Diva - StudioCanal UK 4K UHD

How many of us have that movie that’s been recommended a few different times from a few different people, but we just never got around to it? We all have those movies. My list of films that fit that bill is lengthy, and 1981’s Diva from Jean-Jacques Beineix has been on the list for a long, long time. Not because it didn’t sound interesting or that it was a French film and I’d need to read subtitles, or anything like that. For me, the reason I don’t get to that list of “must-see” films recommended to me by the people I know, love, and trust is a simple one: time. I just don’t always have the time to hunt these things down, so it comes down to exposure. If it’s placed in front of me, then I’ll get to it. That’s essentially how I finally got around to Diva. StudioCanal issued a new 4K UHD release, sent me a review disc, and now I can finally scratch it off my watch list!

And it’s a heck of a picture; quite possibly one of the most unique Neo-Noir thrillers I’ve ever come across. Subsequently, I can now see why those who recommended it to me did so. Our story centers around music-loving postman Jules (Frédéric Andréi). He’s obsessed with music and opera, in particular the singer Cynthia Hawkins (Wilhelmenia Fernandez), who has never released a recording of her work. After Jules illegally records Hawkins' latest recital, his life crosses paths with organized crime when a witness clandestinely slips a tape recording of corrupt police officials into his delivery satchel. Now Jules has the mob and a corrupt cop on his tail, but also Taiwanese bootleggers who want the only professional recording of Hawkins’ performance so they can pressure the singer into a lucrative recording contract or release the music without her consent. 

As I watched this thriller unfold, I was struck by how odd and unique the setup is. It’s not about drugs. It’s not about stolen gold, jewels, cash, or anything that’d be outwardly valuable to the unscrupulous. The angle of the corrupt police wanting the evidence makes plenty of sense. That’s enough plot for a good thriller. But the added hand of the bootleg recording gives Diva an interesting flavor. Would someone kill to get an exclusive recording? I had a friend in college who fervently collected every fan recording of every single Dave Matthews Band concert ever, so, in my opinion, the answer to that question would be an emphatic yes! I’m sure there are people who would kill to own the only recording of their favorite singer or band. 

With this unique twist on the Neo-Noir genre, Jean-Jacques Beineix offers an enticing look at the arts and how we perceive them. Through Wilhelmenia Fernandez’s Hawkins, we have an artist who just wants to perform and have her legacy to live on in the world of live and in-person performances. She doesn’t want the fame and fortune of her work slapped on an album cover. She wants to share that unique, personable experience of looking out at the audience as she performs. As much as the film establishes danger and a threat to keep the plot and pace moving, it also offers a deft examination of the relationship between artists and their fans. 

I’m glad I finally got to settle in with Diva, just as I am glad that those who recommended it never tipped their hat as to what it was about. All I knew was that it was a thriller, and they said I would enjoy it. Jean-Jacques Beineix delivered a slick production that’s more classic-styled noir than a modern thriller. Closing my eyes, I could absolutely see someone like a young Robert Mitchum as Jules with this sort of Hitchcockian backdrop of secret recordings and nefarious characters entering the stage. Now that I’ve seen it once, I’ve got to find the time to watch it again. 

Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 
After taking the stage in 1981, Diva makes a comeback on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray from StudioCanal as part of their Vintage World Cinema Collection. For this review, we were only issued a check disc, A Region Free BD100, which should be spot-on with the final retail edition. I didn’t notice anything off or out of sorts for this disc that would suggest an encoding error or audio trouble, etc. Final retail editions should offer standard cases with slipcover artwork and all the trimmings.

Diva supports an excellent Dolby Vision 2160p transfer. The late 1970s, early 1980s Parisian aesthetics are on full display. From the grandeur of the opera to the seedy streets and lofts, the film traverses a range of locations and appearances, allowing those unique details to populate the screen. Fine lines, facial features, costumes, etc., all look terrific with a very finely resolved layer of cinematic film grain. There does seem to be a slight blue tint push to the image, nothing severe enough to suggest the dreaded teal/orange shift we’ve seen in years past. As I mentioned in the main review, I had never seen this film before, so I’m left to believe that appearance is indeed intention. As such, the image may seem cool, but primaries certainly have plenty of opportunities to shine. Skin tones are human and natural. Black levels may lean a bit heavy in some spots, but are otherwise nice and inky, with a good sense of depth and dimension to the image.

The disc also supports an excellent DTS-HD MA 2.0 French track with English Subtitles (how I spent the bulk of the film) and a nicely done DTS-HD MA 2.0 English-dubbed track. So, without being too obvious about it, the French track is the best way to experience the film. The vocals sound natural and organic to the cast. Incidentals like scenery, sound effects, and street noise come through cleanly, and the scoring is also on point. That said, I’ll give credit where it's due to the English-dubbed mix. It’s not bad. Some of the voices don’t sound convincing, but for the most part, it fits well. Certainly workable enough for those who don’t want to read subtitles. But if you’re aiming for authentic, stick to the French.

For this edition, we have two excellent bonus features to dig into. Two extras may not sound like a lot, but at over 71 minutes and 44 minutes respectively, they’re extensive looks at the film and well worth the time. 

• Blue As Diva: Memories of a Cult Film (HD 1:11:46)
• Diva, About the Film by Denis Parent  (HD 44:06)

Scratch one off the lengthy watch list. Diva certainly wasn’t a film that I received a mountain of recommendations for, but from a couple of people I knew well whose film tastes I trusted, it certainly caught my attention. I’d requested to review the Blu-ray that came here in the States five years ago, but it never materialized. Now, thanks to StudioCanal UK, I finally had a chance to catch up with this Neo-Noir thriller and was impressed with it. I didn’t know what I was getting into, I didn’t know what twist was coming next, and I didn’t feel like I knew where it was going at every turn. It’s a slickly produced feature with great performances. Now that it’s here on 4K UHD, the film can be enjoyed with a robust Dolby Vision transfer, great audio options, and two lengthy and informative bonus features. If you’re itching for a unique thriller, give Diva a shot. Recommended