Orchestra Rehearsal

Out on:Blu-Ray 12th Feb. 2018

Fast sell:

A quintessentially unique and marvellously enjoyable satire from Italian cinema legend Federico Fellini, in collaboration once more with Oscar-winning composer Nino Rota.

Key talent:

Director/Writer
Federico Fellini (La Dolce Vita, Amarcord)

Cast
Balduin Baas (To The Bitter End)
Clara Colosimo (Salon Kitty)
Elizabeth Labi (A Leap In The Dark)

Composer
Nino Rota (The Godfather, Amarcord)

Cinematographer
Giuseppe Rotunno (Rocco and His Brothers, All That Jazz)

Synopsis:

An Italian television crew visits a dilapidated auditorium (a converted 13th-century church) to meet an orchestra assembling to rehearse under the instruction of a tyrannical conductor. The TV crew interviews the various musicians who each speak lovingly about their chosen instruments. However, as petty squabbles break out amid the different factions of the ensemble, and the conductor berates his musicians, the meeting descends into anarchy and vandalism. A destructive crescendo ensues before the musicians regroup and play together once more in perfect harmony.

We like it because:

"It doesn't come to you. You have to go to it."

Made in 1978 for Italian television, Orchestra Rehearsal, an allegorical pseudo-documentary, is possibly Fellini’s most satirical and overtly political film, which no less than Vincent Canby of The New York Times described as ‘gloriously funny’ and ‘of a piece with this brilliant director's very best work’.

The story is simple - a TV crew document an orchestra practising in an ancient church - and rest assured, everything starts to unravel. Hilarious and often hysterical, and abounding with its director’s trademark rich imagery and expressive style, Orchestra Rehearsal makes a notable addition to his impressive canon.

The film marks the last collaboration between Fellini and the legendary, Oscar-winning composer Nino Rota, famed for his haunting score to Francis Ford Coppola’s 1973 classic The Godfather. Rota, who provided music for Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, Amarcord and Roma, among others, composed one of his most beautiful themes for the film’s extraordinary conclusion, which moves from surreal devastation to heartrending beauty in sublime style.

This special edition features a stunning new 2K restoration of the film, rare poster and press materials, and an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film. All in all, it’s music to the ears of Fellini aficionados.

Special Features:

- FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Adrian Martin
- Brand new 2K restoration from original film elements, produced by Arrow Films exclusively for this release
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
- Original 1.0 mono sound
- Optional English subtitles
- Richard Dyer on Nino Rota and Orchestra Rehearsal, the film scholar talks about the great composer and his last collaboration with Fellini
- Orchestrating Discord, a visual essay on the film by Fellini biographer John Baxter
- Gallery featuring rare poster and press material on the film from the Felliniana collection of Don Young
- Reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork options

Editor's Notes:

Region: B
Genre: Drama
Language: Italian
Subtitles: English
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audio: 1.0 mono
Colour
Discs: 1

Gallery

RELEASE INFORMATION

Distributor
Arrow Academy
Certificate
PG
Release date
12th February, 2018
Running time
72 mins
Price
£24.99
Cat No (BR)
FCD1676

KEY TALENT INFORMATION

Director
Federico Fellini
Stars
  • Balduin Baas
  • Clara Colosimo
  • Elizabeth Labi

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