According to director Alejandro González Iñárritu, 21 Grams is the weight of the soul that departs the body in death. But this intriguing premise and the story of three lives colliding in the wake of a tragic accident is "somehow less than the sum of its parts". Nonetheless, earning plaudits for searing performances by Sean Penn, Naomi Watts, and Benicio Del Toro, the film only fell slightly short of the rapturous acclaim lavished upon Iñárritu's debut film, Amores Perros.

Dead Serious

Psyche yourself up for 21 Grams In Fragments, a lengthy featurette that's part video diary, part existential musing. Iñárritu confesses that this project is the result of a long-held fascination: "Since I was ten-years-old, I have been obsessed with death and the concept of eternity." If you're not ready to deal with your own mortality, switch the DVD player off now, as the filmmaker goes on to dissect the meaning of oblivion. In other words, "That you will never return to see a tree, or a sunset, or a flower, or your father, or your son's face - never."

Blending moments from the film along with behind-the-scenes footage and a melancholic score, this featurette is as lovingly put together and atmospheric as the film. Sometimes though, Iñárritu comes off as a little pretentious - choosing to begin and end the shoot by having cast and crew toss rose petals into the twilight air. But there are lighter moments too, like when Naomi Watts and Benicio Del Toro struggle to keep straight faces as she beats him over the head with a foam lamp stand.

Shooting People

You'll also get a window into the working day of cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, who registers a slightly pained and quizzical expression every time Iñárritu starts rambling in Spanish. His methods may be unorthodox, but Sean Penn states with no uncertainty: "He is one of the best directors in the world." Watts and Del Toro also get their say on the man and his cohort, screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga (Amores Perros), but this remains the portrait of a director at work and the thoughts that trouble him when he tries to get to sleep at night.

Aside from the theatrical trailer, there are no other extras offered. Even so, the boldness and intimacy of this mini-documentary offers substance that is usually lacking in any number of 'making of' featurettes. This DVD release of 21 Grams is at least worth its weight in optical-grade polycarbonate plastic.

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