British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[CrockettandTubbs]

Originally Posted by floor pie

Does anyone here any experience with BFI's Kurosawa sets, namely the Classic Collection and the Early Kurosawa set?

It seems that the Early Kurosawa set is at least a better alternative to the similar Criterion set, unless there's a huge difference in PQ. The Classic Collection is a little annoying, since I already own the Criterion Ikiru, while the other Eclipse set has The Idiot and Scandal exclusively. And I'm guessing Criterion's standalone DVD's of Red Beard and Do'des-kaden are of a higher quality. But I want The Lower Depths and I Live in Fear!

And I'm too anxious to wait on Criterion to do anything on the Kurosawa front. If they eventually do some wet dream ultimate deluxe box set collection, I can always sell these releases.

This is a good review of the Early Kurosawa, plus there's a comparison btwn the BFI and Criterion dvd sets:

https://akirakurosawa.info/2011/03/3...a-bfi-box-set/

Haven't watched any yet, however.

[blujazz]

Quick question: Does the BFI have a point of contact if you want replacement parts? I,ve purchased replacement parts before with criterion so curious if the BFI does the same

[Aunt Peg]

According to Zavvi Targets will now be released on 4 October 2021.

[MillyD]

Originally Posted by Aunt Peg

According to Zavvi Targets will now be released on 4 October 2021.

Yes I noticed that amazon has pushed back release date too.

Watched "Odds against Tomorrow" last night. Must have been one of the most nihilistic caper movies out there.

[Show spoiler]
It is part of the premise that the usually clever and elaborate heist fulls apart. Here the plan doesn't have anything even slightly clever about it, and none the characters seem to think it will work for various reasons, but go along with it anyway. It is also highly derivative of other movies like white heat and drive a crooked road.

[CelestialAgent]

BFI are releasing another 2020 film, After Love in cinemas 4th June, I bet a Blu-ray will follow

After Love official trailer - in UK cinemas 4 June 2021 | BFI - YouTube

[CelestialAgent]

While the BFI release of Tongues Untied was cancelled, Criterion are improving upon it with a boxset.

https://www.criterion.com/boxsets/44...f-marlon-riggs

[Sleazeaddict]

ok posting here, my thread got deleted

any kind mate who can help with one cheap OOP blu-ray on ebay.co.uk ?

seller don't ship to France, will send a reward disc for sure, got some double here!

Thanks for reading

found thx

[James78]

Released on Blu-ray and DVD on 19 April 2021

This powerful, critically acclaimed and multi-award nominated drama about a mother and her son who is groomed into a lethal nationwide drugs network – a ‘county line’ – is inspired by director Henry Blake’s first-hand experience as a youth worker on the frontline of child exploitation and drug trafficking in the UK. Released in cinemas and digitally last December, it now comes to Blu-ray/DVD (Dual Format Edition) on 19 April 2021. An extensive range of extras includes a commentary by Henry Blake, his original ‘proof of concept’ short film County Lines, a Q&A with Henry Blake and actors Conrad Khan and Ashley Madekwe and more.

Fourteen-year-old Tyler (Conrad Khan) attends a pupil referral unit, where he is isolated and bullied. At home he must look after his younger sister Aliyah (Tabitha Milne-Price) while his mother, Toni (Ashley Madekwe), works nights. When the preoccupied and exhausted Toni loses her job, she thrusts the family into a desperate financial situation, leaving Tyler vulnerable to Simon (Harris Dickinson) a ‘recruiter’ who targets children to promote a drug-dealing enterprise out of the city.

Conrad Khan has been nominated for BAFTA’s EE Rising Star Award and was previously nominated for Most Promising Newcomer at the BIFAs (British Independent Film Awards) and Young British/Irish Performer at the 41st London Critics’ Circle Film Awards. Ashley Madekwe is nominated for BAFTA’s Best Supporting Actress and was previously nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the BIFAs. Harris Dickinson was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the BIFAs. County Lines was longlisted for BAFTA’s Outstanding British Film. Director Henry Blake was nominated for Best Debut Director at the BIFAs and the Philip French Award for Breakthrough British/Irish Filmmaker at the 41st London Critics’ Circle Film Awards.

Special features

• Presented in High Definition
• Feature commentary by writer-director Henry Blake (2020)
• County Lines (short) (Henry Blake, 2017, 22 mins): a proof of concept film made before embarking on the feature version, includes director’s commentary
• County Lines Q&A (2020, 36 mins): Henry Blake and actors Conrad Khan and Ashley Madekwe talk to film critic Guy Lodge
• Anatomy of a Scene (2020, 3 mins): Henry Blake and Conrad Khan discuss one of the key scenes from the film
• Gus & Son (Henry Blake, 2017, 13 mins): tensions rise as a father and son take on one last job together
• Children of the City (1944, 31 mins): a dramatised study of child delinquency in Scotland
• DVD-ROM content: scripts for Gus & Son and County Lines (short)
• Trailer
• Behind the scenes stills gallery
• ***FIRST PRESSING ONLY*** Illustrated booklet with a director’s statement, essays by Michael Hayden and Isabel Stevens, the Sight & Sound review by Trevor Johnston, full credits and notes on the special features.

Product details

RRP: £19.99 / Cat. no. BFIB1392 / 15 UK / 2019 / colour / 90 mins / English, with optional hard-of-hearing subtitles and audio description / original aspect ratio 1.55:1 // BD50: 1080p, 24fps, 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio (48kHz/24-bit), PCM 2.0 stereo audio (48kHz/24-bit) / DVD9: PAL, Dolby Digital 5.1 (448kbps) and 2.0 stereo audio (320kbps)

[blujazz]

In case you want to try the merchandise first :P

Pay what you can afford screening of County Lines

Presented by Cambridge Film Festival at Home, this opportunity will only be available for viewers in the UK from Friday 26 March at 6pm until the end of Thursday 1 April.

One of the most acclaimed British dramas of 2020, County Lines stars Conrad Khan as Tyler, a young person drawn into a criminal gang network. Ashley Madekwe stars as his mother in a performance nominated for the 2021 Best Supporting Actress BAFTA.

County Lines won Best Film – Young People’s Jury Award at the Cambridge Film Festival in 2019. The presentation includes a short introduction and a Q&A by members of the Youth Lab.

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by blujazz

In case you want to try the merchandise first :P

Pay what you can afford screening of County Lines

They're also showing Speed Sisters and The Miseducation of Cameron Post as pay what you what screenings (£0 is an option).

[Wes M.]

Something about nothing... on March 3rd I asked over on the BFI FB group if there were plans to upgrade Draughtsman's Contract and The Falls / Early Films (there's a German Studio Canal BR of Draughtsman's Contract) but I got no answer. I was expecting Ben Stoddart, who liked the post, and is very good for answering queries, to come back and say "No plans!" but I thought the lack of response, even after me prompting them for one was.... unusual.

[Yami]

Ben responded to another query re: The Draughtman's Contract last month saying that they hope to bring it to Blu-Ray.

[Wes M.]

Thanks Yami. Now if someone could do something with Nightwatching / Rembrandt's J'Accuse. The Nordic BRs are long OOP...

[Buboven]

Does anyone know want is happening with the Targets release?

It was supposed to be released last month wasn't it? Then saw it was delayed until September and now October.

[minister_x]

I don't think it was ever moved to September, but was kicked back to October a number of months back. Could be that the BFI are waiting on Paramount doing a new restoration?

[Yami]

Extras on Maeve

Remastered in 2K by the BFI

Being a Woman is a Nationality – a Video Essay on Maeve (2021, 14 mins): filmmaker Chris O’Neill explores Maeve's themes of feminism, republicanism and nationality in this new video essay

Irish Cinema - Ourselves Alone? (1996, 51 mins): Why have the most enduring celluloid images of Ireland been made by foreign filmmakers? That's the core of this documentary by Donald Taylor Black - showing the struggle of Irish people to create an Irish cinema. Featuring interviews with major figures including Neil Jordan, Bob Quinn, Jim Sheridan, Pat Murphy and Roddy Doyle

Limited edition with a booklet featuring a new discussion on the film between Pat Murphy, John Davies and Robert Smith

Considering how relatively unknown the film is, it would have been good to get cover art that made it more...appealing. Great extras though.

[Jerry2345]

Originally Posted by floor pie

Does anyone here any experience with BFI's Kurosawa sets, namely the Classic Collection and the Early Kurosawa set?

It seems that the Early Kurosawa set is at least a better alternative to the similar Criterion set, unless there's a huge difference in PQ. The Classic Collection is a little annoying, since I already own the Criterion Ikiru, while the other Eclipse set has The Idiot and Scandal exclusively. And I'm guessing Criterion's standalone DVD's of Red Beard and Do'des-kaden are of a higher quality. But I want The Lower Depths and I Live in Fear!

And I'm too anxious to wait on Criterion to do anything on the Kurosawa front. If they eventually do some wet dream ultimate deluxe box set collection, I can always sell these releases.

The Red Beard quality is pretty good, and according to the comparison on dvdbeaver (http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCompare2/redbeard.htm) on par with the Criterion DVD.

It’s been a while since I checked Do’des-kaden, but I remember it also looked pretty good.

[rapta]

Makes me wonder what it would take for BFI to go ahead and finish upgrading the rest of their Kurosawa titles. Are the studio masters really so bad they can't assemble them all in a box set, presumably less risky than releasing them all separately? Perhaps they're holding off for proper 4K/2K restorations at some point, as they did for Rashomon.

I'm still a bit perplexed why they never did Godzilla, it must be popular enough for them to do their own disc. I guess the Criterion set cut off any chance of that happening.

[Yami]

Originally Posted by rapta

Makes me wonder what it would take for BFI to go ahead and finish upgrading the rest of their Kurosawa titles.

New masters

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Yami

New masters

Ah yes, straight from the horse's mouth. I guess everyone's looking Toho's way then...still, what's wrong with the current masters that Criterion presumably used?