Artificial Eye / Curzon Film World

[MichaelB]

Cheers for the info. And I agree, A COTTAGE ON DARTMOOR is magnificent.

It is, but it's a crying shame the BFI didn't know about the Swedish version until after the DVD went to press. Not because it's a superior cut but because it's so drastically inferior that it's bizarrely fascinating - the raw materials are the same, but the editing strategies are far more conservative, and remove almost everything that makes the film great. Essentially, it's a British silent-film equivalent of Brazil's 'Love Conquers All' edition.

None of which should put anyone off getting the DVD, of course, especially not at Fopp's prices.

[kuzine]

Has no-one else had a close look at the FAUST BD yet?

To add another voice, just saw this in the cinema of the local art school and they were projecting the AE blu (I know...). Theatre is about 80 seats so quite a big screen but nothing massive.

Anyway, noticed the lines immediately during the opening credits (and end titles) but they never registered during the movie itself, apart from the scene near the end where they climb up the canyon. Was actually way more bothered during several scenes by the compression artefacts in the shadows/dark parts Nick also mentioned, especially the scene in the carriage with the Russian(?).

[MichaelB]

The Alexander Sokurov Collection [Save and Protect, Second Choice & Elegy of Life] - 24th September DVD

What movie is Second Choice? never heard of it. (they're not meaning Second Circle?)

Struggling to work that one out myself. I've updated the Sokurov page in the Filmmakers section of the forum with added information of the Cinema Guild upcoming releases and for Save and Protect from this set, but haven't worked out which film they're talking about with Second Choice (and I wanted to check that Elegy of Life is this before I add that update too). I did think Second Circle was highly likely but thought I'd wait until there is clarification first.

I now have checkdiscs, so can confirm that it is indeed The Second Circle.

It's also worth noting that Save and Protect is presented in the 2009 cut, which is around 40 minutes shorter than the original theatrical release. I understand this is a Sokurov-approved revision, if I read this news item on his website correctly:

05 June 2009. St. Petersburg.

The master copies of the films “Save and Protect”, “Stone”, and, “Whispering Pages” are going to be produced in the director's cut version.

...but does anyone know any more? The opening credits include the date of 2009.

UPDATE: Cinema Guild is releasing the same version (the six-minute discrepancy is due to PAL speedup), and has confirmed that this is indeed Sokurov's doing, and that he regards the shorter cut as definitive.

[bigP]

The Dardennes Collection - December 10th. The 6 Disc collection will contain The Silence of Lorna.

[Gregory]

Olivier Gourmet was in every one of those films; Arta Dobroshi was in just one, but the cover designer certainly knows an appealing cover image when (s)he sees it.

[Zot!]

Just saw Mia Hansen-Løve's UN AMOUR DE JEUNESSE [2011] on AE Blu (I don't know whether the director was involved with the English non-literal title of GOODBYE FIRST LOVE, but I prefer the French or a literal translation).

Loved the film very much, love Hansen-Løve's films (I run to her films now), and the Blu-ray was great (ace subs). One of the best new films I've seen in the last few years. As beautiful and heartfelt as something like LE RAYON VERT.

Thanks for this, Nick. On this recommendation I watched Father of My Children, which I had confused with My Wife is an Actress type-pap and disregarded. Like you said sort of Rohmery and simple but also deeply felt. All the more impressive coming from such a young filmmaker. Beautiful stuff, and I'm very much looking forward to UN AMOUR DE JEUNESSE.

[bigP]

Beaver on Être et Avoir. This looks beautiful - very happy to upgrade.

[McCrutchy]

Haneke's Amour, which was recently selected to represent Austria for the Foreign Language Oscar, is now slated for 11 March 2013 on Blu-ray (and I assume, also DVD).

The cinema release is from next Friday, 16 November.

[MichaelB]

Specs confirmed for Berberian Sound Studio, out on December 31st:

• Audio commentary by director Peter Strickland;
• Interview with Peter Strickland;
• The making of Berberian Sound Studio;
• Deleted scenes with commentary by Peter Strickland;
• Production design gallery;
• 'Box Hill' extended documentary;
• 'Berberian Sound Studio' original short film;
• Theatrical trailer.

Sadly (for some), it's definitely Region B.

[bigP]

Received the Jia Zhang-ke set through today and can confirm it is exactly the same print / pressing of Platform as before - to the point where I put in the old disc and it picked up from the exact same place I stopped the new disc in the film. Those who were on the fence, save your pennies. I should have suspected: anytime AE go stealth and refuse to answer FB messages, it's normally a sign that they don't want to lose a potential sale with bad news. The packaging looks nice though.

[bdsweeney]

I will shortly be visiting London and I'm hoping to track down a copy of 'Come and See'. Can anyone recommend a store that usually keeps a decent back catalogue of Artificial Eye releases? Thank you

[MichaelB]

Fopp in Shaftesbury Avenue is where you're most likely to grab a back-catalogue bargain.

[zedz]

Agreed. Fopp is basically HMV's sale store, but seems to have as good or better stock, and the bargains are much more prominent. Lots of BFI, Artificial Eye and (old , OOP?) Tartan titles for 3 or 5 quid, BluRays from 6.

The BFI store is ferociously well-stocked, including lots of interesting imports, but almost everything's full MSRP.

[lady wakasa]

Help?

I wanted to pick up a copy of the Tarkovsky box for my b-in-law, but because of work BS - er, obligations I missed the US Xmas shipping cutoff date.

Does anyone know of somewhere in NYC that might have it? I will be there tomorrow (Sunday).

Or should I try to pull together the films from different US sources?

[Drucker]

Help?

I wanted to pick up a copy of the Tarkovsky box for my b-in-law, but because of work BS - er, obligations I missed the US Xmas shipping cutoff date.

Does anyone know of somewhere in NYC that might have it? I will be there tomorrow (Sunday).

Or should I try to pull together the films from different US sources?

I am no expert, but I would be pretty surprised if anywhere but Kim's Video on 1st avenue had it. They have a pretty great R2 selection.

[lady wakasa]

Help?

I wanted to pick up a copy of the Tarkovsky box for my b-in-law, but because of work BS - er, obligations I missed the US Xmas shipping cutoff date.

Does anyone know of somewhere in NYC that might have it? I will be there tomorrow (Sunday).

Or should I try to pull together the films from different US sources?

I am no expert, but I would be pretty surprised if anywhere but Kim's Video on 1st avenue had it. They have a pretty great R2 selection.

Thank you very much! I went, and there it was. Issue resolved.

[Drucker]

Glad to hear!

[manicsounds]

Berberian Sound Studio BD review at Bluray.com

[Finch]

Glad to read that the video and audio for Berberian, especially the sound design, are getting full marks: the sound is just so vital to the entire experience - should get my copy this weekend!

[Calvin]

January - April releases

360 - January 14th - DVD / Blu-Ray
Holy Motors - January 28th - DVD / Blu-Ray
Ginger & Rosa - February 11th - DVD / Blu-Ray
The Claire Denis Collection (Beau Travail / Chocolat / Nenette et Boni / White Material) - February 25th - DVD
Beau Travail - February 25th - DVD
Nenette et Boni - February 25th - DVD
Babette's Feast - February 25th - DVD / Blu-Ray
McCullin - February 25th - DVD
Alps - March 11th - DVD
Amour - March 18th - DVD / Blu-Ray
I, Anna - March 25th - DVD
Au Hasard Balthazar - April 1st - DVD
Mouchette - April 1st - DVD

[triodelover]

Does anyone know anything about the new Beau Travail? Presumably it will fix the subtitle problem from the 1998 release.

[Gregory]

That's pretty sad. I hope Criterion will come through for us next year and announce blu upgrades of a couple of their Bresson DVDs.

I have the old Beau Travail DVD and don't remember any subtitle problem. What was it?

[triodelover]

I have the old Beau Travail DVD and don't remember any subtitle problem. What was it?

On mine, they're practically unreadable. They are faint and translucent. I had to pause the film repeatedly to make them out. The Beav alludes to it but understates the problem, I think.

[Calvin]

Turns out the delay wasn't for nothing - Mouchette and Au Hasard Balthazar will be Blu-Rays after all!

[domino harvey]

Awesome!