Cracking the Colour Code (2008)

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General		Extras
Category	Documentary	None
Rating
Year Of Production	2008
Running Time	156:00
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	1,2,3,4,5,6	Directed By	Hugh Piper
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Greg Colgan Hugh Piper
Case	Amaray-Transparent
RPI	?	Music	Laurent Sauvagnac

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 2.0 (224Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	None	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

    Cracking the Colour Code is a French/ Australian documentary series which looks at the subject of colour - its origins, meaning and purpose.

The series is divided into three 52 minute episodes. Each tackles an aspect of the puzzle. The subject matter is esoteric and the series suggests that the story of colour is one that must be told using the skills of anthropologists, ancient and medieval historians, psychologist and designers. It is a heady brew and anyone expecting a precise series with plenty of answers will be disappointed - once cracked the colour code remains something of a mystery!

Episode 1 - Viewing Colours is the most scientific of the three. It looks at the perception of colour in man and in animals. Why is the sky blue? Do we see in colour or is our brain simply generating colour images? Light is the key to the appearance and reproduction of colour. Animals, it seems, vary in their perception of colour and in one interesting scene a monkey, which has a limited colour vision, is given treatment which enables it to see vastly expanded range of colour. Hopefully they let him go to dominate the jungle! The episode features scientists and theoreticians and to those wanting definitive answers it may seem somewhat elusive.

Episode 2 - Making Colours is more grounded, dealing with the origin of colours. The colours referred to here are those used by humans - paints, pigments, dyes etc. The show takes us back to the cavemen showing how the three basic colours red, black and white were derived from the natural environment. Each civilisation built on these foundations. The Egyptians were the first to chemically create colours leading to the elaborate decoration of their temples. They also discovered the uses of crustaceans to create purple which was so difficult and expensive to make that it became the province of the ruling class. The show traces the rapid expansion of colour in the medieval merchant era and the proper chemical creation of colours which enabled artists to use an expansive palate and modern colour to be born.

Episode 3 - The Power of Colour looks at the psychological ramifications of colour - how are we as humans affected, controlled and stimulated by colour. Again this is a hard concept to grasp and the evidence is often contradictory. For example, the introduction of pink as the dominant colour in some US prisons resulted in a great reduction in prisoner violence. As it happens in further studies white was shown to have the same effect. Do these colours stimulate peaceful behaviour or do the prisoners just appreciate a new lick of paint on the walls and some fresh clothes? As it happens no colour actually "means" anything stripped of its context and history. Therefore blue was shunned in Ancient Rome perhaps because of its use by the barbarians. White and black came to have their purity/sinister overlays late in the piece with virgin brides initially happy to wear any colour. Perhaps it is our association with red as an action colour that results, according to one expert, in a preponderance of Olympic fighting sports victories to those wearing the red gear.

Cracking the Colour Code has plenty of good ideas though the execution of the show is a little vague to stimulate the fact searching viewer. It posits quite a few theories but readily concedes that there are few actual answers. It is not quite popular science nor art history but will be of definite interest to those involved in art or advertising.

Video

   Cracking the Colour Code has been transferred to DVD at a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. It is 16 x 9 enhanced.

As befits a show about colour the show is bright and colourful. The series consists of filmed segments and talking heads style interviews. The contrast is a little high resulting in some flesh tones that verge on the ruddy. However, overall the show is reasonably sharp, the colours are stable and good looking. There is a good separation between the colours and there are no technical defects with the transfer to speak of. Though shot on high definition digital there are no low level noise problems nor is aliasing an issue.

The only question is whether the show will look even better when broadcast which, I understand, is due to occur later this year.

There are no subtitles except for the scenes featuring non-English speaking interviewees.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    The sound for Cracking the Colour Code is English Dolby Digital 2.0 running at 224Kb/s.

This is perfectly adequate for a show that largely consists of interviews and voice-overs. The voices can be heard clearly and audio sync is fine. The voice over work is done by Australian actor Lee Perry and is delivered impeccably.

Music is by Laurent Sauvagnac and consists of a combination of modern sounds with a world music vibe.

There are no technical problems with the soundtrack.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

There are no extras.

    This DVD is not yet available specifically in any other region. It is marked All Regions though I don't know how it is marketed overseas. No doubt "colours" would need to be changed to "colors" for Region 1. As a French co-production (Le Monde des Couleurs) I would have expected the DVD to be released in Region 2 France but my ham-fisted scouring of Amazon France failed to turn up any results.

    Cracking the Colour Code is an interesting documentary series which asks many questions and answers some. Colour remains an elusive and enveloping subject. The DVD looks and sounds fine and the lack of extras will not disturb those looking for the documentary experience.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall