonald about the film's music.
• Dirty Books, Dirty Movies: Barney Rosset discusses Henry Miller and the film.
• Midnight Blue: Extended insights from Barney Rosset on censorship.
• Poster and Still Gallery: Collection of vintage promotional materials.
• Book Cover Gallery: Various editions of Henry Miller's Quiet Days in Clichy.
• Court Documents Gallery: Highlighting Barney Rosset’s legal troubles.

Jens Jorgen Thorsen's adaptation of "Quiet Days in Clichy," originally a novel by Henry Miller, finds its way onto 4K UHD Blu-ray/Blu-ray through Blue Underground's meticulous release. This film, a vivid snapshot of 1970s Paris, diverges significantly from its period piece expectations to embody the essence of the sexual revolution and the unvarnished truths of an evolving city. The movie, set against a backdrop of a Paris far removed from the glamour traditionally associated with it, reflects an era of transformation both culturally and socially, captured through the lens of Danish director Thorsen's homage to the Nouvelle Vague aesthetic. With a move from 1930s to 1960s Paris, it mirrors the liberal attitudes and upheavals of its time, notably paralleling the May 1968 uprisings, albeit not explicitly tied to the film's narrative.

Thorsen's filmic approach prioritizes visual storytelling over adhering closely to Miller's textual descriptions, focusing on the lived experiences of its protagonists, Carl and Joey, as they navigate through their hedonistic life in Clichy-sous-Bois. This decision shifts the narrative from a traditional storyline to a more eclectic mix of humor, candid sexual encounters, and the raw energy of Parisian streets. Thorsen employs unconventional methods, including casting actual sex workers, to encapsulate the unfiltered reality and spontaneous spirit characterizing Miller’s work. The film's soundtrack, composed and performed by Country Joe McDonald, underpins the period ambience, further immersing viewers in the era's distinct vibe.

"Quiet Days in Clichy," despite or perhaps because of its deviation from narrative conventions, presents a provocative exploration of freedom, pleasure, and artistic inspiration. Through Thorsen's lens, the essence of Miller's semi-autobiographical musings on life and love in Paris are reimagined, not confined by narrative constraints but rather celebrating the uninhibited liberties of its environment. This film stands as a testament to a specific moment in time where norms were contested and boundaries blurred - all captured with a deft blend of humor and realism that may challenge some viewers yet offers an undeniably captivating cinematic experience.

Quiet Days in Clichy," a film adaptation of Henry Miller's controversial and sexually explicit novel, holds a notable place in the realm of cinema, more closely modeling its narrative and visual style after seminal works like "Chronicle of a Summer" and "Vivre sa vie" rather than aligning itself with the conventions of its time. Despite the arguments presented by some film historians that reduce it to a mere pornographic endeavor, the film transcends such simplistic categorization, offering instead a potent exploration of freedom and expression. Jens Jørgen Thorsen may not possess the directorial finesse of pioneers such as Morin, Rouch, and Godard, nor does the acting rival that seen in their works, yet these aspects do little to detract from the film's distinct identity, distinguishing itself significantly from contemporaneous films with similar thematic content but vastly different executions.

Blue Underground's meticulous restoration work brings "Quiet Days in Clichy" to life in an unprecedented 4K UHD presentation, sourced from a recently unearthed fine-grain negative. This restoration not only signifies a technical triumph but also serves as a critical reevaluation of the film's historical and cultural significance. The release comes packed with enhancements over its 2011 predecessor, including additional supplements that enrich the viewing experience. This effort underscores Blue Underground's commitment to preserving and celebrating a film that epitomizes the era's radical spirit and Miller's groundbreaking literary contributions.

In conclusion, the 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Quiet Days in Clichy" by Blue Underground is a commendable effort that not only revitalizes Thorsen’s adaptation for contemporary audiences but also reasserts its relevance within the broader cinematic landscape. The film represents a vivid time capsule that captures the essence of an era marked by provocative artistic exploration and liberal expression, made all the more accessible through a restoration that celebrates both its visual and thematic intricacies. Highly recommended for both cinephiles and those intrigued by Miller's legacy, this release epitomizes the technological and cultural preservation of film as a medium capable of challenging and transforming societal norms.