THE DEAD MOTHER (1993) (Radiance Films Blu-ray Review)

THE DEAD MOTHER (1993) 

2-Disc Limited Edition Blu-ray + CD

Label: Radiance Films

Region Code: Region-Free

Rating: Unrated 

Duration: 101 Minutes 4 Seconds 

Audio: Spanish PCM 2.0 with Optional English Subtitles

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (2.35:1) 

Director: Juanma Bajo Ulloa

Cast: Karra Elejalde, Ana Alvarez, Lio, Silvia Marsó, Elena Irureta, Ramón Barea

The early 90's Spanish gem The Dead Mother (1993) opens with a startling scene of thief Ismael (Karra Elejalde, Timecrimes) breaking into the home of a restorer of religious artwork looking for chocolate and loot when he is startled by the homeowner, shooting her dead with a shotgun blast, before turning the gun on her young daughter Leire (Ana Álvarez). Leire survives but is orphaned and traumatized by the event, sent to live in a state psychiatric hospital with severe mental disability. 

Years later, now working at a bar but and no less violent, Ismael spots the daughter on the streets, despite her being mute and cognitively impaired from a shotgun blast to the head, he becomes paranoid that she has recognized him and that he will be found out. To thwart that possibility he kidnaps her and holds her hostage, demanding the hospital pay a ransom, but never intending to release her, figuring he will throw her in front of train and be done with it. However, as he spends time with her he becomes obsessed by her mute innocence, twistedly bonding over a mutual love of chocolate and his attempts to make her laugh, much to the chagrin of his quarrelling lover Mait (Lio), who grows increasingly frustrated and jilted by Ismael's obsession with the mute young woman. Fed up with the situation she goes behind Ismael's back in an attempt to push the ransom forward despite Ismael's reluctance to do so, with tragic results. 

As a first time watch I found this to be such an interesting thriller with some psycho-sexual elements that I found absolutely engrossing. The main trio are all phenomenal in their performances, despite how repugnant a character Ismael is Elejalde infuses him with a humanity that's sort of  relatable, if not exactly sympathetic. Likewise Ana Álvarez's mute performance has presence up the wazoo and conveys an eerie innocence, while Lio as the not exactly sympathetic jilted lover is quite cutting. 

The film looks absolutory gorgeous, the attractively moody lensing by Gasteizko Zinema (The Others) carries vibrant purples and red highlights that break up the purposely  dreary exterior and interiors, and it's punctuated by moments of violence that are quite surprising, including a forcible drowning by beer tap that was pretty brutal. 

Audio/Video: The Dead Mother (1993) makes it's worldwide HD debut on region-free Blu-ray from Radiance Films sourced from a 4K restoration of the film supervised and approved by director Juanma Bajo Ulloa. Presented in 1080p HD framed in 2.35:1 widescreen the image looks wonderful, the very clean source showcases natural looking filmic grain, colors are well saturated with strong primaries, blacks are solid and depth and clarity are quite pleasing. Audio chores are capably handled by a Spanish language PCM 2.0 stereo track that is well-balanced and clean; dialogue is never a chore to discern and effects like gunshots are potent.

Extras start off with a Spanish language Audio Commentary by Bajo Ulloa with English subtitles; a 38-min 

making of doc The Story of La Madre Muerta (2008) 

featuring behind-the-scenes images and interviews with the cast and crew in Spanish with English subtitles; and the 38-min short film Victor’s Kingdom (El reino de Victor) from 1989, this is a  Goya Award-winning short film that's been restored in 4K. Additionally there is a Gallery of behind-the-scenes and promotional imagery, and the 3-min Trailer. 

Also tucked away inside are a Limited Edition Illustrated Booklet featuring cast and crew information, CD track list, transfer notes and release credits, plus new writing on the film by Xavier Aldana Reyes, author of Spanish Gothic: National Identity, Collaboration and Cultural Adaptation, and newly translated archival writing by Juanma Bajo Ulloa, co-writer Eduardo Bajo Ulloa, plus an 18-track (51 min) CD Soundtrack containing the score by Bingen Mendizábal, which is terrificly lush. The 2-disc limited edition (of 3000) Blu-ray + CD release Limited  arrives in a clear full-height Scanavo keepcase with removable OBI strip that leaves packaging free of markings, with a Reversible Sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow. 

Special Features:
- 4K restoration of the film supervised and approved by director Juanma Bajo Ulloa
- Audio Commentary by Bajo Ulloa
- The Story of La Madre Muerta - a documentary on the making of the film featuring behind-the-scenes images and interviews with the cast and crew (38:19) 
- Victor’s Kingdom [El reino de Victor] (1989, 38:04) - Goya Award-winning short film by Ulloa, restored in 4K
- Gallery of behind-the-scenes and promotional imagery
- Trailer (3:22) 
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow
- Limited Edition booklet featuring new writing on the film by Xavier Aldana Reyes, author of Spanish Gothic: National Identity, Collaboration and Cultural Adaptation, and newly translated archival writing by Juanma Bajo Ulloa, co-writer Eduardo Bajo Ulloa
- Limited Edition soundtrack CD featuring Bingen Mendizábal’s sumptuous score(18 Tracks, 51 Minutes)

This is quite a gem of 90's Spanish cinema, it made for quite an impressive first time watch bolstered by the gorgeous A/V presentation from Radiance Films with some solid disc and packaging extras that include a CD soundtrack and a pretty great short film. This comes highly recommended for fans of twisted thriller and Spanish cinema, kudos to Radiance for giving the film it's worldwide Blu-ray debut. 

Screenshots from the Radiance Films Blu-ray: \