Video:

The three storylines are presented with different color emphasis; the mother and daughter are bathed in red, the handyman is in blue and the butcher in gold. The Film Movement DVD presentation preserves those colors beautifully and sharply enough that the difference is clear. It's a very good-looking transfer.

Sound:

Two different audio tracks are provided, a 5.1 and a 2.0. The 5.1 is solid, even if the back speakers are underutilized. The best moments for surround sound involve the film's scenes with trains, where they sound like they're moving across the back of the room. The dialogue volume is a little low at moments which, combined with the sometimes-heavily accented English, makes some lines tough to make out.

Extras:

The full-length director's commentary track is insightful, if dry at times. Shum points out not only what she did and where, but "happy accidents" in the filming, such as trains running through the background of a scene. She also explains some of the more static shots in the film; she loves to let actors take the center stage, so she let them take over in several scenes where the performances stood out.

There are short biographies for some of the key players, as well, along with a short film (which plays more like a long-form advertisement for co-sponsor DKNY) called "Friday Night Fever." The short is non-anamorphic and the subtitles are burnt into the picture.

Trailers are also included for four films from the first year of The Film Movement's subscription series: Morlang, The Party's Over, Manito and OT: Our Town .

Final Thoughts:

Beautifully shot and wonderfully played, Long Life, Happiness and Prosperity rewards viewers with three interesting, intricately interwoven storylines featuring well-developed characters and honest fears and motivations. It is certainly worth seeking out from Film Movement.