A Night Full of Rain Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "A Night Full of Rain" on Blu-ray delivers a striking, film-like experience sourced from a meticulous 4K scan of the original camera negative. Captured in a 1080p resolution and framed at the theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 using the AVC codec, this transfer by Warner Archive faithfully preserves the 1970s aesthetic. The earthy color palette and coarse film grain characteristic of the era are well-represented, albeit with limited fine detail and depth due to the film's natural properties. While the tight grain structure accentuates authenticity, occasional heavy grain can devolve into mild artifacts, particularly on large displays, though it remains largely inconspicuous on smaller screens.

Despite these minor encoding concerns, such as grain-induced noise and intermittent black crush during nighttime sequences, there's a prevailing sense of visual integrity with no evident blurring or loss of sharpness that detracts from the storytelling. This presentation arguably surpasses previous DVD releases, providing an enhancement for enthusiasts and purists eager to upgrade their collection. Crucial narrative scenes benefit from this transfer's quality, maintaining immersive engagement throughout its division into 20 chapters. Ultimately, "A Night Full of Rain" achieves a commendable balance between technical fidelity and preserving the original cinematic feel.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono track for "A Night Full of Rain" captures the original audio’s essence with precision while maintaining an era-appropriate style. This audio presentation, though somewhat restrained, effectively complements the visually dynamic elements by focusing on the film’s dialogue-heavy content. The split-channel track ensures clarity and faithfulness to the source material, enhancing the dialogue delivery even amidst pronounced regional accents. Occasional environmental expansions and music cues provide brief atmospheric shifts, offering subtle sonic surprises without deviating too far from its mono roots.

The mix achieves a smooth integration of dialogue—whether recorded live or through ADR—and the music directed by Roberto De Simone, along with the various sound effects. Notably, the film opens with a percussion-heavy score that establishes an initially unsettling tone. Despite its mono format limitations, the audio is free from any age-induced quality issues like hiss, crackle, pops, or flutter. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are available and recommended for navigating the film’s accented dialogue comfortably. This allows the mono audio’s finer nuances to shine through, ensuring that viewers do not miss any critical exchanges.

The Blu Ray release of "A Night Full of Rain" disappoints those hoping for a comprehensive viewing experience as it sadly lacks any extras. Fans of the film will find no additional content to enhance or contextualize their understanding or enjoyment of this cinematic work. The absence of bonus features, such as behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with cast or crew, deleted scenes, or even a theatrical trailer, limits its appeal for collectors or those looking to dive deeper into the film's production aspects. The packaging, despite featuring attractive poster-themed cover artwork, does not compensate for the absence of supplementary content that could enrich the viewing experience.

Extras included in this disc: None

Lina Wertmüller's "A Night Full of Rain" marks her first foray into English-language cinema, following the acclaim of her films "Swept Away" and "Seven Beauties". Despite the initial excitement surrounding its release, the film's overarching themes and narrative style polarize audiences. It delves into the conflict between a progressive American feminist, Lizzy (Candice Bergen), and a communist Italian journalist, Paolo (Giancarlo Giannini). Their tumultuous romance unfolds against the backdrop of 1968 Rome, eventually leading to marriage despite its rocky start. Wertmüller employs bold visual storytelling interspersed with black-and-white historical montages and juxtaposed tones to craft a narrative that is uniquely her own.

The film's structure is non-linear, fragmented into two acts embellished with an overabundance of dialogue and an annoyingly present Greek chorus commenting on the unfolding drama. This narrative choice, while expressive of Wertmüller's ambitions, occasionally impedes rather than enhances the audience's comprehension, creating an experience that some might find incoherent and disengaging. The couple's evolving dynamic is presented in a series of stylized flashbacks that explore both personal and political discord without ever seeking resolution. Giancarlo Giannini delivers a compelling performance despite his character's unsympathetic traits, while Candice Bergen struggles to convey depth amidst her character's fluctuating motivations.

Visually, Wertmüller's distinctive artistry shines through in select moments, balancing between tight close-ups and inventive compositions. However, the film often resorts to heavy-handed symbolism—like the titular rain suggesting a looming personal and apocalyptic breakdown—which may be perceived as pretentious. While "A Night Full of Rain" boasts historical significance as Wertmüller’s sole attempt at American cinema, it exemplifies how stylistic excess and narrative dissonance can deter broader audience engagement. The Warner Archive's restoration further underscores its value for fans, yet overall, it remains an imperfect exploration of ideological and romantic turmoil.

Lina Wertmüller's "A Night Full of Rain," known fully as "The End of the World in Our Usual Bed in A Night Full of Rain," is a film that balances ambition with artful pretension, as its title suggests. The movie features strong performances from its leads, anchoring the story through a series of twists and inventive narrative techniques. However, it occasionally falters, succumbing to common pitfalls of arthouse cinema, including moments of distracting pretentiousness. Combined with cultural nuances that may not resonate universally, its reception has been lukewarm, particularly among American audiences.

The Blu-ray release by Warner Archive provides a mostly satisfying visual experience, capturing the film’s vivid scenes with clarity. Despite the absence of supplementary material, which could have enriched the viewing experience for fans and scholars alike, the presentation does justice to Wertmüller’s cinematic vision. The transfer quality underscores the film's aesthetic, enhancing colors and contrasts that highlight the director's stylistic decisions.

In conclusion, while "A Night Full of Rain" may not appeal to all due to its niche cultural and artistic sensibilities, it presents a rewarding view for those willing to embrace its unique style. Established fans of Wertmüller will likely appreciate this Blu-ray release, although newcomers might benefit from sampling the film before committing to a purchase. Overall, it remains a significant piece worth revisiting for its contributions to international cinema.