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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Testament Of Youth

    Featured In Issue 201, November 2015

    Picture5
    Sound4
    WSR Score5
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    Sony Pictures Classics
    (Catalog Number):
    46274
    (MPAA Rating):
    PG-13
    (Rating Reason):
    Thematic material including bloody and disturbing war-related images.
    (Retail Price):
    $$34.99
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    129
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    A, B & C
    (Theatrical Year):
    (Theatrical Release):
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    (Disc Release Date):
    10/20/2015
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    (Director):
    James Kent
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
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    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
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    (Theatrical Sound):
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    (Additional Languages):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Subtitles):

    Testament Of Youth is a powerful coming-of-age story of love, war, and remembrance, based on the First World War memoir by Vera Brittain, which is acclaimed as the classic testimony of that war from a woman’s point of view. A journey from youthful hopes and dreams to the edge of despair and back again, it is a story about young love, the futility of war, and how to make sense of the darkest times. The story is told through the eyes of Vera (Vikander), a youthful feminist, free-minded and irrepressible, whose intense romance with Roland Leighton (Harrington) is interrupted by the war. The story follows her wartime experience, which moved her to write one of the most defining memoirs of her time. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include commentary with Kit Harrington and Director James Kent, four deleted scenes (HD 05:22), a behind-the-scenes featurette (HD 06:29), the theatrical trailer and upfront previews.

    The 2.39:1 1080p AVC picture is gorgeous, with a rich and warmly hued color palette that exhibits impressive naturalness yet conveys a period in time long ago. Colors are never exaggerated, while contrast is perfectly balanced with deep blacks and revealing shadow delineation. Fleshtones are rendered perfectly natural as well. Resolution is excellent, with detail exhibited throughout agains a backdrop of softly focused images. Detail is especially evident in closeups of facial features, hair, clothing, and object texture. This is such a beautiful visual experience that excels in romantic visuals of a past long gone. (Gary Reber)

    The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is subtlety nuanced with a softly composed orchestral music score by Max Richter that weaves its beauty throughout with the occasional crescendo. The music extends to the surrounds immersively. Atmospherics and sound effects are naturally rendered for realism, yet at times are subdued. At times the atmospherics and sound effects are aggressively enveloping, which enhances the sense of sonic spatial dimension. Dialogue is naturally presented with decent spatial integration. Vera’s and Roland’s narrations are nicely balanced forward. (Gary Reber)

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