12 / BD 24 The Ear

[What A Disgrace]

• The Ear (Ucho, 1970) presented from a new HD re-master and transfer from original materials by the Czech National Film Archive.
• A filmed introduction to The Ear by Peter Hames.
• A new Projection Booth commentary with Mike White, Ben Buckingham and Martin Kessler.
• The Uninvited Guest (Nezvaný host, 1969): Vlastimil Venclík’s satirical short film which was banned by the State authorities.
• 20-page booklet featuring writing on the film by Peter Hames, author and producer Steven Jay Schneider and journalist Graham Williamson.
• New and improved English subtitle translation.
• Region free Blu-ray (A/B/C)
• World premiere on Blu-ray

Loving all these commentaries.

[Bikey]

Finally!
- pre-order at Amazon UK

[Bikey]

Full details now up at our website

[Bikey]

THE EAR is out today!
Karel Kachyňa’s darkly satirical, long-suppressed political-noir, is available for the first time anywhere on Blu-ray, and presented from a new HD transfer.

Our region-free Blu-ray Special Edition features a filmed introduction to the film by author Peter Hames and also includes Vlastimil Venclík’s banned 1969 short The Uninvited Guest (Nezvaný host), an original Projection Booth commentary recorded especially for this release with Mike White, Ben Buckingham and Martin Kessler, and 20-page booklet featuring writing on the film by Peter Hames, producer Steven Schneider and journalist Graham Williamson.

Order now at Amazon UK or at our website

[Bikey]

"One of my absolute favorites from the Czech New Wave. I am so impressed by the advancement over the old DVD. A film so worthy of a, region FREE, Blu-ray release. Thanks again Second Run. A very strong recommendation!"

DVD Beaver on THE EAR

[Bikey]

DVD Compare

[Bikey]

"Fully worthy of comparison with The Conversation (1974) and The Lives of Others (2006)... Karel Kachyna's riveting study of personal and political paranoia is by some distance the bluntest, most head-on disquisition on Czechoslovak politics made prior to the Velvet Revolution in 1989.
[...] THE EAR is a literal revelation in this 4K restoration."

Michael Brooke in the latest Sight & Sound mag

[j99]

A fantastic transfer of one of my favourite Second Run releases. I’m so glad Second Run decided to produce blu rays, as the original dvd release wasn’t particularly great. A superb package overall. Looking forward to sampling all the extras, but for now, thoroughly enjoying watching this classic film again in HD.

[Bikey]

"It's amazing this film was ever made and entirely unsurprising it was banned until the Velvet Revolution of 1989...
[The blu-ray] Offering up a fine presentation, complete with salient extra features such as a possibly even more caustic short film"

Clydefro on THE EAR at Cine Outsider

[knives]

This is such an incredible film with such a great sense of humour that only adds to the sense of horror that fills the screen. Early in at the party when someone jokes a waiter is a spy because they are bad at their job is one of the best scenes I’ve ever seen. Now I really hope all of Kachyňa‘s films get released. Czechmate made Long Live the Republic look especially enticing.