|
|
|
Enys Men
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray B - United Kingdom - British Film Institute Review written by and copyright: James-Masaki Ryan (12th June 2023). |
|
The Film
 "Enys Men" (2022) On an isolated small island off the Cornwall coastlines, a female volunteer (played by Mary Woodvine) is surveying the land for research by herself. Her daily routine consists of starting the generator for power, checking the growth of plant life including the flowers, establishing radio contact, and also dropping small stones down an abandoned mineshaft. For the last days of April, each journal entry shows that there are no changes to record, but as May first approaches, bizarre happenings start to haunt the volunteer’s mind. Director Mark Jenkin’s 2019 feature “Bait” was a surprise critical hit due to its handmade feel, and a follow-up was highly anticipated. Unfortunately with the COVID-19 pandemic halting businesses including filmmaking around the globe. Taking inspiration and also reflecting the period, his next project would be about isolation and paranoia, which were fitting themes as lockdowns forced many people to be separated from each other for a lengthy period. “Enys Men” which means Stone Island in the Cornish language, does not set itself in the modern era, as the journal entries of the unnamed volunteer character state that it is April of 1973. Aiding the period setting is the look of the film, which like Jenkin’s previous film was shot silently on 16mm film, but this time rather than black and white it was shot in color. By using vintage equipment and using film stock, it certainly feels like a film shot in that appropriate period, rather than a re-enactment or re-creation. While the start of “Enys Men” is quiet and repetitive as there is only one character doing a series of tasks in isolation with very little dialogue limited to radio calls, it is an exercise in having the audience feel comfort in repetition. It may not be clear what her research is for and how long it is supposed to take, but once something changes, it is unsettling rather than inspiring. Not just small changes in nature but closer to the supernatural. A young teenage girl (played by Flo Crowe) appears in the volunteer’s house seemingly coming out of nowhere. A boatman (played by Edward Rowe) visits the island bringing supplies seems to be more than just a worker doing his job. The dialogue that the volunteer has between the other people seem disjointed rather than standard chit chat. As time passes on there are more unusual happenings, such as the flowers growing more quickly than they naturally should, moss starting to grow on the cottage where the volunteer is staying, and groups of mysterious figures from singing maidens and miners working underground appearing. In addition to all that, the massive stone that is a towering figure on the island seemingly changes positions. In “Enys Men” there are more questions than there are answers given. The second half turns closer to horror with the eeriness and unexplained nature, yet it doesn’t feel like a conventional horror film at all. The build-up and tension and build up are evident, yet there is no clear cut evil or explanations to connecting many of the points together which lead to various interpretations that could be plausible. Is the young girl a younger iteration of the volunteer? Is it the ghost of her daughter? Is it a supernatural figure that haunts the island itself that is warning the volunteer of danger? Is the boatman a figure that is alive or an apparition of the past? Is the volunteer the one that is a ghost that is stuck in loop, seemingly aging but with her mind stuck in the year 1973? As May Day approaches, the date seemingly has a double meaning to call out for help. By the end credits of “Enys Men” roll by, audiences will have an interesting time trying to fit the puzzle pieces together, as there are not enough pieces to complete the picture. Mark Jenkin set out to make a minimalistic folk horror which takes inspiration from Cornish and English traditions, paranoia of isolations, as well as having numerous homages to past films. Jenkin stated that the first film he ever saw, “Walkabout” had quite an impact with the story of two young children suddenly placed in an isolated situation of isolation in which the desolate environment was a character itself. There are also nods to “The Wicker Man” with the island setting and the uncomfortable nature of the mysterious figures surrounding the main character. There is also “Don’t Look Now” with the iconic and tragic red jacket mirroring the one that the volunteer wears. These also happen to both be 1973 productions, but Jenkin choosing "1973" as the setting in his film is more or less a coincidence than an homage, as he stated that he liked how the number sounded. Though it may have been a subconscious decision. There are also connections to “The Shining”, in which the isolated environment influences the main character in mysterious ways. The film premiered at the Directors' Fortnight section of the 2022 Cannes Film Festival on May 20th, 2022. It later played at the Melbourne International Film Festival, New York Film Festival, Sitges Film Festival, the BFI London Film Festival and more throughout the rest of the year. The film received high praise from many critics, though “Enys Men” is certain to divide. The unanswered questions, the emptiness, and the pace are not for everyone, yet it is rewarding for people who are looking for something out of the ordinary. It is one that will linger in the mind for a long time whether one likes it or not. It’s not only through the creepy sequences or with the eerie and involving sound design, but it is how one will try to decipher the events for some time. It may not be comfortable, yet it’s a film that certainly begs revisiting, like the volunteer’s cycle. Note this is a region B Blu-ray / region 2 PAL DVD set
Video
The BFI presents the film in the 1.45:1 aspect ratio, in 1080p AVC MPEG-4 on the Blu-ray and in the PAL format with anamorphic enhancement on the DVD. As stated, the film was shot on 16mm film with a Bolex H-16 camera. There are numerous analog inconsistencies such as color fluctuation, light bleeding, flickering, and gate hairs which are inherent to the original film which was manually processed by Jenkin and the look is intentional. The film was transferred to high definition without digital restoration to keep the look of the film. Considering those aspects, it is a striking film with its use of bold colors, from the reds of the jacket, the greens of the grass and the blues of the skies. The intended flaws and heavy film grain give the feature a vintage look that compliments the creepy nature like a relic that has been rediscovered, and certainly adds a flavor that some films strive for but can't quite achieve in a digital nature. Considering the "flaws" are part of the intended look, the transfer here on the Blu-ray as well as the DVD is exceptional. The film's runtime is 90:32 on the Blu-ray and 86:55 on the DVD accounting for 4% PAL speedup. Note the screenshots are from the standard definition DVD 
Audio
Blu-ray: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo English Audio Descriptive Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo DVD: English Dolby Digital 5.1 English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo English Audio Descriptive Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo There are 5.1 and 2.0 stereo audio tracks as well as an audio descriptive track in stereo for the film. Jenkin original planned to have the film mixed in mono for the start and to gradually open up to a 5.1 soundscape. This was later changed to being in stereo for the beginning and later opening up the surrounds in the latter portion. As the film was not recorded with sound, everything from the dialogue to the sound effects were created in post production. Like the image, the sound also exhibits analog qualities, with some muffled sounds, distortion, and a limited fidelity for the most part. Dialogue is not always clear and has a bit of a muffle, as does the radio sequences. As for the ambient and droning music, it comes in quite clear with subtlety, and sounds excellent by opening up the sound space with the use of the surround channels. The full effect of the sound space opening up later in the feature doesn't quite happen with the 2.0 track, so the 5.1 is definitely the preferred way to hear the film. But unlike the image, there are no major defects such as crackle, hiss, or pops that may be heard in an unrestored film. There are optional English HoH subtitles for the main feature in a white font.
Extras
This is a dual format set that has the film and extras on the Blu-ray in HD, then repeated in standard definition PAL on the DVD. DISC ONE (Blu-ray) Audio Commentary with Mark Jenkin and Mark Kermode In this commentary, Jenkin is joined by film critic Mark Kermode who also moderated the commentary on the BFI release of "Bait" a few years back. Jenkin is not willing to spoil the mysteries that the film asks, but instead discusses about the making of and the influences behind the film. From using 16mm color film, the imperfections that can be seen, movie magic with the location not being an actual island, the specifics of choosing the flower, the 1973 date, the problems faced during COVID-19 restrictions, and much more. Kermode is able to bring his own thoughts into the film as a viewer, and Jenkin does have a lot of interesting information about the difficult production. in English Dolby Digital 2.0 without subtitles On-stage interview with Mark Jenkin and Mary Woodvine moderated by Mark Kermode (28:49) This on stage Q&A from December 2022 at the BFI Southbank has Jenkin and Woodvine alongside Kermode following a 35mm print screening of the feature. Discussed topics are about the distinct look of the film, the limited direction Mary received from Jenkin for her role, the cryptic nature, the portrayal of isolation mirrored by the pandemic, and more. Like in the commentary, there are a number of mysteries of the happenings within the film that are not answered, though there are some great behind the scenes and personal memories that are shared here. The Q&A has also been embedded below, courtesy of the BFI. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4, in 1.78:1, in English Dolby Digital 2.0 without subtitles "Film Sounds with Mark Jenkin and Peter Strickland" on-stage interview moderated by Douglas Weir (with optional 5.1 and 2.0 audio) (86:07) This on stage Q&A from January 2023 at the BFI Southbank has Jenkin and fellow filmmaker Peter Strickland discuss with the BFI's Douglas Weir about the use of sound in their films. From Strickland discussing techniques of recreating sound in studio as shown in "Berberian Sound Studio" and the sound design with cooking in "Flux Gourmet" as well as Jenkin showcasing examples of creating the sound design from scratch in "Bait" and "Enys Men", there is quite a lot of talk in this session as well as clips being shown to illustrate, including black and white footage of Jenkin in studio for the scoring of "Enys Men", which is also separately found on this disc's extras. The sound is available in 5.1 and 2.0 options, with the 5.1 showcasing the surround effects for the film clips, but unfortunately it is awkwardly mixed for the on-stage portions, with the left, right and center channels having the microphone audio, rather than just using the center channel only. The 2.0 stereo option is better balanced here, folding the on stage audio towards the center. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4, in 1.78:1, in English Dolby Digital 5.1 / 2.0 without subtitles "Recording the Score" featurette (5:56) Presented here is black and white footage of Jenkin recording the ambient score using analog methods. The footage can also be seen in the above on-stage interview in which Jenkin narrates about the process over the footage. in 1080i60 AVC MPEG-4, in 1.33:1, Dolby Digital 2.0 without subtitles Mark Jenkin’s Audio Diaries (90:32) Presented here is a collection of audio recordings by Jenkin made in pre-production, production, and post-production of "Enys Men". They are played as an alternate audio track over the film and presented in chronological order. From his initial idea for the film, difficulties with the pandemic affecting everything, the writing process, the location scouting, thoughts on the film shoot, the post production process, and much more are talked about here. While it is mostly just Jenkin speaking alone, there are a few guests like John Woodvine offering a few thoughts as well. While this is technically an alternate audio track over the film, the audio cannot be changed during playback. Likewise, while watching the film with its audio, cycling through the audio tracks will not bring up the audio diaries and instead carry the standard audio tracks and commentary. in English Dolby Digital 2.0 without subtitles "The Duchy of Cornwall" 1938 short (14:57) This vintage documentary showcases the landscapes, the culture, and the people of Cornwall. From its fishing and mining, the ancient stones, the local wresting, the language and more are discussed about through narration. The black and white image does show signs of age with speckles and flickering, though the black and white tones are fairly well balanced and the film is in a quite watchable state. The audio is also quite good, with a clear narration track throughout. Occasional pops and crackle can also be heard, though nothing too distracting. Note the film is available to watch for free on the BFI Player. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4, in 1.33:1, in English Dolby Digital 2.0 without subtitles "Haunters of the Deep" 1984 CFF film (60:58) American businessman Mr. Roche (played by Bob Sherman) brings his young daughter Becky (played by Amy Taylor) along for a trip to Cornwall where his company is investing in reviving the mining industry. Though some of the locals are upset with the company moving in, as the superstitions with the mines and their history. Local boy Josh (played by Gary Simmons) is convinced he saw a ghost of a young boy, and together with Becky they try to solve the mystery, which is connected to the mines and a tragic history. Produced by the Children's Film Foundation (or at the time the Children’s Film and Television Foundation to be exact), This feature is one that has its usual tale of innocence while also bringing in elements of supernatural elements as well as environmental concerns as well. It is also one that features both American and Cornish accents rather than many of the CFF films being London-centric. While it may have a few not-so-convincing line deliveries as expected, it is still a lot of fun and quite scary as well especially with the underground sequences and the characters getting lost. The mine sequences shot on the Cornish coast are reminiscent of a number of scenes as seen in "Enys Men". Shot on film, the transfer thankfully comes from the original film source, which is in fairly good condition. Colors are well balanced and there are few damage marks to be seen. Audio is clean and clear without any hiss or pops, though some of the effects like the mine collapse sound a little too loud in comparison to the dialogue. Note the film was previously available on the BFI DVD of “Children's Film Foundation: Scary Stories”. Also note the film is available to watch by subscription on the BFI Player. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4, in 1.33:1, in English Dolby Digital 2.0 without subtitles Image Gallery (2:01) Presented here are behind the scenes production stills in an automated slideshow gallery without music or narration. Some of the stills are digital while others are using traditional film which the grain structure can clearly be seen. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4 Theatrical Trailer (1:28) The original UK trailer is presented here showcasing the unsettling angle of the film, and in a nice form presented with optional 5.1 and 2.0 tracks. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4, in 1.45:1, in English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 / 2.0 with English text Booklet The first pressing includes a 32 page booklet. First is a spoiler-ridden director's statement that should obviously be read after watching the feature. Next is the essay "A Blueprint for Survival" by film critic and editor at Senses of Cinema Tara Judah on the film and its influences. This is followed by "A Mayday for Mayday" by writer Rob Young on the film's tone and its mysteries. Next is the interesting list of "Counting the Ways: Eleven incomplete, uncertain, sometimes contradictory thoughts about Enys Men and its relationship to experimental film" by the BFI's William Fowler. There is also "Vice and Versa" by Jason Wood, executive director of public programmes and audiences at the BFI as he looks at the works that Jenkin curated for special screenings to correspond with the release of "Enys Men". There are also full film credits, special features information, transfer information, acknowledgements, and stills. Other notable clips: A clip from the film, courtesy of the BFI "The Making of Enys Men" featurette from US distributor Neon Interview with Jenkin at the New York Film Festival Lengthy Q&A with Jenkin and Woodvine at the New York Film Festival Mark Kermode's review of the film on "Kermode and Mayo" Kermode's introduction for the film for the BFI Player
Overall
"Enys Men" is an unsettling isolation paranoia feature that has more questions than answers, and will surely confuse viewers on their first viewing. But the mysteries will surely linger in the minds and interpretations will differ between audiences, creating something quite extraordinary from such a minimal experience with distinct visuals and audio. The BFI dual format release has an excellent transfer with the intended handmade look, with a great number of extras. Highly recommended.
|
|||||
|