criterionforum.org

Listening to the panel discussion of the best films of 2011 and Becker is still 'trying to make a deal' to secure the rights according to Tom Luddy. So all hope is not lost. About 20.38 in here

A Brighter Summer Day screened yesterday (Oct.14th) in San Francisco, and I attended the event. Edward Yang's widow was present for a post-screening Q&A and said a deal had been made with Criterion to put the film on Blu-Ray/DVD. Very good news. I suspect music rights issues might have prevented an earlier release. She also said that the Yang estate doesn't hold all the copyrights to his films, which complicates DVD release of his other works.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure Elvis sang "Bright Summer Day" and just happened to throw in that extra vocalization at the end--his singing could be quite stylized at times.

"bright summer day" is the lyric (check out the versions of the song Elvis was covering), and the mistake is the point of the reference in the film.

It's great to have this level of confirmation!

Any newer rumors? I guess, at the earliest, we're looking at a March release...

In Amsterdam, at the fabulous Eye institute there is an Edward Yang program coming up this month, including a screening of 'A Brighter Summer Day'.

Finally.

Looks like we won't be seeing this before summer. Maybe there will be a 35mm screening in DC or New York sometime soon...

Paul Dano wants A Brighter Summer Day as much as this forum does:

“I am a huge fan of the Criterion Collection. I read the booklets while I ride the subway. I obsess over the pictogram of films they will release (is A Brighter Summer Day coming?!). Making a Top 10 list is near impossible. So in honor of the Criterion edition This Is Spinal Tap, I turned it up to 11.”

His support just set it back 5 years.

My heart skips a beat each time this thread gets updated

Coming in box via World Film Foundation, No?

In theory, though there are rights issues that could prevent that for a while/forever.

A prime candidate for the first bootleg blu-ray, no?

I don't think Criterion should to release it on any format. Who would need it if you've got the Laserdisc (like me)?



Just to tease you, I give you two captures to show you how amazing the picture is on my setup (although I'll get an X0 until New year's eve so there'll be some improvement for sure).

http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/t41 ... /Yang1.png" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/t41 ... /Yang2.png" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://kmdb.or.kr/column/lim101_list_vi ... earchText=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
This link is an interview between Bong Joon-ho and Korean critic Jung Sung-il talking about Im Kwon-taek. (it's korean)
In this interview, Bong Jong-ho said A Brighter Summer Day Blu-ray will get released by Criterion in october. But, it's already the end of october. More interestingly, Bong even said he have preordered it in this interview. I'm really curious about truth of what he said.

I want a hit from Bong's bong.

On Facebook, Craig Keller posted that this is coming out in the U.S. "shortly." What does he know that we don't...?

That "shortly" is a very subjective term?

Hopefully this is the title holding up the next WCF box?

I don't know, I would never save a four-hour plus magnum opus like this for a box set of various films from different filmmakers. Just the sheer running time alone seems to cry out for a standalone release.

Plus the two shorter versions that will otherwise never be released if not on a full-on spine number release, thought thats a huge amount of disc space for 8 hours of film

A Brighter Summer Day is tentatively scheduled for TCM on September 6th. Could this foreshadow the release is coming sooner than expected?

Unless it gets pulled at the last minute, the TCM showing means that at least the rights have been cleared for television in the US. Hopefully that also means the home video rights are straightened out. But yes, it probably means sooner rather than later.

It is now off the TCM schedule for September 6th. Kurosawa's Hakuchi (The Idiot) is airing in its place. Something must happened (rights issue?) for it to be pulled from the schedule.

Maybe Criterion or Janus or the WCF asked to hold off a broadcast as it'd reduce demand for the hopefully very soon to come home video release?

How would it reduce demand? More awareness of the film would only increase demand.