WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Farinelli
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 17 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Stfeano Dionisi, Enrico Lo Verso, Elsa Zylberstein.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4.5
Sound Rating: 4.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Columbia/TriStar Home Video
(Catalog Number): 10626
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $$34.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 110
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1995
(LD Release Date): 10/95
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Gerard Corbiau
(Screenplay/Written By): Marcel Beaulieu, Andree Corbiau & Gerard Corbiau
(Story): NA
(Music): Christophe Rousset
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Geianni Quaranta
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Joelle Hache
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Stephen Films, Alinea Films, UGC Images, Le Studio Canal+, France 2 Cinema & Studio Images

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.70:1

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

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Farinelli won a Golden GlobeŽ award for Best Foreign Language Film, and was nominated for an Academy AwardŽ for the same category. The story is about an 18th century castrato known to his audiences as Farinelli, whose real name was Carlo Broschi. Broschi lived between 1705 and 1782. He was castrated without his consent sometime between the ages of seven and eight to preserve the childlike quality of his voice. He soon rose to somewhat mythical status because of his good looks, his beautiful voice, and his ability to sing 250 notes in a single breath and sustain a note for more than a minute. His older brother Riccardo composed the music for him to interpret and the two shared everything, including their women.

LaserDisc Picture:
The matted 1.70:1 picture is rich with vivid colors, natural fleshtones, and deep, solid blacks. Dazzling is descriptive of the picture.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack has a subtle, often aggressive surround presence with sound effects that are directional and dynamic, and a terrific, enveloping music score.
(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: