804 A Brighter Summer Day

[swo17]

TCM often shows upcoming Criterion releases. For instance, they just recently aired Here Is Your Life.

[Ribs]

This is a title that's pretty much never ever been released on home video and TCM's master is almost definitely from the new restoration - I'd imagine it being available in pretty good quality for the first time ever playing an impact (as opposed to Here's Your Life which has been on iTunes forever).

It might not reduce demand long-term, but in terms of the short-term I can easily imagine people choosing the as-broadcast restored version to suffice for the moment (esp. if this title comes at a premium, which seems a bit of a given considering the length).

[D50]

If you search the title in TCM, and open the film's page, you'll see the next scheduled showing at the bottom of the title banner:

A Brighter Summer Day (not scheduled)

Here's an upcoming showing banner.

The Magician (1959)

There is a date glitch on TCM's banners (and daily schedule) where if it starts just after midnight, they show the previous day's day / date.

And someone over at the criterion reddit did a spreadsheet for July showings.

[Numero Trois]

TCM often shows upcoming Criterion releases. For instance, they just recently aired Here Is Your Life.

And they've been doing it at least as far back as 1999, when The Passion of Joan of Arc was broadcast just a few days before the original DVD release.

[criterionsnob]

A Brighter Summer Day US premiere on Nov. 25th!

[lefeufollet]

A Brighter Summer Day US premiere on Nov. 25th!

Unfortunately, that screening took place in 2011.

[pzadvance]

A Brighter Summer Day US premiere on Nov. 25th!

Unfortunately, that screening took place in 2011.

Where does it say that?

[Gregory]

It doesn't say, but those listed dates are for 2011.

[pzadvance]

Damn, so they are. Hoped we could will this one into existence.

[domino harvey]

Coming in March

[FrauBlucher]

The documentary "Our Time, Our Story" looks terrific. Has anyone seen it?

[jedgeco]

Interesting that the packaging and description don't have any World Cinema Project branding.

[domino harvey]

Given that the only circulating copy of this movie a third gen laserdisc to VHS grab with burned in subtitles of another non-English language, even the clarity of the screengrab on the site's header is a revelation. I didn't like the film nearly as much as its fans, but I am willing to give it another shot, especially in a version where I can actually tell what the hell's happening on screen!

[cdnchris]

It's nice to see the Blu ray is 2 discs (dvd is 3). Figured they would have jammed the film on one with a handful of features.

[dwk]

And the Blu-ray has an MSRP of $39.95 instead of the 2-Blu-ray sets usual MSRP of $49.95. (I wonder if disc two is a DVD instead of a Blu-ray?)

[cdnchris]

Doubtful as they've never done that before (and I'm sure they would state that). Plus Children of Paradise was two discs at the $39.95 price point.

[dwk]

That is right. I had forgotten about Children of Paradise ('though I always assumed that Children had the $39.95 MSRP because they knew the master sucked and felt that they couldn't sell it at $49.95)

[Emilio]

It's nice to see the Blu ray is 2 discs (dvd is 3). Figured they would have jammed the film on one with a handful of features.

Let's hope that the encoding is improved then...it's an encouraging sign at least.

[feihong]

Given that the only circulating copy of this movie a third gen laserdisc to VHS grab with burned in subtitles of another non-English language, even the clarity of the screengrab on the site's header is a revelation. I didn't like the film nearly as much as its fans, but I am willing to give it another shot, especially in a version where I can actually tell what the hell's happening on screen!

When you saw it, was it the 3rd-gen laserdisc to VHS version? I saw it first on VCD (a 4-disc set!) Seeing it at a screening in 35mm improved the film tremendously, across the board. Performances seemed far greater, and the careful crafting of the mis en scene became much more apparent and seemed much more laudable. I liked the film when I saw it on VCD, but I loved it after seeing it in 35mm.

[criterion10]

I saw this a few years back at a 35mm screening, and it was quite an experience, although I still prefer Yang's Yi Yi, which is one of my very favorite films. Nonetheless, can't wait to see this again, great to see it finally be a reality, and the extras seem quite good to boot.

[zedz]

Looks like a great package. Who would have expected a 'new' Yang work at this late stage?

For most other films, filling four hours of commentary would be a challenge, but there's so much to say about this film, and Yang, and so little written in English about either, that Rayns should be kept very busy. And that's an incredible cover. Was it an unused poster image? It's so much stronger than any of the ones I've seen before, the best of which is the extreme close-up of Chang Chen, which is nothing special.

[colinr0380]

I'm really glad for the chance to finally see the four hour version of the film! While it is always great to get a new commentary too, the main problem that Tony Rayns is going to have will be matching your own excellent commentary on the film, zedz!

[criterion10]

I'm really glad for the chance to finally see the four hour version of the film!

So, the shorter (I believe three hour?) cut has also been floating around the backchannels? If so, I did not know this... Would've been interesting if Criterion were able to include it.

(Does anyone know the story behind this cut? Studio-imposed? Did Yang disown it?)

[swo17]

I believe the 3-hour cut was studio-imposed. It's the 4-hour cut that's most widely circulated via backchannels.

[criterion10]

It's the 4-hour cut that's most widely circulated via backchannels.

I believe this is the one that's floating around with both Taiwanese and English subtitles (and presumably from a laserdisc? -- Wonder what the 3-hour cut is sourced from).