Redacted

Redacted

DVD Rating: ***1/2

Reviewed by: Amber Wilkinson

Read The Exile's film review of Redacted

Given the mixed-media design of the film, which includes video diary-type pieces and faux documentary, the sound and image are as good as one should expect.

The DVD extras kick off with a short interview with Brian De Palma, which appears to have been culled from a Stateside television show. It is interesting, but rather on the short side. You'll certainly find out a lot more about De Palma's motivations if you read what he said at the New York Film Festival press conference, last year.

Copy picture

By far the most substantial extra, however, is a series of interviews with Iraqi refugees who have fled to Jordan. These are presented completely as they stand, with no book-ending, save for title cards along the lines of: A Lost Father; A Lost Father; A Lost Son; A Father's Tale. They are, as you would imagine, all pretty bleak as each tells a tale of woe no citizen anywhere on the planet should have to endure. "There is not an Iraqi without a story, a sad story," says one. It would be hard to disagree after watching these people who have been subjected to every form of oppression up for grabs, from militants to military.

The DVD is rounded out with a stills gallery and trailer. While it would have been nicer to see some longer input from De Palma - maybe he didn't want to after all the legal wrangling over the images (as seen in that press conferencee transcript) - this is still a solid DVD package. Purists may want to note that there is an additional making of a scene feature on the US DVD release, but reading around the web, it doesn't look as though this is a must-have.

Reviewed on: 24 Jul 2008
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Redacted packshot
Controversial story, asking where, in the censored war in Iraq, do we find the truth? Plus read what Brian De Palma said about the film - and the redaction of it, .
Amazon link

Product Code: OPTD1238

Region: 2

Ratio: 1.78:1

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS

Extras: Higher Definition, Refugee interviews, stills gallery, trailer


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