Search - Besieged on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Not For Children, Sexual Situations Movie Release: 1998 DVD Release: 12/09/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV,Pan and Scan Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 32 mins Studio: New Line Home Video Members Wishing: 4 Genres: Drama, Romance, Erotic Drama, Political Drama

Bernardo Bertolucci directed this Italian drama co-scripted by Bertolucci and Clare Peploe from a story by British-born writer James Lasdun (co-scripter of Jonathan Nossiter's Sunday). In Rome, reclusive British composer Jason Kinsky (David Thewlis) lives in the building he inherited from his aunt, while his cleaning woman Shandurai (Thandie Newton) resides in the basement, studying medicine. One day, Kinsky tells Shandurai that he loves her and will do anything for her, so she asks him to free her husband, a political prisoner back in Africa. To acquire funds for the man's release, Kinsky begins selling his possessions, including his piano, while Shandurai hangs out with her friend Agostino (Claudio Santamaria), a man angling to get her into bed. Location filming took place in Italy and Kenya. Shown at the 1998 Toronto Film Festival and the 1998 San Sebastian Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Thandie Newton - Shandurai
David Thewlis - Jason Kinsky
Claudio Santamaria - Agostino

Bernardo Bertolucci's atmospheric love story Besieged comes to DVD with a pair of transfers. The widescreen anamorphic image preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.66:1 and is preferable to the standard full-frame transfer. The closed-captioned soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround. English subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include a theatrical trailer as well as cast and crew filmographies. The widescreen transfer captures the stunning photography, making this disc worth a look, even if it is light on extras. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide