Sion Sono's 'Guilty of Romance'

[deepbreathsanddeath]

http://www.yesasia.com/global/guilty...0-en/info.html

I don't think the Japanese release is listed on blu-ray.com but I've been interested in obtaining it for ages now for the simple fact that it contains the 144 minute Cannes cut. I've had the Eureka disc since it was released but that, and every other release outside of Japan only contains the 113 minute international cut.

Sion Sono apparently prefers the shorter international cut, and I can see why, but as a collector and out of curiosity, I would love to see and own the original cannes cut. Unfortunately I don't think it comes with English subtitles which is driving me nuts. I don't know how to go about at the very least WATCHING this version with English subs because I can't find any with fan made subs or something.

I know he prefers the shorter cut, and that's the "directors cut" I guess, but I'm sure many of you understand how I'm feeling. If it was the difference of 1 or 2 minutes, I could try to forget about it, but even then that would bug me. That's not the case though, it's a 31 minute difference which is huge and just because the director prefers the shorter, international cut, doesn't mean I will.

Admittedly, I didn't LOVE Guilty of Romance as a film, but it's one that I'm fascinated by and felt had more potential. I grow to like it more with each viewing. Apparently a lot of footage cut from the Cannes cut was footage of the police investigation, which is actually something I wish that I got to see more of so I feel as though I may actually love it if I get to see this cut.

I doubt this cut will ever be released outside of Japan so I worry that I'll never get to see it and that's an extremely frustrating feeling, you know

[logboy]

it's not a Cannes cut, it's the cut for Japanese release. the argument against the "preferred" shorter cut looks odd when the same version didn't get a release everywhere, and its main market got a longer cut.

the bbfc certified the longer cut for eureka in the uk, and they said they'd release it - but didn't. it's essentially an attempt to take one film and allowing it two independent lives, with release timing & maximising profits hard to do with regions & zones.

for me, the apparent western interest in sono post 'love exposure' is so automated that its a major reason why I despair for western interest in j films... I'd have championed sono at one time, frequently did, but he doesn't deserve to be so obvious as it all now feels lazy and cliched to me. everyone makes their own choices, but in the west, the knowledge of what Japan is making is so narrow it's say to see how it's possible to argue so many pile feeling they've found the best when they know so little about the rest.

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Originally Posted by logboy

it's not a Cannes cut, it's the cut for Japanese release. the argument against the "preferred" shorter cut looks odd when the same version didn't get a release everywhere, and its main market got a longer cut.

the bbfc certified the longer cut for eureka in the uk, and they said they'd release it - but didn't. it's essentially an attempt to take one film and allowing it two independent lives, with release timing & maximising profits hard to do with regions & zones.

for me, the apparent western interest in sono post 'love exposure' is so automated that its a major reason why I despair for western interest in j films... I'd have championed sono at one time, frequently did, but he doesn't deserve to be so obvious as it all now feels lazy and cliched to me. everyone makes their own choices, but in the west, the knowledge of what Japan is making is so narrow it's say to see how it's possible to argue so many pile feeling they've found the best when they know so little about the rest.

I take it you're not quite as bummed about this as I am.

[logboy]

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

I take it you're not quite as bummed about this as I am.

oh, I was bummed. would have watched it out of interest in the idea of why people are so interested in sono. livid at the tactic of 'international cut', which to my eyes is worse than censorship but easy to portray as not.

[Renophaston]

I just want to say that I'm precisely as bummed as you are, deepbreathsanddeath, and I hope if you or anyone hears word of a way to view this cut in English that you'll let us know.

(And logboy, I've found that even after enjoying Sono's recent films, I'm still interested other Japanese cinema, so if you're worried about me, you can relax. It does suck that Western distributors seem pretty oblivious to Japanese film, and I hope that changes.)

[jdgladw]

Here it says that Olive films is going to release both versions in 2013.

[logboy]

Originally Posted by Renophaston

I just want to say that I'm precisely as bummed as you are, deepbreathsanddeath, and I hope if you or anyone hears word of a way to view this cut in English that you'll let us know.

(And logboy, I've found that even after enjoying Sono's recent films, I'm still interested other Japanese cinema, so if you're worried about me, you can relax. It does suck that Western distributors seem pretty oblivious to Japanese film, and I hope that changes.)

not worried about anyone, just annoyed that its usually a case of people picking from what's been picked for them... rather than people hunting or stuff they may never get to see (from the hundreds of j films made each year) but would like to show an interest in or appetite for.

I think there has to be a way to avoid the cycle of repetitive & narrow tastes that often seems to result from some lack of dynamism stateside - fans & labels both do it, but fans feel freer to point the finger at licensees & forget about 'themselves', maybe.