378-379 Fires on the Plain and The Burmese Harp

[adamfeldman]

The Burmese Harp is good but Fires on the Plain is incredible, just a brutal and gripping film. Hope that's up for restoration soon.

[Finch]

4K specs for Fire on the Plain:

4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
One 4K UHD disc of the film and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
Introduction by Japanese-film scholar Donald Richie
Program featuring interviews with director Kon Ichikawa and actor Mickey Curtis
New English subtitle translation
PLUS: An essay by critic Chuck Stephens

Cover by Michael Boland


4K Specs for The Burmese Harp

4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
One 4K UHD disc of the film and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
Interviews with director Kon Ichikawa and actor Rentaro Mikuni
Trailer
New English subtitle translation
PLUS: An essay by critic and historian Tony Rayns

Cover by Michael Boland

[ryannichols7]

did we even know Fires on the Plain was restored? an amazing surprise to me, at least. two absolutely incredible films that I'm totally wowed are getting 4Ks. and probably the two most niche Japanese titles released on the format so far, not even a contest

do wish they would allow themselves to create new extras for 4K upgrades but what can you do I guess

[FrauBlucher]

I’m excited for The Burmese Harp. Wish they added to the supps. I haven’t seen Fires on the Plain. Will definitely give that a look

[ryannichols7]

they are truly complimentary, terrific films. I go back and forth on which one I prefer

I'm gonna keep my old old MOC BD of Burmese Harp since there's a scholarly extra there (of course, a Tony Rayns interview) and I think a decent little booklet

[TechnicolorAcid]

probably the two most niche Japanese titles released on the format so far, not even a contest

I’d argue Demon Pond is probably the most niche one to be released on the format because The Burmese Harp at least had a small but devoted following, no doubt because of Criterion’s DVD and its inclusion on the fabled 1001 Movies list. Fires on the Plain though is a very much welcome surprise that I can’t wait to look into when I get my copy.

[ryannichols7]

probably the two most niche Japanese titles released on the format so far, not even a contest

I’d argue Demon Pond is probably the most niche one to be released on the format because The Burmese Harp at least had a small but devoted following, no doubt because of Criterion’s DVD and its inclusion on the fabled 1001 Movies list. Fires on the Plain though is a very much welcome surprise that I can’t wait to look into when I get my copy.

while I agree there, Demon Pond has "demon" in the title and fits within the "we'll buy whatever comes out" horror genre, so it wasn't too risky a pull even though it's for sure obscure and not Masahiro Shinoda's most popular film (I do hope they upgrade Pale Flower, which has a new restoration and is in my personal top 10, as well as Michael Mann's)

while I'm throwing out hypotheticals, can Criterion port is the 4K release of Ichikawa's The Inugami Family? I'm begging basically any western label to do that, the Japanese price tag is crazy

[Boosmahn]

I'd love for all of Ichikawa's Kindaichi films to be available in English-speaking territories, unlikely as that sounds.

[ryannichols7]

I'd love for all of Ichikawa's Kindaichi films to be available in English-speaking territories, unlikely as that sounds.

have the other five been restored? if so, that'd really be something to start sending emails over

Radiance have stated they were interested in Ichikawa's black comedies, but the masters are unusable. hopefully these two releases drum up more interest in the director. Peter Cowie called him "the Michael Curtiz or Howard Hawks of Japan" or something to that effect on his incredible Tokyo Olympiad commentary and I agree. Ichikawa really was an insanely versatile director, and excelled in so many fields. I think the thing that ties all his movies together is the humanism, which makes The Burmese Harp such a good entry point, even if Fires on the Plain burns it all away..

[Boosmahn]

Restorations, I don't know, but the '70s films are all on Blu-ray (no English subtitles it seems) in Japan. Not sure about the 2006 Inugami remake.

I've never seen The Burmese Harp and Fires on the Plain, though they've been on my watchlist for a while. I'll check them out on your recommendation (and begin a hunt for the Kindaichi films).

[Michael Kerpan]

It will pretty unfortunate if Ichikawa's black comedies never get released in subbed form in ANY home video format (or even for streaming). They are some of my favorite films by him.

[vsski]

I’m surprised to read how many people here have not seen Fires on the Plain, even some of the frequent posters.
But maybe that says more about how out of touch I’m with even the cinephiles these days, as for me these are the Japanese movies I grew up with and not the horror/ yakuza / monster fare which is so common these days.

As others have said I can’t recommend these movies highly enough and if the transfers and mastering are done right, they should be stunning in 4K.

Ichikawa is indeed an extremely versatile director and while I would hope that someone tackles his lesser known movies, I doubt it will be Criterion, as I have a feeling that even these two films, which used to be very well known, may be a gamble commercially these days.

[Beloved Aunt]

Radiance have stated they were interested in Ichikawa's black comedies, but the masters are unusable.

That's a wretched bit of news--although, I don't know if they were including this film in what they said, but I saw Odd Obsession in theaters like 12 years ago or so (and there was literally one other person there besides me and my parents, fuck) and it looked pretty good.

[Beloved Aunt]

Peter Cowie called him "the Michael Curtiz or Howard Hawks of Japan" or something to that effect

I thought the conventional wisdom was that he was the Japanese equivalent of John Huston (and this would jibe with the unusual level of literacy and literary faithfulness of some of Ichikawa's films, although I've just heard about this, not experienced it)--although Ichikawa is in my experience a lot more visually facile than John Huston.

[zedz]

That’s putting it mildly. Ichikawa is a superb visual stylist with an extremely broad stylistic range. I don’t think any American studio director is directly comparable.

[Beloved Aunt]

To me, he does seem rather Huston-y, based on what I've seen and read about, although yeah, comparing his very sophisticated visual sense to any directors like Huston and Curtiz who are, in visual terms, hacks, seems to be a miss. I find Ichikawa's visuals to be very savory/umame--looking at his films actually makes me hungry for sushi... I really hope Ichikawa doesn't end up forgotten and unappreciated except by a tiny sliver of film buffs, although that does seem to be what's in the cards for him

[Beloved Aunt]

Ichikawa's penchant for a certain kind of vulgarity in some of his films also strikes me as Huston-y (not a criticism).

[bottlesofsmoke]

It will pretty unfortunate if Ichikawa's black comedies never get released in subbed form in ANY home video format (or even for streaming). They are some of my favorite films by him.

I feel the same way. It's a shame they may not be in releasable condition, as something like Ana / Hole in One seems like it would be right up Radiance's alley, and right in line with some of the old Arrow Academy releases like Petri's The Assassin.

[andyli]

Incidentally, The Black Women is set to play in a new DCP next month in Shanghai IFF, along with a new 4K restoration of The Makioka Sisters. Will check 'em both out.

[Michael Kerpan]

Ana -- the best facsimile of a really excellent Nancy Drew(-ish) movie imaginable. (not a criticism -- I loved it).

Ten Dark Women should have become a cult classic long ago.

At least for me, almost all of the films I've seen and liked by Kon Ichikawa featured his wife as one of the writers. Later films, after she retired, typically fall flat for me.

[Beloved Aunt]

Michael Kerpan, could you tell us anything about how popular or visible Ichikawa is in modern Japan, (and compared to Kurosawa or Ozu, I guess)?

[Michael Kerpan]

Randall --

Right now I am pretty much out of touch on such matters. Sorry.

[nicolas]

Found some caps for Fires on the Plain. Very nice upgrade: https://slow.pics/c/A7c4udqh

[FrauBlucher]

This even stands out in Gary's caps...DVDBeaver...Fires on the Plain

[FrauBlucher]

DVDBeaver...The Burmese Harp