Cinema of Conflict: Four Films by Krzysztof Kieślowski from Arrow - 20th April 2020

[Rizor]

Thought this deserved its own thread. Was surprised and delighted to come across the listing.





https://arrowfilms.com/product-detai...lu-ray/FCD1997

Few names are as synonymous with Polish cinema as that of Krzysztof Kieślowski, the renowned auteur responsible for the Dekalog and Three Colours trilogy. Prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall and his subsequent creative and critical success in France, Kieślowski plied his trade within the confines of the Eastern Bloc, capturing the realities of everyday life under Soviet rule. This collection gathers his four earliest narrative feature films, encapsulating the years 1976–1984.

In 1976’s The Scar, a well-intentioned Party loyalist is charged with overseeing the construction of a new chemical plant in the face of fierce resistance and is forced to confront the conflict between his good intentions and local opposition. In 1979’s Camera Buff, a family man and amateur filmmaker experiences a dramatic change in fortunes when his newfound hobby opens up new horizons but also results in deep marital and philosophical conflicts. Blind Chance, completed in 1981 and denied a release in its native Poland until 1987, presents three possible outcomes to a single, seemingly banal event – a young medical student running to catch a train – and, in the process, explores the relationship between chance and choice. Finally, in 1984’s No End, a recently bereaved translator juggles the conflicting demands of her work, caring for her son and her continued visions of her late husband, all against the backdrop of a Poland under the grip of martial law.

As socially conscious as Kieślowski’s earlier documentary shorts, this quartet of films covers a tumultuous period in Polish and Eastern European history, shot with unflinching realism by a filmmaker of distinction.

LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• Limited Edition collection (2000 copies)
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentations of all four films
• Original lossless mono audio for all films
• Optional English subtitles for all films
• Brand new audio commentary on Camera Buff by Annette Insdorf, author of Double Lives, Second Chances: The Cinema of Krzysztof Kieślowski
• Brand new audio commentary on Blind Chance by film historian Michael Brooke
• Ghost of a Chance, a brand new visual essay on No End by Adrian Martin and Cristina Alvarez Lopez
• Moral and Martial Anxieties, a brand new discussion with Michael Brooke, exploring the brief and remarkable Polish film renaissance of the turn of the 1980s
• Brand new introductions by scholar and critic Michał Oleszczyk to all films
• Michał Oleszczyk looks through archive materials for each film
• Archival interviews with filmmakers Agnieska Holland and Krzysztof Zanussi, cinematographers Slawomir Idziak and Jacek Petrycki, actress Grazyna Szapoloska, sound designer Michal Zarnecki, critic Annette Insdorf and Kieślowski collaborator Irena Strazakowska
• Three short films by Kieślowski: Talking Heads (1980), Concert of Requests (1995) and The Office (1995)
• Workshop Exercises, a 1987 short film by Marcel Lonzinski
• Reversible sleeves featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Corey Brickley
• Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the films by scholars and authors Ewa Mazierska, Marek Hatlof, Dina Iordanova and Joseph G. Kickasola, and original writing by Kieślowski

[phoenix47]

If the restorations are good, I would imagine this is going to be a very strong contender in the end of the year listings. The extras sound amazing

[SirJaunty]

If you are getting this from Amazon - after shipping, this is £45.56 to the US.

[Jado3Dhead]

Great to see this release. I was getting around to buying the DVD of No End for years but kept putting it off because of the price charge on Amazon and eBay, good job I did. And I only seen Camera Buff on DVD.

So I'll be looking forward to this!

[FrazM865]

My pre-order of this set from Deff just arrived in today's post. Was a blind buy so let's see what we've got.

[minister_x]

How is the set? Surprised Arrow haven't sent out direct orders yet if other stores are getting copies!

[FrazM865]

Like most Arrow sets it looks good. Nice sturdy box with good artwork and four slim clear cases. I’ll try upload some pics.

[Areopagita]

Thanks for the pictures, the box looks really nice. I like how they used all-caps Helvetica on the spines (this was kind of a default font used in most Polish films since late 60s until 90s).

[andantelise]

Has anyone had theirs shipped directly from Arrow yet?

[Areopagita]

Not me. The website says "Awaiting Dispatch". It seems they're busy with the sale orders at the moment.

[minister_x]

Not yet. Mine changed from payment taken - processing to awaiting dispatch at some point yesterday, but nothing since. Surprised they took money before actually dispatching, but maybe that just occurred because it went past the release date? Hopefully it makes a move soon - was hopeful that the usual early dispatch would cancel out the (entirely understandable) parcel delays, but unfortunately wasn't to be.

Slightly annoying to pay a premium to get it after other stores, but I'd rather a delay than have their warehouse staff work in unsafe conditions for something I obviously don't need!

[malcy30]

Mine finally shipped from Amazon yesterday, coming in same box as the Star Wars 4K set. Due to be delivered this evening.

[gZa]

Mine's still 'Awaiting Dispatch'. Did get a shipping notification however it was for some stuff I just bought last week in the Arrow sale.

[_Ewan_]

Anyone received theirs yet? I’m holding off until I know what the transfers are like, don’t wanna leave it too long though as it’s limited availability.

[malcy30]

Originally Posted by _Ewan_

Anyone received theirs yet? I’m holding off until I know what the transfers are like, don’t wanna leave it too long though as it’s limited availability.

Mine came from Amazon last week, but won’t have time to watch for some time. Given a LE wanted to guarantee I got a copy.

[witchmania]

Has anyone who ordered directly from Arrow received theirs yet? I'm still waiting on mine to ship, despite having pre-ordered it as soon as it was announced.

[minister_x]

I'm also waiting on an early Arrow pre-order. It seems the popularity of their recent sale has buggered everything up, sadly. Slightly more annoying is the complete lack of communication on the matter, and the fact they charged cards on release date...but as you note, have not yet dispatched.

[witchmania]

Originally Posted by minister_x

I'm also waiting on an early Arrow pre-order. It seems the popularity of their recent sale has buggered everything up, sadly. Slightly more annoying is the complete lack of communication on the matter, and the fact they charged cards on release date...but as you note, have not yet dispatched.

Ah, sorry to hear you're in a similar boat. I can't say I've pre-ordered directly from Arrow all that often recently, but even without the extra problems caused by the pandemic, it did seem like they've not been very consistent about shipping new releases. Still waiting this long after release date is a bit frustrating - especially when the site says 'Limited Availability' for the box set. By the time they get round to shipping my order, will they actually have any left..?

[hanz0]

I ordered as soon as it went live too, never waited this long for a dispatch either, also waiting for the Phantasm set to dispatch also stuck in limbo for over a week.

They should be prioritising people that pre-ordered off the bat and already paid via paypal 3 months in advance.

Ive sent an email too awaiting a reply.

[minister_x]

Yes, I am surprised pre-orders didn't take precedence over sale orders - not just because of the order being in 'first', but also as people who pre-order are paying full 'day one' prices... surely you would want to encourage/reward that?

Hopefully the sets are dispatched soon!