Dekalog and Other Television Works

[Paul Moran]

I've ordered mine, using up all my Reward Points (3728), so the cash price was only £12.71. (I paid a total of £35.98 for the two Artificial Eye Dekalog DVDs in 2003. )

[MichaelB]

When/why does a booklet become a perfect-bound book? I've been wondering about this with regards to the Human Condition set as well, which at least partially is supposed to be in the same vein as the Yoshida set in design but apparently features a booklet rather than a book.

I was convinced I'd answered this already, but maybe I closed down the window before pressing "reply".

Anyway, this is an issue that's vexed me quite a bit, but the UNESCO distinction between a "pamphlet" (1-49 pages) and a "book" (50 pages and up) seems highly relevant here. Theoretically, the maximum length for an Amaray-housed booklet is 40 pages, although I've pushed this to 44 on a few occasions (Hard to Be a God, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Three Brothers) - but if there's any serious chance of going beyond that the page count usually increases significantly and we enter perfect-bound territory.

Dekalog will certainly be 100 pages minimum, although it's currently at the raw text editing stage.

[rwaits]

MichaelB - I have no idea how you're able to keep some of this stuff under wraps until the official announcement.

[ermylaw]

I am really a fan of having a lot of written supplements. So I just wanted to say that I appreciate the effort made to include the sizeable booklets.

[Twentyfoureyes]

I just bought Seiki SR4KP1 blu-ray player, does anybody know if this Dakalog set could be played with my system, given that this set is 1080i/50?

[Paul Moran]

When/why does a booklet become a perfect-bound book? I've been wondering about this with regards to the Human Condition set as well, which at least partially is supposed to be in the same vein as the Yoshida set in design but apparently features a booklet rather than a book.

I was convinced I'd answered this already.....

You did - but in the Dissent & Disruption topic:

I've been mulling over how to define the distinction between a booklet and a book (given that quite a few that I'm overseeing are tipping the scales at 100 pages or more), and someone helpfully flagged up the UNESCO definition, which is that anything under 50 pages is a pamphlet, and above that it's a proper book.....

[Ribs]

My question was more about what page count it takes/why they opt for perfect-bound instead of a more traditional stapled booklet, and it was answered anyway! I much prefer the proper "book" style Arrow's used in all of its Academy sets so far and given both this and the Allen set will continue the trend I just hope Human Condition's booklet can do the same.

[David M.]

MichaelB - I have no idea how you're able to keep some of this stuff under wraps until the official announcement.

I'm not MichaelB, although I imagine his response is the same: not pissing off the people who are hiring you is a good idea

[Big Ben]

Well MichaelB this is twice in one year you've convinced me to drop money on a set. The addition of the other works is the big seller for me.

[Zot!]

I just bought Seiki SR4KP1 blu-ray player, does anybody know if this Dakalog set could be played with my system, given that this set is 1080i/50?

Yes! This machine can output it in its native framerate or conform it to something your tv can handle. For anybody still region locked, I just bought a back up Seiki for $50 new on ebay (free shipping). My current Seiki plays everything, and my daughter regularly abuses it with her Barbie DVDs.

[swo17]

If all else fails, the Criterion will still be a worthy purchase for just the Short Film About... films.

I just remembered that A Short Film About Killing is going to be on the third Scorsese Polish set, in case that factors into anyone's purchase decisions.

[Pepsi]

I have a strong feeling that Arrow is going to make this set as good as possible, but here are some notes:

Someone ( I think it’s the UK television broadcasting company) made horrible changes in the credits, as well as in the start and in the end end-credits.

If I exaggerate a little, it’s like having Julie Andrews singing “The Sound of Music” in the start of a Dardenne film. They are just horrible. The original Polish version starts with white text on a black background (See Beaver). There is a short (and cold) piano sound at the same time giving right mood for the episode. The title cards are on each episode’s on the living image. For ex. in the sixth episode the text: DEKALOG: SIX appears when the glass from a window falls on the gym floor. It has also a dramaturgical structure. On the UK AE edition the text is missing, but added on the horrible prolog, with absolutely wrong music.


Also the end credits should be with white credit cards on a black background, not with the image’s from the apparent house. It’s like someone has in the UK wanted the add to the series, that this is FINE ART with big letters!

So I hope ARROW is using the original master: They can put the AE prolog and epilog as an extra material titled: How to destroy other’s work.

presented in their original broadcast aspect ratios

They were broadcasted in 1:1.33 (4:3), but episode 5 and 6 had black bars, so are they going to be 1:1.66. If not could these episodes be both in 1:1.33 and 1:1.66, especially when the longer cut’s are not in the box.

everything will be in 1080i/50

I’m not going to argue about these (but i’m quite sure episode 5 and 6 should be in 1:1.66 and 24 f/sec). Couldn’t someone in Arrow contact Slawomir Idziak, the DP for episode 5, and ask for advice.

This is the best TV series ever, so it’s a big deal to have everything right!

[MichaelB]

Someone ( I think it’s the UK television broadcasting company) made horrible changes in the credits, as well as in the start and in the end end-credits.

If I exaggerate a little, it’s like having Julie Andrews singing “The Sound of Music” in the start of a Dardenne film. They are just horrible. The original Polish version starts with white text on a black background (See Beaver). There is a short (and cold) piano sound at the same time giving right mood for the episode. The title cards are on each episode’s on the living image. For ex. in the sixth episode the text: DEKALOG: SIX appears when the glass from a window falls on the gym floor. It has also a dramaturgical structure. On the UK AE edition the text is missing, but added on the horrible prolog, with absolutely wrong music.

I'm very happy to confirm that these are the original Polish credits, not the revised BBC versions.

Also the end credits should be with white credit cards on a black background, not with the image’s from the apparent house. It’s like someone has in the UK wanted the add to the series, that this is FINE ART with big letters!

Ditto, although I suspect you meant to say "yellow" instead of "white".

So I hope ARROW is using the original master: They can put the AE prolog and epilog as an extra material titled: How to destroy other’s work.

Arrow is working exclusively from materials supplied by TVP in Poland. Whatever the BBC or Artificial Eye did, it won't apply here.

They were broadcasted in 1:1.33 (4:3), but episode 5 and 6 had black bars, so are they going to be 1:1.66. If not could these episodes be both in 1:1.33 and 1:1.66, especially when the longer cut’s are not in the box.

I've already answered this. 1.33:1 (4:3) for parts one to four and seven to ten, 1.66:1 for parts five and six, exactly as broadcast and exactly as specified. I'm not aware of parts five and six ever being screened in 1.33:1, either in the cinema or on television.

I’m not going to argue about these (but i’m quite sure episode 5 and 6 should be in 1:1.66 and 24 f/sec).

As I also said earlier, we weren't just prepared to take TVP's word for it - we also checked the pitch of the music against the soundtrack CD. 25fps is absolutely correct - as you would of course expect, since the TV version was made (and mixed) for PAL television broadcast.

[Ron]

Dear Michael,
Many thanks for this great announcement. I recently considered to get a current or forthcoming blu-ray release of Dekalog. The current release by TVP contains a German language track, which would be fine for me, but seems to have a cropped image. The forthcoming release by Criterion will be region locked. Therefore the Arrow release with all the interesting supplements will definitely be my choice.

[Pepsi]

I'm not aware of parts five and six ever being screened in 1.33:1, either in the cinema or on television.

Your right! The television screening and the DVD was in 4:3, 1:52 ratio. Possible a little bit cropping and squeezing maybe. The black bars was so thin, that they were cut of in old tube television with overscan!

And thanks to confirming that you use the original credits (in yellow).

[McCrutchy]

Dear Michael,
Many thanks for this great announcement. I recently considered to get a current or forthcoming blu-ray release of Dekalog. The current release by TVP contains a German language track, which would be fine for me, but seems to have a cropped image. The forthcoming release by Criterion will be region locked. Therefore the Arrow release with all the interesting supplements will definitely be my choice.

Arrow's release really seems like it will best the Polish one considerably, but we should also remember that were it not for TVP, then in all likelihood, the Arrow release also would not be happening, either, and while the Criterion release may have happened eventually, it would probably be inferior to what they can release now. TVP may not know how to produce quality Blu-rays, but I expect their actual 4K scans are revelation, and in the end, they are the most important thing, especially as the release should be largely accessible (if rather expensive) in Poland, too.

So, we should also take a moment, I think, to thank our friends in Poland for taking the time and effort to preserve the legacy of one of their country's greatest visual artists.

[Stefan Andersson]

The now OOP French Decalogue box set had some interesting extras.

An analysis of six visual themes, by journalist Gérard Pangon (Télérama) - the mute observer, glasses, windows and screens, liquids, diagonals, games of optics, "from documentary to fantastique" - 42 mins. Hopefully these subjects will be addressed in Arrow´s extras.

Also, an A-Z of the Decalogue (text screens). Contents unknown - perhaps a listing like the A-Z listing for Bande à part?

http://www.objectif-cinema.com/analyses/210c.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[McCrutchy]

Perhaps of interest, here is DVD Beaver on the Criterion edition.

Interesting that CC chose only 2xBD-50 for the main work, which seems in keeping, sadly, with their newfound love of super-compression on BD. I know the TVP uses all 4xBD-50, albeit with all ten parts cropped to 1.78:1, and the 82-minute supplement documentary.

Do we know the disc breakdown / count for the Arrow, yet? It would be nice if at least 3 of the 5 discs were for Dekalog, in whole or in part.

Also, Beaver says the two widescreen parts are 1.70:1, will they be 1.66:1 exact on the Arrow? I know it won't make much difference, but I find Criterion's choice of AR curious, unless of course, Gary is wrong.

[MichaelB]

They were supplied as 1.70, and I'm fine with that.

[thirtyframesasecond]

I remember seeing A Short Working Day as part of a series of Kieslowski films at the Imperial War Museum - they also had The Office, The Factory, Hospital and Railway Station - all great shorts on Czech bureaucracy.

[MichaelB]

Czech?

I suspect I may have been in the same screening, or very close if there was more than one.

[dadaistnun]

So excited about this release - it would be worth the price for the non-Dekalog components alone. I'll still likely get the Criterion set for the extras, though it's annoying that they aren't including A Short Film About “Dekalog" in its entirety.

I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet, but the fab package design for this is by Nick Wrigley.

This is also a reminder that should pick up that Maria Zmarz-Koczanowicz PWA set.

[thirtyframesasecond]

Czech?

I suspect I may have been in the same screening, or very close if there was more than one.

Oops, meant Polish!

Reckon it was around 2009?

[nitin]

Apologies if this has been answered but will the non-Dekalog tv work be in HD?

[MichaelB]

Pedestrian Subway and Short Working Day are in HD, the others are in SD. I'm pretty sure that the doc Still Alive originated in SD in the first place.