Querelle Blu-ray Review

Criterion's Blu-ray release of "Querelle" presents the film in an aspect ratio of 2.36:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC, and offers a 1080p transfer derived from a 35mm interpositive, approved by the director of photography Xaver Schwarzenberger. The original monaural soundtrack restoration executed by Eclair Laboratories ensures an authentic auditory experience. The video transfer showcases commendable clarity, depth, and density levels, maintaining a stable image throughout.

Though comparisons with previous releases from Gaumont (2012) and Artificial Eye (2014) reveal similar restorations, the Criterion edition offers marginally better-defined visuals in select close-ups. Overall delineation remains consistent across all releases. Despite occasional minor degraining adjustments that slightly impact darker and shadowed nuances, the color balance remains true to the source material, with a reproduced heavy yellow cast and sporadic areas requiring more blue.

Criterion's meticulous restoration ensures an organic appearance free from significant imperfections. While fluctuations in image presentation exist, the overall spotless look and enhanced stability significantly improve upon earlier DVD versions. This Region-A locked Blu-ray demands a compatible player but rewards viewers with a faithful visual homage to Fassbinder's controversial classic.

The Blu-ray audio presentation of "Querelle" features a single standard audio track in English LPCM 1.0, supplemented with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Additionally, English subtitles are provided for French text inserts, which appear neatly within the image frame. The audio quality is robust, ensuring a clear listening experience. However, it is worth noting that some actors possess heavy accents, making subtitles potentially necessary for some viewers to fully grasp dialogue nuances.

Unique to this release, compared to the French and British versions, are the comprehensive subtitle options, which include the English SDH subtitles for the primary English track and the English subtitles for the French text inserts. This meticulous attention to detail in subtitle offerings ensures that audiences have a seamless viewing and listening experience, rectifying omissions from previous releases.

The Blu-ray release of "Querelle" includes an array of expertly curated extras that provide deep insight into the film's production and its director Rainer Werner Fassbinder's artistic vision. The content ranges from archival documentaries to contemporary critical analysis, enhancing the viewer's understanding of the film and its context. The extras are thoughtfully presented in high quality, maintaining the technical integrity essential for an enriched viewing experience. Notably, there is a detailed examination of Fassbinder's last works, providing a rare glimpse into his creative process during his final years. The inclusion of an illustrated leaflet with a critic's essay adds a valuable written perspective to complement the visual and auditory materials.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailer: A vintage trailer for Querelle. In French with English subtitles.
• Rainer Werner Fassbinder -- Last Works: Archival documentary exploring Fassbinder's work on Querelle and his role in Kamikaze '89. In German, with English subtitles.
• Fassbinder in 5: Michael Koresky on an Aesthetic Revolution: Critic Michael Koresky discusses Fassbinder's evolving visual storytelling. In English.
• Leaflet: Illustrated leaflet featuring critic Nathan Lee's essay "Erogenous Zones" and technical credits.

Rainer Werner Fassbinder's final opus, "Querelle" (1982), finds its way to Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion, complete with a vintage documentary by Wolf Gremm, a new program with critic Michael Koresky, and the original trailer. This Region-A locked release features the main film in English with optional English SDH subtitles. "Querelle," based on Jean Genet's controversial novel, tells the story of a provocatively handsome sailor, Querelle (Brad Davis), who navigates through dark desires in the port city of Brest. From questionable deals involving opium to a disturbing game with a bisexual brothel owner, Nono (Günther Kaufmann), Querelle's journey is marked by a dive into a starkly stylized and highly erotic dream-state that explores the boundaries of pain and pleasure.

The narrative pivots around Querelle's relationships, as his captain Seblon (Franco Nero) tapes his desires fueled by an unrequited love for Querelle. Meanwhile, Querelle's affair with Lysiane (Jeanne Moreau) and budding relationship with Polish worker Gil (Hanno Poschl) craft a complex tapestry of lust, betrayal, and existential longing. The complexities of these relationships are amplified by the film’s visually arresting yet disturbing nature. Scenes exude melancholic and nihilistic tones, mirroring Fassbinder’s troubled emotional state and addiction during the film's conception. The film’s stylization deviates significantly from Genet's original work, offering a subversive take where male-centric dynamics overshadow the narrative, marginalizing female influence and traditional religious sentiments.

"Querelle" defies conventional storytelling with its non-linear narrative and characters that push moral boundaries. It is a cinematic marvel that thrives on visual beauty and deep existential ruminations, challenging audiences to embrace its intense and often perturbing exploration of human desires. While not a faithful adaptation of Genet's novel, it offers a unique cinematic experience that is enthralling and provocative, making it a compelling watch for those seeking intellectually stimulating and artistically bold cinema.

Rainer Werner Fassbinder's "Querelle" has been meticulously restored in this Blu-ray release, providing aficionados of avant-garde cinema a rare treat. The film, distinguished by its audacious narrative and visually arresting composition, stays true to the late director's unflinching vision. The remastering process has elevated the color palette, enhancing the dramatic contrasts and surreal atmosphere that define the film's aesthetic. Audio quality is equally impressive, with clear dialogue and a haunting score that complements the film’s evocative imagery.

The supplemental materials included in this Blu-ray edition add significant value, offering a deep dive into Fassbinder's creative process and the cultural impact of "Querelle." Interviews with cast and crew members provide nuanced insights, contextualizing the film within Fassbinder's oeuvre and its controversial reception upon release. The commentary track by film historians enriches the viewing experience, shedding light on the thematic complexities and stylistic choices that make "Querelle" a seminal work in experimental cinema.

Rainer Werner Fassbinder's final film, Querelle, a remarkably bold and stylish adaptation of Jean Genet's infamous novel, is truly in a league of its own. A few of Polish director Lech Majewski's films come close to replicating its unique atmosphere, but none of them are as naughty and provocative. Querelle isn't for everyone, but if you like challenging yourself, you shouldn't miss it. (I also suggest tracking a copy of Kamikaze '89, a very, very wild film, which has Fassbinder's final performance). HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.