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Closely Observed Trains
Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 4:33 pm
by MichaelB
CLOSELY OBSERVED TRAINS
Release Date: 28th September 2015
Format: Dual Format Blu-ray & DVD
Starring: Václav Neckář, Josef Somr, Vlastimil Brodský
Directed by: Jiří Menzel
Pre-order
here.
Shy teenage virgin Miloš gets his first job as a railway dispatcher and is suddenly forced to confront the realities of the adult world, not least the temptations of the opposite sex. But they in turn are more attracted to his more experienced colleague Hubi?ka and his distinctive way with an inkpad and rubber stamp…
This could easily have fuelled a light comedy, but Jiří Menzel’s bittersweet feature debut is set during World War II in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, and the various farcical goings-on threaten to distract attention from the far more pressing business of staying alive – especially since German trains are being attacked by resistance fighters and everyone is under suspicion of collaboration.
Co-written by the great Czech novelist Bohumil Hrabal (author of the classic source novella),
Closely Observed Trains won Menzel a Best Foreign Film Oscar when he was still in his twenties, and it remains one of the best-loved of all Czech films.
SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS:
• New 4K restoration by the Czech National Film Archive
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
• Original Czech soundtrack in uncompressed PCM mono audio
• Optional English subtitles
• Appreciation by Peter Hames, author of 'The Czechoslovak New Wave'
• Archival interviews with director Jiří Menzel, cinematographer Jaromír Šofr and film historian Jan Lukeš
• 'Closely Observed Films': Michael Brooke explores the six-film collaboration between Menzel and novelist Bohumil Hrabal
• Reversible sleeve featuring two pieces of artwork from the original release
DETAILS:
Region: Free
Rating: 15
Cat No: FCD1151
Duration: 92 mins
Language: Czech
Subtitles: English
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: LPCM mono
Discs: 2
B&W
Re: Closely Observed Trains
Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:56 pm
by artfilmfan
An excellent film. Glad that it will be released on Blu-ray.
Re: Closely Observed Trains
Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2015 4:25 pm
by What A Disgrace
Both this and The Fireman's Ball have been delayed until October.
Re: Closely Observed Trains
Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2015 5:23 pm
by MichaelB
I take full responsibility for both delays: Arrow is blameless.
(Except in terms of giving me far too much work in August/September, but I could always have said no...)
Re: Closely Observed Trains
Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 7:17 am
by MichaelB
Re: Closely Observed Trains
Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 9:39 am
by RossyG
Arrow clearly ahead, unsurprisingly, but what a strange choice of captures.
Re: Closely Observed Trains
Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 10:20 am
by MichaelB
Off the top of my head, I think they're from the start of each chapter on the Arrow edition.
And as David Mackenzie points out in the comments, while the fourteen-years-younger 4K-sourced Arrow is obviously going to trump the Criterion DVD, the latter was pretty good for its time.
Re: Closely Observed Trains
Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 11:54 pm
by Finch
Does Closely Observed Trains come with a reverse cover? I don't think I've seen it posted anywhere.
Re: Closely Observed Trains
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2015 12:04 am
by MichaelB
Yes - one of the original English-language posters.
Re: Closely Observed Trains
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2015 10:57 am
by Finch
Merci.
Re: Closely Observed Trains
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2015 11:11 pm
by MichaelB
Re: Closely Observed Trains
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2016 4:47 am
by Michael Kerpan
Michael B --
What is the deal with the credit for Edith Pargeter? And what are the odds that some of the other films you discuss will become available (with subs)?
Re: Closely Observed Trains
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2016 7:13 am
by MichaelB
Believe it or not, she's the translator of Closely Observed Trains - I hadn't made the connection with Ellis Peters/Cadfael until that precise moment.
As for the other films, I haven't a clue. Cutting It Short is up for restoration at some point, so I'd assume a BD in the Czech Republic at least (where the film has always been huge), but I can't help you with the others.
Re: Closely Observed Trains
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2016 2:23 pm
by Michael Kerpan
MichaelB wrote:Believe it or not, she's the translator of Closely Observed Trains - I hadn't made the connection with Ellis Peters/Cadfael until that precise moment.
Holy cow!
Re: Closely Observed Trains
Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 6:22 am
by All the Best People
I just watched this movie for the first time tonight after picking up the Arrow region-free Blu-Ray on sale over at Foreign Exchange Blu-Ray Imports. I haven't delved into the extras yet, but the transfer itself was strong, as was the movie. It's an interesting mix of teen coming-of-age sex comedy with the WWII setting giving it depth -- your typical Eros vs. Thanatos setup. Also a healthy dose of mocking authority (I wonder what Altman thought of this, as there's something of a kinship with MASH, though this is far less madcap). Not at all sad to have bought this sight unseen, as it lived up to its rep.