• Login
    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Brother Of Sleep
    Genre:Drama

    Reviewed In Issue 26 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Andre Eisermann, Dana Vavrova, Ben Becker.

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 2
    Sound Rating: 2.5
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Columbia/TriStar Home Video
    (Catalog Number): 89386
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $39.95
    (Running Time In Minutes): 133
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): No
    (Theatrical Release): 1995
    (LD Release Date): 8/9/97
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Joseph Vilsmaier
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):

    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.52:1

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

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    (German) Adapted from the bestselling novel by Robert Schneider, Brother Of Sleep is a visually stunning film of haunting intensity and sweeping romanticism. Elias Johannes (André Eisermann) possesses a luminous musical gift which is seared into his soul from the moment of his birth. The power frightens and fascinates the villagers of Eschberg, except for Peter (Ben Becker), Elias’ only friend. As Elias, Peter and Peter’s sister Elsbeth (Dana Vávrová) grow older, their consuming passions become tragically entwined with jealousy and loyalty. For Elias, love, like music, has finally become an act of fevered, exquisite madness.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The picture, framed at 2.52:1, exhibits distractingly poor shadow detail with noise throughout. Colors are dark and grayish with snow scenes seeming almost black and white. Fleshtones are generally natural, but sometimes seem brownish. Images are generally sharp and detailed. The second line of subtitles are cut off at the bottom of widescreen monitors.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The soundtrack has an aggressive surround presence with directional effects. Dialogue is generally natural, but the sound fidelity is wanting in natural fullness.
    (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: