Purely Belter

Gerry (Chris Beattie) and Sewell (Greg McLane) are typical of many teenage Geordie boys. Mateship is more important than girls (but only just), football will always be more important than a job or school (and just about everything else), and the present is pretty crappy so why should the future be any better? Gerry and Sewell have a dream, to obtain season tickets for their beloved Newcastle United Football Club, but there's just one tiny problem - cash. Season tickets cost about 500 pounds each, and these guys are a couple of zeros.

Plans are quickly formulated to acquire the cash before the season begins, by fair means or foul. The boys attempt junk dealing, begging, busking, baby sitting, even petty thievery in an attempt to accumulate 1000 pounds with embarrassing, tragic and often humorous results. To their credit, they give up the drugs and tabs (that's tobacco to you and me), and just when the dream looks like becoming reality, their plans go horribly awry, with unexpected results.

Award-winning writer/director Mark Herman has crafted another great film in Purely Belter, based on the debut novel Season Tickets by local Newcastle author Jonathan Tulloch. Herman's previous films include the highly acclaimed and successful Brassed Off and Little Voice. Typical of British films, the humour is quick, frequent and very funny, barely masking the real tragedy that is the lives of the characters. Gerry and Sewell are basically good kids, and they are easy to warm to even though you realise the things they do are wrong and self-deprecating. They really are lovable and believable characters doing dumb things. The acting is particularly strong for such young and inexperienced leads who both shine in their screen debuts. There is a great on-screen chemistry between the boys, using the old brains and braun combo (although it's often difficult to decide if there is an actual brains in this outfit at all).

Hidden in the shadow of Billy Elliot, it's unlikely that Purely Belter will reach a similarly sized audience, which is a shame. The two films share many similarities, not least of all the ability of those doing it tough to 'have a go' despite seemingly insurmountable odds. If you want a laugh or like to feel a bit warm and fuzzy on the inside, give Purely Belter a look. It's areet, like.

Let's start with the most obvious and most disappointing aspect of the video transfer for Purely Belter - it's 4x3 (full frame). This is almost a boast on the back cover, and we as viewers and buyers should feel royally ripped off. Why? Simple, the Region 2 release is 16x9 enhanced 1.78:1. 'Nuff said? Almost, but not releasing this in Region 4 with the same specifications as Region 2 is an insult, as bad as not releasing the title at all.

OK, so what of the video transfer? The image is generally clear with good detail. Skin tones are good, and there is no evidence of colour bleeding or cross-colouration even though the colours have been slightly oversaturated. Shadow detail is not as good, and at times makes for frustrating viewing.

Some very minor and infrequent film artefacts are evident but you would need to be looking for them to notice them. More disappointing is the frequency and severity of aliasing. Almost anything with a straight edge is affected.

The layer change is placed at 80.48, but is well placed mid-scene.

Audio-wise, we've been schtuked (is that a word?) again. Whilst Region 2 gets a Dolby Digital 5.1 transfer, we in Region 4 are only deemed worthy of a Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo transfer. Criminal! Consequently, there is nothing to report regarding the centre or rear speakers or subwoofer. "Nowt" as they say. There is little obvious separation from the front speakers and though the dialogue is mostly clear, it is the broad Geordie accents that are the killer. With no subtitles available, you may wish to get in a friend (as I did) to translate. At least the audio is in sync and the music score is rather good, both acoustically and musically. The low-level sounds still sound pretty rich, and this is most noticeable during the musical numbers that are scattered throughout the film.

At least the extras on offer are 'belter'. They are not enough to justify purchase however, and could never compensate for the lack of anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1. And even here we're short changed, as the Region 2 release also includes a commentary track featuring the director Mark Herman and journalist Nigel Floyd plus a selection of TV spots. So what is there on ours?

The Menu is not animated, but it is accompanied by audio. The back cover also considers Scene Selections as a feature but I don't, so we'll move on.

Cast and Crew presents a short, summarised account of the experience of eight of the cast and crew. Each is accompanied by a short (optional) interview, varying in length from 0:33 to 2:16. For the short sighted, the large white text on a black background is wonderfully easy to read, placed over several screens, the last of each being where you can select the short interview.

Production Notes is similar in layout to the above feature and gives a short history of the story's transition from page to screen.

B-roll is 3:10 long and is a 'behind-the-scenes' type presentation, but it is not narrated. This is interesting for those that enjoy being a "fly on the wall".

Wanna know the ultimate irony regarding this DVD? The trailer is presented in the aspect ratio of 1.85:1 (not 16x9 enhanced however). Talk about adding insult to injury. What more can I say except that it runs for 2:23 and is in Dolby Digital 2.0.

Featurette is a short (5:38) piece that splices some of the interviews from the Cast and Crew extra, with a few small additions, and scenes from the movie. It's sort of a cross between a trailer and a making-of.

Also of value is the Slang Dictionary that helps decipher what is being said.

Purely Belter is a great little gem, from the guy who has given us a few other under-rated gems. A feel-good comedy that few would fail to appreciate. If you are a fan of British films of the last ten years then you will know what to expect. The only real let down is the full frame and stereo transfer and the knowledge that the Region 2 version got the full treatment. And therein lies the dilemma; do you buy this because it's a great film (and cop the inferior specifications), do you send a small, silent protest and boycott this title in favour of the Region 2 version, or do you simply forget it and miss out? Any way you lose something.