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Where can I order this disc?

Who's the distributor/studio behind it?

Thanks!

Geneon released it on DVD a few years ago, but it's out of print at the moment.

The film was produced by the Art Theatre Guild.

Thank you... I guess that would explain the lack of google results and searches with international retailers. Was it released exclusively in Japan?

Guess I'll have to take my search to eBay...

There's a very decent bootleg (with excellent English subtitles) available at allcluesnosolutions.com or superhappyfun.com.

forweg wrote:There's a very decent bootleg (with excellent English subtitles) available at allcluesnosolutions.com or superhappyfun.com.

I hope the subtitles aren't the ones Steve Clark made for Kinema Klub. Those weren't meant for distribution through bootleggers (who often charge ridiculous prices for material they haven't worked on).

I have no idea, but superhappyfun says that their Pastoral: To Die in the Country disc (which features very similar subs) is "an early prototype for japanesenewwave.com".

Regardless, I see nothing wrong with recommending bootlegs when there are no viable alternative options. (And seven bucks is hardly a ridiculous price.)

the dancing kid wrote:

forweg wrote:There's a very decent bootleg (with excellent English subtitles) available at allcluesnosolutions.com or superhappyfun.com.

I hope the subtitles aren't the ones Steve Clark made for Kinema Klub. Those weren't meant for distribution through bootleggers (who often charge ridiculous prices for material they haven't worked on).

I don't have the superhappyfun bootleg, but I've seen taped off of TV subbed versions of this floating around for years. They probably used some of that (or maybe translated from Chinese?) The Kinema Klub stuff is pretty well safeguarded.

Steven H wrote:I don't have the superhappyfun bootleg, but I've seen taped off of TV subbed versions of this floating around for years. They probably used some of that (or maybe translated from Chinese?) The Kinema Klub stuff is pretty well safeguarded.

I hope that's the case. The guy who runs superhappyfun and japanesenewwave has pestered people from Kinema Klub in the past, so there has been some worry about how tightly distribution can be controlled. I actually have a copy of the Kinema Klub "Throw out Your Books..." but I've never agreed to trade a copy of it out of worry that it will end up as part of the library at superhappyfun and help fund that operation (or even jeopardize the Kinema Klub project, since they can't be associated with that sort of thing). I don't have a DVD burner though, so it's a pretty easy principle to stick to.

The subs for the JNW discs were apparently very good, but I don't know who made them. I heard that the project died when the subtitle authors protested their lack of compensation, which is one of the reasons I'm suspicious of these sorts of operations. I don't have a problem with tap-trading as a way of sharing hard to find films, but I don't like the idea of people using bootlegs as a way of generating revenue. And it seems like superhappyfun is in that business based on their prices and the fact that most of their products are just regionless DVDrs of commercial releases.

the dancing kid wrote:And it seems like superhappyfun is in that business based on their prices and the fact that most of their products are just regionless DVDrs of commercial releases.

This is true. And unless you're looking for dupes of Japanese releases, the last year or so of superhappyfun material has been useless. It's funny, but I imagine the torrent sites have "hurt" these sites the most since there is almost zero reason to buy them when not a penny will get to the original owner.

the dancing kid wrote:The guy who runs superhappyfun and japanesenewwave has pestered people from Kinema Klub in the past, so there has been some worry about how tightly distribution can be controlled.

I read on a Yahoo! group that the guy who ran Superhappyfun was taking care of the distribution of the JNW releases and ran the website. He tried to take all of the money that was needed to reimburse the subtitlers and to buy more films to work on and release. The group felt that it wasn't worth the effort to find a new source of distribution, find a new website domain or buy it off of superhappyfun owner, and put up with the hassle so they called it quits.

Shame too, because I guess they were working on more Oshima's.

Most likely these subtitles are the ones that were created by a number of members of the file sharing community. Both English and Russian subtitles were created (one of the same guys was also involved in subtitling Farewell to the Ark and Jissoji's Mujo amongst others). A subtitled VHS rip was used with many additional lines translated from a chinese dvd due to the fact that the VHS was a shorter edit of the film. Stunning work by all involved - which makes it all the more annoying if their hard work is being exploited for profit by bootleggers.

There is no reason why anyone should have to pay for this stuff. The subtitles are available to download with emule as an srt file or from www.kloofy.net. The film can be downloaded with emule in divx format. The entire custom dvd can be downloaded from ADC along with many other amazing custom dvds (and I will be eternally grateful to the subtitlers for bringing these masterpieces to English speaking audiences). Until an official English language release comes along (if ever) this material should be shared freely, not sold for profit.

There is no reason why anyone should have to pay for this stuff.

Except for those of us with ancient computers and dial-up connections. Yes, we still exist!

forweg wrote:

There is no reason why anyone should have to pay for this stuff.

Except for those of us with ancient computers and dial-up connections. Yes, we still exist!

No problem - that's why trading by snail mail is still so popular.

BrightEyes23 wrote:I read on a Yahoo! group that the guy who ran Superhappyfun was taking care of the distribution of the JNW releases and ran the website. He tried to take all of the money that was needed to reimburse the subtitlers and to buy more films to work on and release. The group felt that it wasn't worth the effort to find a new source of distribution, find a new website domain or buy it off of superhappyfun owner, and put up with the hassle so they called it quits.

If only that were true.

This is available from Yesasia again. A bit pricey, but worth it if you like the movie. The transfer is top shelf.

the dancing kid wrote:This is available from Yesasia again. A bit pricey, but worth it if you like the movie. The transfer is top shelf.

But still no subs, right?

Right, no subs.