The Film: 4/5

“The more, the better.” It’s an oft-repeated phrase in Pim de la Parra’s Frank & Eva: Living Apart Together, one that embodies the film’s real star, namely, the city of Amsterdam in the wake of the Dutch “Provo” movement (i.e. Holland’s politically anarchic spin on Free Love). De la Parra’s sex-fueled dramedy is awash with the sights and sounds of 1970s Amsterdam, offering a portrait of a bygone era that is as entertaining as it is historically valuable.

Frank & Eva is the story of a marriage struggling to survive the joyously turbulent new world of Dutch counterculture. The film details the manic struggles of the eponymous couple: their pledges of devotion, their failings, their conflicts over whether to have children, and the overriding tension between Frank’s relentless pranksterism and Eva’s desire for a more substantive relationship. Those familiar with genre label Cult Epics may expect this film to be a work of frivolous sexploitation in the mold of, say, Tinto Brass. Frank & Eva is no such film; it is a far more serious affair, one that bears greater comparison to Last Tango in Paris or Henry & June.

That is not to say the film is without comedy. To the contrary, Frank & Eva brims with situational humor, slapstick, and witty wordplay. An early scene sets the tone, as Frank flees the scene of a car crash for fear that the police will find “too much blood in [his] alcohol.” De la Parra’s script urges viewers to laugh at even the most tragic characters, and, without spoiling the film, Frank & Eva features moments of satisfying pathos.

Audio/Video: 3.5/5

Frank & Eva is presented in a new 1080p transfer; the aspect ratio is 1:33:1. While there is nothing about the restoration that will detract from an enjoyable experience, viewers will notice signs of print damage (the occasional scratch, blip, etc.). There is one audio track (Dutch DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0). and optional (albeit necessary for most viewers) English subtitles. While it’s possible that the restoration process could have been more extensive, Cult Epics has likely produced a definitive release. 

Extras: 4.5/5

Cult Epics surprisingly provides a bounty of special features, even though Frank & Eva is essentially (though undeservedly) a niche release. De la Parra’s commentary track is the star attraction; the 78-year-old director is charming and candid. Listeners may be surprised to learn of de la Parra’s prestigious film pedigree. (In addition to serving as a pioneer of Dutch cinema, he co-wrote 1969’s Obsessions alongside none other than Martin Scorsese.)

The director/screenwriter also confesses that much of Frank & Eva is an autobiographical tale (from Frank’s point of view). De la Parra also concedes his frustration over the gateway to Hollywood being forever shut to him. Apparently, Frank & Eva’s original screenplay was written in English as a potential vehicle for Jane Fonda. Of course, such grand designs never saw fruition. Had de la Parra enjoyed the good fortune of Paul Verhoeven, his primary cinematic contemporary, one can only imagine what the auteur’s career might have been.

In addition to the rich commentary track, viewers are treated to a brief introduction to the film by de la Parra, a Frank & Eva photo gallery, a second photo gallery featuring the career of fellow co-star Sylvia Kristel, a featurette on sexuality in Dutch cinema (featuring a Q & A with Frank & Eva’s female lead, Willeke van Ammelrooy), and Dutch trailers for Frank & Eva and Obsessions (Note: Obsessions is also available on blu-ray from Cult Epics.)

Overall:

It is a shame that American audiences are so unfamiliar with de la Parra’s oeuvre, and Cult Epics deserves praise for releasing this seminal work from the director’s catalogue. The picture quality is strong, though viewers will note occasional signs of print damage. The blu-ray’s extras also shine, particularly de la Parra’s commentary track. On the whole, Frank & Eva: Living Apart Together is an excellent release, one that offers a portrait of Amsterdam’s beautiful delirium in an era that defies recreation. Perhaps most importantly, this release illuminates an important yet ignored pocket of world cinema. As Frank & Eva never received proper distribution in America, this film will inevitably be a blind buy for many cinema aficionados. That blind buy is strongly recommended.