COLUMBIA TRISTAR through their "Sony Pictures Classics" division has been releasing some incredible foreign films on dvd.  "THE ROAD HOME" continues this legacy.  The plot concerns a man coming back to the village he used to call home, to bury his recently deceased father, and support his grief-stricken mother.  A brilliant opening sequence explains how his parents met and fell in love.  After this flashback sequence, the film returns to the present where the central character must figure out a way to afford the proper funeral for his father, and while the story seems simple, it offers such honest and in-depth exploration of the human condition, that it's a "must-see" film!

The performances are incredible. Nothing about the film seems false.  Every character, every line of dialogue, every scene feels authentic, and is often heartbreaking, without being overly sentimental.

COLUMBIA TRISTAR has presented the film with its proper 2.35:1 aspect ratio and 16:9 enhancement.  The colors are outstanding!  The various hues are vibrant and there's no oversaturation anywhere.  The color scheme is broad and it's due to the wonderful transfer that they're all well presented.  There's great depth and the contrast is flawless with deep blacks and grays. This is even more impressive during the black&white flashback sequences.

The soundmix for the film is presented with its original Mandarin dialogue in Dolby Digital 5.1.  While there's little in the way of surround moments, this is a fine mix, with its share of atmospheric moments.  Dialogue is well focused towards the center channel and free from distortion.  The musical score is rich and complimented by the rear speakers.
Several trailers are offered.