The Criterion Collection

[MifuneFan]

Bo Widerberg’s New Swedish Cinema

https://www.criterion.com/boxsets/67...swedish-cinema

FOUR-BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• New restorations, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks
• New introduction to director Bo Widerberg by filmmaker Ruben Östlund
• New interviews with actor Tommy Berggren and cinematographer Jörgen Persson
• The Boy and the Kite (1962), a short film by Widerberg and Jan Troell, with an introduction by Troell
• Swedish television interviews with Widerberg from the 1960s
• Behind-the-scenes footage from the making of Elvira Madigan
• PLUS: An essay by film historian Peter Cowie and excerpts by Widerberg from his 1962 book Vision in Swedish Film

New cover by Eric Skillman

Driven by a desire to forge a socially conscious Swedish cinema—one that broke with the inward-looking psychodrama of Ingmar Bergman to give dynamic expression to the everyday experiences of working-class Swedes—writer Bo Widerberg turned to filmmaking in the early 1960s, realizing his ambition in politically committed yet poetic works that merge social-realist themes with a refined, often breathtakingly beautiful visual sensibility. Dramatizing the struggles of ordinary people fighting to chart their own destiny, these four acclaimed, popular, and pivotal films from Widerberg’s most prolific period live and breathe with a rare vitality—and helped launch a new Swedish cinema.

[NeilZ]

Damn I can't tell what to think. They made us wait this long for another Kurosawa and it's a 4k remaster of the very last one they put out on blu? This move feels like borderline trolling.

On top of that I'd be super weary getting it since I fully expect we'll be seeing a boxset with the Toho 4k remaster releases (of which soon 9 will have already been released in Japan), and this new 4k remaster of Dreams will likely be a part of it.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by RevolverOcelScott

[/SPOILER]

Ok, I'm gonna be negative here. But with all the *****ing and moaning I and others have done about no Kurosawa for years, the one they release almost 8 years later is a damn 4K of the last one they released 8 years ago

Still 100% buying it, just kinda funny.

Yeah, time for some negativity from me as well. AFTER EIGHT YEARS, the first Kurosawa they release is the exactly the SAME one as before, but in 4K. Guess what? The Blu-ray already looked great! I really wish it was one that really needed an upgrade like almost every single other Kurosawa title. I'm prepared for some heat, but man for the most part, I really hate Criterion. They are becoming as useless as tits on on a bull.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by RevolverOcelScott

[/SPOILER]

Ok, I'm gonna be negative here. But with all the *****ing and moaning I and others have done about no Kurosawa for years, the one they release almost 8 years later is a damn 4K of the last one they released 8 years ago

Still 100% buying it, just kinda funny.

It perhaps is telling that Dreams is being licensed from Warner as well. The issues with licensing from Toho have apparently become even worse in recent years from everything I've read.

My first thought too when I saw this was that it kind of eliminates the notion that they're doing some big comprehensive AK box set. I mean, this wouild likely be saved for such a set, no? I've personally always ruled out such a set because there are just too many major films left for them to simply be put in a set.

[BunyipPouch]

Oof, rough month. Nothing for me. I guess this is the price we have to pay for After Hours. Still worth it.

[RevolverOcelScott]

Originally Posted by NeilZ

Damn I can't tell what to think. They made us wait this long for another Kurosawa and it's a 4k remaster of the very last one they put out on blu? This move feels like borderline trolling.

On top of that I'd be super weary getting it since I fully expect we'll be seeing a boxset with the Toho 4k remaster releases (of which soon 9 will have already been released in Japan), and this new 4k remaster of Dreams will likely be a part of it.

100% this.

[Member-222782]

[themp3000]

Oh man, that Bo Widerberg blu set will go nicely with Radiance’s Man on the Roof blu.

Never bought or saw Dreams but I guess I might get the 4K for this one. I dunno yet, doesn’t come across as one of the must owns.

[RevolverOcelScott]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

It perhaps is telling that Dreams is being licensed from Warner as well. The issues with licensing from Toho have apparently become even worse in recent years from everything I've read.

My first thought too when I saw this was that it kind of eliminates the notion that they're doing some big comprehensive AK box set. I mean, this wouild likely be saved for such a set, no? I've personally always ruled out such a set because there are just too many major films left for them to simply be put in a set.

It bums me out. Obviously I'm getting this, but of all the titles they've released, they chose their last release. It makes it feel like more of a cash grab as it was 4K remastered for the Blu-ray. I was hopeful, but doubtful as you were, of a Kurosawa set, but for this one to be the release they come back from "haitus" feels sloppy to me. All the ones left in DVD limbo with super old scans....

(That is in no way a knock at the film, it's a FANTASTIC Kurosawa film, and will look excellent)

[MifuneFan]

This is a pretty solid lineup overall. Glad to see another Wayne Wang film come out, especially one inspired by Ozu. I'm also interested in the Swedish box set. August typically isn't a very heavy month, so getting Dreams in 4K is a nice surprise too.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by fdm

I've watched a lot of movies with the English subtitles/closed captions enabled that have apparently been done by some AI thing or who knows what. Tons of mistakes, in a way hilarious to see some of the shit they come up with, but in a way also pretty pathetic.

And? Ive seen plenty where humans of it and there are still mistakes. But $1.50 a minute isn't a "ton" of money for human translation, but way to ignore that part because there is no excuse then.

Originally Posted by Mushi Minion

Take a step back (or roll your wheelie chair a foot away from your keyboard) and ask yourself why you're being so needlessly antagonistic. Is that beneficial to the point you’re making, or will it turn people against you even if they’d otherwise be receptive to your point-of-view? I agree with you that everything should come with subtitles, but with your attitude I hesitate to voice any support for it.

You'd accomplish a whole lot more, and probably be a heck of a lot happier, if you approach discourse from a positive headspace. Try it next time, resist the urge to snark and you'll find more success educating others.

Again, take a step back and ask why you choose to attack me, when I posted facts against the pother guy's misinformation. But you'd rather have that misinformation and carry out personal vendettas because Internet—sorry your "hesitation" for believing facts comes at a price.

[Midway30]

Nice, I get to save money for August.

[Cremildo]

Very interested in the Widerberg movies, even though I didn't much care for Elvira Madigan. Pretty much all of the classic Swedish cinema I've seen is from Bergman, gotta change that.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by NeilZ

This move feels like borderline trolling.

It's like they have heard the requests for the last 8 years and were like, "You guys want some Kurosawa? You sure about that? We'll give you some Kurosawa! Except it's going to be the same one from 8 years ago suckers!"

[RevolverOcelScott]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

It's like they have heard the requests for the last 8 years and were like, "You guys want some Kurosawa? You sure about that? We'll give you some Kurosawa! Except it's going to be the same one from 8 years ago suckers!"

Now with HDR™!

That'll be 49.99 please!

[concolt]

Dang and I just bought Dreams this past month! I’ll grab the 4K and gift the Blu-ray to someone.

[Number_6]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

My first thought too when I saw this was that it kind of eliminates the notion that they're doing some big comprehensive AK box set. I mean, this wouild likely be saved for such a set, no? I've personally always ruled out such a set because there are just too many major films left for them to simply be put in a set.

I know I’m going to get blasted for saying this as I know everyone’s been clamoring for a box set…but personally I’d be just fine with them releasing these individually on 4K.

I’ve been dreading a 4K box set because it probably would be some elaborate cardboard origami sculpture of a samurai that you need an instruction sheet to unfold just to get discs…which will start falling out the minute you start trying to undue the packaging…and have to pay through the nose for such “artful” packaging.

I get the discontent of Dreams being the first 4K, was kinda hoping for Red Beard myself, but I don’t own Dreams on Blu-ray yet so this will be a nice start for me.

[RevolverOcelScott]

Originally Posted by Number_6

I know I’m going to get blasted for saying this as I know everyone’s been clamoring for a box set…but personally I’d be just fine with them releasing these individually on 4K.

I’ve been dreading a 4K box set because it probably would be some elaborate cardboard origami sculpture of a samurai that you need an instruction sheet to unfold just to get discs…which will start falling out the minute you start trying to undue the packaging…and have to pay through the nose for such “artful” packaging.

I get the discontent of Dreams being the first 4K, was kinda hoping for Red Beard myself, but I don’t own Dreams on Blu-ray yet so this will be a nice start for me.

I'd never blast anyone for that. I don't think there's a single person here who'd be opposed to single releases over a box set, more their choice of first (of hopefully many)!

If next month another was announced, I'd be pretty content knowing this wasn't a one-off cash grab!

[Mushi Minion]

Ol' Duke must have finally pre-ordered Branded to Kill 4K.

[Nori]

I love Criterion but this is a shocker.

Did someone suddenly wake up and realize they'd been sleeping on Kurosawa, and decide let's go back to Dreams and just do a 4K so those fans stop clamoring for Kurosawa?

Now I have to wonder whether a Kurosawa box is even in the works, and if it isn't this is truly depressing as there are still so many major Kurosawa films yet to be released on blu ray here, plus now all those 4k remasters are coming out in Japan. Only Criterion has the power to bring them to us here.