WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Far Away, So Close
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 13 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Otto Sander, Peter Falk, Nastassja Kinski, Willem Defoe.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3
Sound Rating: 3.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Columbia/TriStar Home Video
(Catalog Number): 79966
(MPAA Rating): PG
(Retail Price): $$39.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 146
(Color Type): Color With Black & White Sequences
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1993
(LD Release Date): 8/94
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Wim Wemders
(Screenplay/Written By): Wim Wemders, Ulrich Zieger & Richard Reitinger
(Story): NA
(Music): Jürgen Jürges
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): NA
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Peter Przygodda
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Ulrich Felsberg
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Wim Wemders

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.66:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.60:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo A
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Far Away, So Close won the Grand Jury Prize at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival and opened in America to much critical praise. It is the story of two angels who drift around post-Cold War Berlin, eavesdropping on people’s thoughts, fantasies and memories, which leads them to contemplate what it must be like to be human. One, named Cassiel (Otto Sander) crosses over into the real world to live as a grounded earthling. His companion, Raphaela (Nastassja Kinski) watches over him in his new human role and protects him from Timekeeper Emit Flesti (Willem Defoe). As a human, Cassiel begins to understand human pain and struggles to protect the mortals he has come to love. This a daring film of intrigue and suspense with many surprises.

LaserDisc Picture:
The matted 1.60:1 picture is told in both black and white and color images. Contrast is low in the black and white scenes but the color scenes look very natural. There is slight grain and noise, as well as minor artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The music is expansive and enveloping and the occasional ambient surround.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: