Review: 'Mephisto' Rewards Upon Closer Scrutiny

It's always fascinating to see what the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences picks as the Best Foreign Language Film at each year's incarnation of the Oscars. Istv�n Szab�'s "Mephisto" is no exception to that observation. Although it carries a relatively simple narrative structure, Szab� adapts Klaus Mann's original novel to be a trenchant story about the slippery nature of classicism under Nazi rule. Plus, it's all anchored by Klaus Maria Brandauer's incredible central performance that's literally its own reflection on being consumed by art as a form of escaping reality. While that may sound a bit too prestige and on-the-nose, the film is executed with an attention to performance that we rarely see today.

"Mephisto" comes to Blu-ray from Kino Lorber and their Kino Classics label, boasting a new 4K restoration by the Hungarian National Film Archive and a couple of special features that expand upon the film's importance in cinema history. In more specificity, the new restoration is stunning and thick with texture, which is something often smoothed out by digital tools in other releases.

Hendrik H�fgen (Brandauer) is a struggling actor in 1930s-era Germany who miraculously starts ascending in popularity thanks to his performance in a Faustian play. His ascension parallels with the rise of Nazism in Germany, and Hendrik has to choose between allying with the oppressors or giving his voice to the oppressed. But what's the price of fame?

Film critic Bilge Ebiri writes astutely on the banality of temptation in a new booklet essay included with this release. His observations about Szab�'s lush visual eye and attention to performance are terrific, and they opened up the film even more for me. "Mephisto" is a work that rewards upon close scrutinization. From the opening frames, with Brandauer's Hendrik being a maelstrom of self-loathing and emasculation, Szab� knows exactly how long to hold the shot to better serve the central performance. Yet, the film still sports a visually lush style that's its own criticism of the glorification of German society under Nazism.

As for the special features, there's a terrific featurette titled "Remembrance of J�zsef Romv�ri" directed by the production designer's granddaughter, Sophy Romvari. Full disclosure: I know Sophy Romvari personally, but that does not take away from the fact that she's an incredibly talented filmmaker with a keen eye for how physical objects carry such strong emotional memories. This new short of hers is further proof of her talent. Other special features include:

� "The Central Europe of Istv�n Szab�"
� Audio commentary by film historian Samm Deighan
� Trailer

"Mephisto"
Kino Lorber Blu-ray
$29.95
https://www.kinolorber.com/product/mephisto-blu-ray