Death by Hanging (1968)

[Scottie]

Death by Hanging (1968)

Genius provocateur Nagisa Oshima (In the Realm of the Senses), an influential figure in the Japanese New Wave of the 1960s, made one of his most startling political statements with the compelling pitch-black satire Death by Hanging. In this macabre farce, a Korean man is sentenced to death in Japan but survives his execution, sending the authorities into a panic about what to do next. At once disturbing and oddly amusing, Oshima’s constantly surprising film is a subversive and surreal indictment of both capital punishment and the treatment of Korean immigrants in his country.

New, restored 4K digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
New interview with critic Tony Rayns
New high-definition digital transfer of director Nagisa Oshima’s 1965 experimental short documentary Diary of Yunbogi
Trailer
New English subtitle translation
PLUS: An essay by critic Howard Hampton

[StLouisRibs]

I literally watched this yesterday. It's very good, mind.

[JoeBuck]

Wish this was getting more attention, for me this is the real gem of the announcements even though they're all great.
This will be high on my list of priorities!

[javi92]

Originally Posted by JoeBuck

This will be high on my list of priorities!

Mine too. Day 1 for me. Glad this wasn't relegated to another Eclipse set.

[themp3000]

Extremely exciting stuff! I was personally hoping for an ATG Oshima box (which would have blown my socks off!) but I guess this is fine too. I may hold off on it though. I'll play it by ear.

[pro-bassoonist]

Death by Hanging Blu-ray REVIEW



Outstanding 4K restoration!

If possible, see the film without reading any reviews that discuss in great detail its style and structure. Your viewing experience will be much better

Pro-B

p.s. We do not have packaging photos yet, but when the market version arrives we will update the review and the thread

[asmodeux21]

"Death by Hanging" is a beautiful and effective movie. Pro-B, do you think "Boy" and "The Ceremony" will also be released in HD by Criterion? I know that France released those two titles on blu ray.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by asmodeux21

"Death by Hanging" is a beautiful and effective movie. Pro-B, do you think "Boy" and "The Ceremony" will also be released in HD by Criterion? I know that France released those two titles on blu ray.

"Boy" was supposed to be released by Criterion on Blu-Ray and DVD in 2014, but it never happened. Not sure why not. Which is why I was surprised Death by Hanging came out first, as they had been preparing Boy for so awhile. Either way, I would expect Boy at some point in the future as well as The Ceremony since they hold the rights to both films.

Really wish they would amp up their Japanese releases like Arrow is. I really want them to finally release Hunter in the Dark, Bandits VS Samurai Squadron, and Heat Wave.

[wmermine1]

It seems like Night and Fog in Japan should also be considered for mainline release by Criterion. It is an important work in Oshima's filmography, and it is available on Hulu (in HD, I think).

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by asmodeux21

"Death by Hanging" is a beautiful and effective movie. Pro-B, do you think "Boy" and "The Ceremony" will also be released in HD by Criterion? I know that France released those two titles on blu ray.

I was just going to mention the Carlotta releases, asmodeux21, but you already know about them. I don't know if Criterion are planning to have them on Blu-ray in 2016.

The Ceremony will be great to bring to North America because I think that in many ways it is a lot more effective than Death by Hanging.

By the way, these two films below are both very good companion pieces, but you probably already know



Pro-B

[pro-bassoonist]

PACKAGING PHOTOS

More in the review, linked above





Pro-B

[Ray Jackson]

There's not that many critical reviews out there about this film.

...seems to be one that kind of flew under the radar in the West.