Synopsis
Parisian commissioner Pierre Niémans goes to the Alps to investigate the murder of a Guernon University student, whose body has been horribly mutilated. Meanwhile, in another town in the region, young lieutenant Max Kerkérian seeks to understand why the grave of a child who died in 1982 was desecrated. The two investigations soon come together around a series of atrocious crimes.
NB: The image comparisons (.jpg compression, 8-bit) are strictly for illustrative purposes and are not representative of what the Ultra HD Blu-ray will broadcast on your calibrated UHD HDR screen.
In order to highlight the concrete use of Wide Color Gamut (WCG) on this edition (see tutorial here), the pixels which are located in the standard/BT.709 range (confined inside the small triangle REC.709) are presented to you here entirely desaturated. Conversely, those part of the expanded BT.2020 range, exclusive to the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc (which extend outside the small triangle REC.709) are presented to you in color:
???? “Fight, Ready, Go !”
Return to the French Alps, majestic and relentless. An icy wind howls through the sharp peaks, carrying whispers, secrets buried under the ice for generations. It is into this universe, both grandiose and cruel, that Mathieu Kassovitz immerses us with Purple Rivers (2000)a film that explores man's excessive ambitions and the fearsome consequences of his quest for unhealthy perfection.
In the heart of the mountains, the University of Guernon, isolated and imposing, proves to be much more than a simple temple of knowledge. Behind its walls hides a cult of eugenics. It is a perverted faculty, seeking to shape a superior race by very strange means. Genetic manipulation, child exchanges, deadly rituals: excellence is bought here at the price of Faustian pacts, concluded in the shadows.
The plot, adapted from the successful novel by Jean-Christophe Grangé, presents us with two investigators who are polar opposites of each other. Pierre Niémans, seasoned commissioner of the judicial police, bears in his marked features the harshness of the horrors he encountered. Max Kerkérian, a young police lieutenant, is a rebellious spirit, as intrepid as he is rebellious. Their investigations, initially distinct, evolve in parallel to better converge in a single tumultuous river.
Thierry Arbogast's photography magnifies the raw beauty of Alpine landscapes, which paradoxically become instruments of oppression. These mountains, imposing and impassive, lock the characters in an oppressive closed space. The music of Bruno Coulais envelops the detective intrigue in an atmosphere of haunting suspense. The result is a gripping thriller, a police investigation in a world where appearances are deceptive and where each scene takes us a little closer to a final avalanche.
Video Quality
On the eve of its 25th anniversary, Purple Rivers (2000) arrives at Gaumont in 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in a version officially restored in 4K from a new scan of the original 35mm negatives. This restoration was supervised by Gaumont in partnership with the VDM restoration laboratory. A BD-66 disc (with 59.38 GB of space actually used) is at the heart of this edition. The film is presented in its respected 2.35:1 ratio, with two options: HDR10 and Dolby Vision (here DV-FEL 12-bit).
Purple Rivers (2000) constitutes a flagship title in the Gaumont catalog. The care given to this restoration proves it even more. What is striking from the first images is the quality of the work carried out here. This restored version will catch your eye. Thanks to this new scan, the frame widens, revealing portions of the image previously unseen on video disc. Without any parasitic dust interfering with viewing… The improvement in definition is palpable from the start of the film (the aerial sequence in pure high angle view). The increased fineness of detail is even more evident later. Tight shots are displayed with great clarity (the expressions of Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel, the faces of the victims, Kerkérian's injuries after his confrontation with the skinheads). Large panoramic compositions also gain rendering precision (the University of Guernon, the striking aerial views from a helicopter, the car chase on the Pont de Brion). The 35mm silver texture, fine and subtle, has been superbly preserved. The atmospheric clarity of high-altitude shots results in crystal-clear images, free from unwanted noise. Scenes shot in dark interiors have a more pronounced graininess. A grain which fits admirably with the atmosphere of the story, which thickens at the pace of the investigation.
Fans of Luc Besson will find the distinctive touch of Thierry Arbogast, the director of photography. The plot is highlighted by subtly distilled camera movements, in perfect harmony with the tone of a slow police investigation. The new HDR calibration offers a significant contribution to the rediscovery of the day, reinforcing the visual impact of the work. The rebalancing of contrasts, which are more pronounced, improves the readability of scenes, whether nighttime or daytime. Skin tones regain nuance, while high mountain scenes stand out with a cooler color temperature, offering a more realistic rendering compared to the previous master. Let us point out an approach in light intensities without excess. The light peaks cap exclusively below 300 nits. The maxCLL of 430 nits is only reached in the final post-credits image returning to the Gaumont restoration.
A remarkable use of Wide Color Gamut worth highlighting, especially on the reds. Vibrant reds manifest through the bloodshed, the equipment of mountaineer Fanny Ferreira, and the bodywork of the grooming tractor in the high mountains. All display a much more marked intensity than in the past. Other touches of color transcend the REC.709 standard, notably the woody and copper tones of the dark and hushed library, as well as those of the University principal's office. The vibrant colors seen in scenes at primary school and during cemetery investigations (flower arrangements), will also catch your attention.
Audio Quality
Purple Rivers (2000) retains the structure and audio performance of the 2009 edition, offering a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (24 bit) track at almost identical bitrate (4518 kbps versus 4516 kbps). Far from the conventions of a detective TV film, this feature film offers an inventive and powerful 5.1 mix, exploiting the idea of stunning spatialization. From the first minutes (the flight of helicopters at 8:45), the immersion is total, reinforced by powerful and realistic sound effects, such as the passage of trucks on the highway (24mn20) or the barking of dogs illustrating the commissioner's phobia (1h02mn40). The fight scene between Lieutenant Kerkérian and the skinheads is still remarkable. The visual choreography is already well thought out, while the soundtrack, with its playful video wink (“Fight, Ready, Go” en surround), adds a fully entertaining dimension. The sound realism is particularly careful, with a mix faithfully reproducing the acoustics of the different places crossed: university library, cold rooms, police office and cooler cavity. This remains intensive mixing.
Our dynamic range (DR) measurements reveal a value of 17, the same as the previous Blu-ray. A second French track mixed in stereo is available in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 format (1765 kbps, sous 24-bit).
Bonus
– Audio commentary by Mathieu Kassovitz, Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel
– Original soundtrack of the isolated film commented by Bruno Coulais
– Return to Les Rivières pourpre: Interviews with Thierry Arbogast and Jean-Christophe Grangé
– The Investigation: The hidden meaning of Purple Rivers
– The Scene at the Scalpel
– Birth of a corpse commented by Jean-Christophe Spadaccini and Denis Gastou
– Muscular filming commented by Vincent Cassel and Nicky Naudé
– Night shooting
Conclusion
With exemplary 4K restoration and quality HDR calibration, Purple Rivers (2000) rises from its ashes for its 20th anniversary in this 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray edition, enriched with new bonuses. A must-have for all fans!
