Private Gold 26: Tatiana Review

Distributor: Private Edition Details: Standard DVD Movie Specs: Genres: Feature Film, Foreign, Drama Run Time: 120 minutes Rated: XXX Release Year: 1998 Director: Pierre Woodman Written by: Pierre Woodman Cast: Tania Russof, Myrka, David Perry, Inga, Bettina Campbell (as Bettina), Jean-Yves LeCastel, Keri, Rita Cardinale (as Rita), Sahra Ellmore (as Sarah), Alain Deloin, Andrew Youngman, Lydia, Karina, Franck Versace, Jean-Michel Kossa (as Jean-Michel), Elvis Cox (as Deborah), Caroline, Mephisto, Bruno SX, Paru Silios (as Peggy Sue), Kathy Divan (as Katalyn), Frank Gun (as Franck Gun), Tibor, Eva Unger (as Eva), Vanda Vitus (as Vanda), Leslie Taylor (as Laslo), Jolth Walton (as Zoltan), Nick Lang (as Attila), Yves Baillat, Jennifer Red, Tamas, Vincent Winner (as Vincent), Adam Jannin (as Tibor), Offilia (as Ophelie), Melory (as Myriam), Layos, Jenny McArthur (as Brigitte), Laslo Smol, Lasly, Bemondo, Gyuri, Leonardo, Reti, Rezes Release Specs: Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (dubbed), French Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, German Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (dubbed), Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (dubbed), Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (dubbed) Subtitles: Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Portuguese Video: Widescreen, 1.78:1 Video Format: NTSC Format: DVD Regional Code (for DVD/Blu-ray): 0 (All) Number of discs: 1 Disc: DVD 9 (SS, DL) Special Features: Trailer, Report, Film Cast, Production Notes, Other Titles DVD-ROM Special Features: none

Synopsis:
Tatiana is set in 1833 in the Ukraine. Tatiana's (Tania Russof) father owes 1,200 escudos to the Marquis of Ice crown (David Perry), but due to a poor grain harvest, doesn't know how he will pay it. After the Marquis takes advantage of her sister Svetlana (Rita), Tatiana swears revenge against the Marquis.

Video/Audio:
Tatiana is presented in a widescreen ratio, 1.78:1, which appears to be the original aspect ratio for the film. The picture is in decent shape. The color levels are correct with what appears to be some edge enhancement. The picture suffers from some grain and what could be conversion artifacts from the PAL to NTSC conversion process.

The original audio track is a 2.0 French Stereo track that sounds lively and rich. Alas, I don't understand French so I had to settle for the more subdued 2.0 English Stereo dubbed track. As this is one of the earlier Private DVD Video releases, the English track contains all of the French dialog with an English voice over narration. Unfortunately, the narration only gives you the gist of what was being said as there can be three minutes of dialog and then a two sentence narration to bring you up to date on the story. The other available audio tracks are a 2.0 German Stereo dubbed track, a 2.0 Spanish Stereo dubbed track, and a 2.0 Italian dubbed Stereo track. The available subtitle options are Dutch, Swedish, Danish, and Portuguese.

Chapters/Time Code:
There are seven chapters available from the main menu for Tatiana. They are identified by a video clip from that scene. Given the size and nature of the film, more chapters would have made the film easier to navigate, but the provided ones are decent. There is a time code for the feature film, so time searching is available.

Special Features:
Private has included a few extras on the disc, most of which are related to the feature film. First up, the film specific features. The original trailer for the Tatiana series is included on the disc in widescreen. The report is a nine minute making of the film feature in English. The cast is a short text write-up with a Private magazine and video flexography for Eva, Rita, Peggy Sue, Tania Russof, and Vanda. Production notes is an English text feature regarding the making of the film that reads like a press release.

The only not film specific feature are the trailers for Operation Sex Siege, Uranus, and Xtreme Desires.

Review:
Tatiana is a decent plot based film from Private. A word of warning though, for viewers who care about the plot, the plot ends abruptly at the end of the film to be continued in Tatiana 2 and the conclusion is in Tatiana 3.

As a period piece, Tatiana is great. The locations are excellent and create the atmosphere for the film. Private has done a great job obtaining period costumes and props that advance the atmosphere in the film. Although the film has hard sex, the excellent work on creating an era gone by might make this a good choice for adventurous couples.

The cinematography is good, especially for an adult film in these times. Right from the start where we are treated to some excellent exterior location shots. A few times the picture gets slightly shaky but not enough to bother too much.

The plot isn't as good, although decent, it can drag at times. The cast has decent acting ability as well. No one here resembles a well trained stage thespian, but they hold their own here. The cast is good looking as well and interact well with each other.

The sex is well done as well. There are a good number of sex scenes, each with a bit of variety to them so they don't get monotonous. The sex scenes are shot as well as the plot portions of the film. For those who are interested in such things, no condoms were used in the film. The sexual themes present in the film are oral, vaginal and anal sex with anal fingering, DP, toys and some lesbianism.

The Money Shot:
Tatiana is a decent historical porn with great period costumes and props. The plot is lacking but keeps your interest throughout. This film will best be enjoyed by viewers who like nastier sex with a plot. As you need the whole trilogy to follow the story to its completion, viewers who enjoy the stories might be better off buying this film as the trilogy also available from Private.

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