Piotr Szulkin's Apocalypse Tetralogy (1979-1985) coming from Vinegar Syndrome Labs

[whiteberry]

Piotr Szulkin's Apocalypse Tetralogy Blu-ray

The late 70s and early-mid 80s in Poland were a time of incredible censorship and, miraculously, a time of phenomenal output from Polish filmmakers. Often overshadowed on the world stage by his peers, Piotr Szulkin was a visionary pioneer in the dystopian Sci-Fi genre. Presented here are the four films that comprise Szulkin's Apocalypse Tetralogy, originally released between 1980-1986, arguably the busiest period for the scissors of Polish censors. Cleverly working around content restrictions, Szulkin delivers tense and disturbing Sci-Fi, telling fantastical, and often horrific, allegories of living in a corrupt bureaucracy and police state. From aliens to artificially-created beings, from brainwashed masses and ultra-violent indulgences, Vinegar Syndrome is proud to present Piotr Szulkin's Apocalypse Tetralogy, making its Worldwide Blu-ray debut.

GOLEM
93 min / 1.66:1 / Polish Mono / © 1979 Film Polski

Pernat finds himself in a police interrogation, accused of a murder, and unable to recall any details of the crime, or even his own life. He's released back into a world of raving lunatics and deranged dentists, murderous doctors and scientists who believe the secret of human creation is inside the walls of a cast-iron oven. Pernat's odyssey to find out who he is, and what it is to be human, will force his path to cross with all of them.

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS: NEXT CENTURY
97 min / 1.85:1 / Polish Mono / © 1981 Film Polski

The Martians have landed and they're not to be feared! Or at least that's what TV personality Iron Idem has been telling people. Soon after their arrival though, his apartment is ransacked and his wife kidnapped. He's tagged like a wild animal and his nightly scripts are being changed. What Idem's eyes are seeing no longer matches what he tells audiences night after night. Are the Martians as good-natured as he believed, or is he being used in a more sinister plot that endangers the entire planet?

O-BI, O-BA: THE END OF CIVILIZATION
89 min / 1.85:1 / Polish Mono / © 1984 Film Polski

The world has been ravaged by nuclear war. The planet is frozen and radiation kills anyone or anything that ventures outside of 'The Dome'. Soft is a shepherd for the last remnants of humanity who have gathered together as they await rescue from a mysterious craft known only as 'The Ark.' He wanders among the masses, performing his regular daily tasks; keeping morale from plummeting, wooing prostitutes, squashing rebellions, and sometimes feeding the hungry. But as the true and sinister nature of 'The Dome' comes to light, Soft must ask himself if humanity is worth saving?

GA-GA: GLORY TO THE HEROES
84 min / 1.66:1 / Polish Mono / © 1985 Film Polski

Scope is a prisoner on a behemoth space station and is chosen, like all his fellow prisoners, to 'volunteer' for the exploration of far-away planets. Landing on planet Australia 458, he is given a hero's welcome with all the sex, booze, and violence that any one man can stomach. But as his new caretakers push him towards even more heinous and deplorable acts, Scope finds that his freedom comes with a high price; his own violent demise, broadcast live for the viewing pleasure of Australia 458's inhabitants. Is there a way out? Or is Scope's fate sealed?

directed by: Piotr Szulkin
starring: Marek Walczewski, Krystyna Janda, Roman Wilhelmi, Mariusz Dmochowski, Jerzy Stuhr, Kalina Jedrusik, Daniel Olbrychski, Katarzyna Figura
1979-1985 / 363 min (combined) / 1.66:1 & 1.85:1 / Polish Mono with English subtitles

Additional info:

• 2-disc Region Free Set: Blu-ray x2
• Newly restored by Vinegar Syndrome from existing studio masters
• Brand new commentary track with film historian and author Samm Deighan for GOLEM
• Brand new commentary track with film author and critic Michael Brooke for THE WAR OF THE WORLDS: NEXT CENTURY
• "Actually Existing Dystopia: Politics, Delusion and Language in O-BI, O-BA: THE END OF CIVILIZATION" (17 min) - a video essay by Jonathan Owen
• "Hard to be a Hero: Piotr Szulkin’s GA-GA: GLORY TO THE HEROES" (21 min) - a video essay by Andrew Nette
• 40-page perfect bound book with essays by Samm Deighan and Patrick Dahl alongside an archival interview with director Piotr Szulkin
• Reversible sleeve artwork
• Newly translated English subtitles

https://vinegarsyndrome.com/collecti...ypse-tetralogy

Piotr Szulkin's Apocalypse Tetralogy (1979-85) [Vinegar Syndrome Labs Blu-ray Promo Trailer] - YouTube

[MifuneFan]

Radiance's release will apparently be region free, and they're doing some in-house restoration work too, so that makes things more interesting. They confirmed Golem is coming out from another UK label (likely Second Run)

[acnorca]

I had never even heard of Piotr Szulkin before VS announced this but I checked out their teaser and read about the man and his films and I was instantly interested. I haven't checked out many 80s Euro sci-fi films (Zulewski's On the Silver Globe comes to mind. Unforgettable film) but that aesthetic and weirdness seemed righ up my alley so I didn't hesitate to include it in my order during the last sale. Really looking forward to checking these out.

[Lannister1098]

Bought this during the VS halfway sale. I’m excited to get these, mainly because I like the Fallout video game series.

[GasmaskAvenger]

As someone who loves the work of Andrejz Zulawski, I was instantly sold on this release, so I got it during VinSyn's halfway sale.

[Freeza]

Originally Posted by Lannister1098

Bought this during the VS halfway sale. I’m excited to get these, mainly because I like the Fallout video game series.

If this is referring to O-bi, O-ba,

[Show spoiler]the only similarity is the survivors are grouped together in a shelter.

[kwisatzhaderach]

Damn, missed this, is that it gone forever?

[themp3000]

Originally Posted by kwisatzhaderach

Damn, missed this, is that it gone forever?

It’ll be back on July 1st.

[kwisatzhaderach]

Originally Posted by themp3000

It’ll be back on July 1st.

Thank you!

[acnorca]

Does anyone know if we can submit a JPEG of the cover art for the set on its entry here? The page for it exists but it doesn't have the cover art.

[sneakyRay]

Originally Posted by acnorca

Does anyone know if we can submit a JPEG of the cover art for the set on its entry here? The page for it exists but it doesn't have the cover art.

There is a "upload cover" button below the tabs below the missing cover.

[LeDroitDeTuer]

Got my copy yesterday with my VS sale order, slipcase and slipcover are a bit dinged which is annoying when you're getting the milk straight from the cow, but oh well.

Screen caps from Golem:

[Show spoiler]

Screen Caps from The War of the Worlds:

[Show spoiler]

[jmbe]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Radiance's release will apparently be region free, and they're doing some in-house restoration work too, so that makes things more interesting. They confirmed Golem is coming out from another UK label (likely Second Run)

I was slightly intrigued by the Radiance release and then after some short digging saw this release from VS.

I'm on the fence as to whether I'll be picking either up, but would you say it's worth waiting for the Radiance release?

Discounting the additional restoration work, I'm struggling to decided which set has the better special features.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by jmbe

I was slightly intrigued by the Radiance release and then after some short digging saw this release from VS.

I'm on the fence as to whether I'll be picking either up, but would you say it's worth waiting for the Radiance release?

Discounting the additional restoration work, I'm struggling to decided which set has the better special features.

It's not an easy decision. Radiance has the more attractive package, with the 80-page book, and includes a number of short films as well. VS has a commentary with Michael Brooke, plus a fourth film, Golem. The two sets almost compliment each other in the sense that they have 3 commentary tracks total, but all for different films. Ultimately, If I had to choose, I'd likely go with VS.

[jmbe]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

It's not an easy decision. Radiance has the more attractive package, with the 80-page book, and includes a number of short films as well. VS has a commentary with Michael Brooke, plus a fourth film, Golem. The two sets almost compliment each other in the sense that they have 3 commentary tracks total, but all for different films. Ultimately, If I had to choose, I'd likely go with VS.

I was also leaning towards the VS. If nothing else, it has all 4 films in a slightly slimmer package. Thanks for your input!

[Crispy Noodle]

Originally Posted by jmbe

I was also leaning towards the VS. If nothing else, it has all 4 films in a slightly slimmer package. Thanks for your input!

I obviously have no clue what the Radiance restoration work will mean, but I watched all 4 of the films on the VS release and thought they looked excellent. No issues at all to my eyes.

[jmbe]

Originally Posted by Crispy Noodle

I obviously have no clue what the Radiance restoration work will mean, but I watched all 4 of the films on the VS release and thought they looked excellent. No issues at all to my eyes.

Generally speaking I'm not a stickler for restoration work/image quality (obviously I prefer better quality when given the choice but my setup is pretty low-end and I'm not on the 4K train yet), so when it comes down to this kind of either-or decision I'm more likely to be swayed by the content/extras.

Book length: Radiance
2 featurettes in each set, both different: DRAW
3 Short films on Radiance vs additional Feature on VS: Given that the 4th film will be getting a separate UK release at some point, the Radiance shorts are arguably the winner here: Radiance
Commentaries: two on VS, one on Radiance: VS

Overall: Radiance 2 - 1 VS

Factor in the restoration work and maybe Radiance actually represents the better choice?

I dunno...

[MifuneFan]

Radiance has posted pics from their regrade of Ga-Ga: Glory to the Heroes

https://twitter.com/FilmsRadiance/st...41502111203328

[Puffy]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Radiance has posted pics from their regrade of Ga-Ga: Glory to the Heroes

https://twitter.com/FilmsRadiance/st...41502111203328

No preorder through Diabolik, etc. yet. Hopefully one of the online retailers in the US will get this.

[xxnomad]

Originally Posted by Puffy

No preorder through Diabolik, etc. yet. Hopefully one of the online retailers in the US will get this.

I think this is going to be another Horrible Dr. Hitchcock situation, I asked orbit already and they said they won't be carrying it. I'd assume Diabolik is in the same boat. I'm about to place an order direct in a few days.