British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Yami

The BFI may be releasing Lino Brocka's Manila in the Claws of Light

Holy crap YES!! Finally, we might get some Brocka on Blu-ray over here. This was of course rumoured for MoC a couple of years ago (Craig Keller discussed it in the Masters of Cinema Cast) and since then Eureka have gone pretty quiet on WCP-related titles and the BFI released Sembene's Black Girl.

I love how the article says that the BFI have 'offered'. I'm sure if they for some reason passed on it, then Eureka or Second Run would be next in line (and then possibly Arrow Academy). For me this is probably the most exciting impending title from BFI other than maybe Erice's El Sur.

I wonder if they'll be getting Insiang as well, which also seems to be ready to release:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9ssGbkBNPUg

Originally Posted by Knaldskalle

Worth seeing for sure, it has a great ending.

When I saw it (a BFI print screened at the Pacific Film Archives), we were told that all known prints were in a bad shape and since Brocka's movies were suppressed by the Marcos regime there might not be access to good materials (the climate in the Philippines doesn't help). I hope it'll be fantastic, but people should probably mentally prepare for it not being the case.

We'll have to wait and see, but the WCP and L'Immagine Ritrovata have worked on it so I expect it to be as complete as humanly possible. I guess we'll know better if they choose to release it on Blu-ray or just DVD.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

I think I'm technically able to join, it's just I'd be excluded from almost any of the benefits -- so I would essentially be paying solely for access to Prime-flagged releases. Not exactly a bargain!

I did write to customer service (more than once now) and asked if they'd be willing to let non-UK customers buy Prime-flagged releases without being Prime members, and they've never actually given a direct answer. With Inner Sanctums, they merely told me I was "welcome" (their word) to buy from a third-party seller, which at the time had prices on this around £30. I said no; I wonder why?

Anyway, sorry, I didn't mean to derail the thread. But it does, as you mentioned, seem to happen to BFI releases quite a bit, especially during their post-release "honeymoon" low prices.

Just a heads up, Amazon removed the prime exclusivity for the Quay set and it's still 10.99.

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by nitin

Just a heads up, Amazon removed the prime exclusivity for the Quay set and it's still 10.99.

Snap!!

Just came here to post the same thing. Better get my order in before it leaps to £25 or so ...

[Fnord Prefect]

Originally Posted by nitin

Just a heads up, Amazon removed the prime exclusivity for the Quay set and it's still 10.99.

And all this time it's been available from HMV.com for the same price with free 24 hour "next day" postage in the UK (ignore their FAQ stating they use 1st class, they use Royal Mail 24) and due to their standard use of thick card wrap-around mailers considerably less risk of this moderately delicate item being crushed in the transit.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by Fnord Prefect

And all this time it's been available from HMV.com for the same price with free 24 hour "next day" postage in the UK (ignore their FAQ stating they use 1st class, they use Royal Mail 24) and due to their standard use of thick card wrap-around mailers considerably less risk of this moderately delicate item being crushed in the transit.

No use to us international customers though

[rapta]

Just casually scrolling through today's news of a Scorsese season at BFI Southbank, when I just read this bit:

Who’s That Knocking at My Door and Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore released on DVD/Blu-ray in BFI Dual Format Editions

WHAT!?! Incredible news. I cannot wait!

There was also mention of a new 4K restoration of The Age of Innocence, which I assume Eureka may be looking to pick up (unless Criterion have already got there first).

[tenia]

Scorsese on BFI BD releases ?

[rapta]

I think the BFI are setting up an amazing slate for 2017 if we're already hearing about Erice's El Sur, Brocka's Maynila and not one but two early Scorsese titles for Blu-ray release (both of which I've wanted to see for a long time). Honestly, those are some incredible pickups and the kind of things I expected Eureka and Criterion to be all over!

[nitin]

Originally Posted by rapta

I think the BFI are setting up an amazing slate for 2017 if we're already hearing about Erice's El Sur, Brocka's Maynila and not one but two early Scorsese titles for Blu-ray release (both of which I've wanted to see for a long time). Honestly, those are some incredible pickups and the kind of things I expected Eureka and Criterion to be all over!

You haven't seen Alice? Excellent film, and quite different to Scorsese's other stuff from that period.

[samdvd1]

Hopefully they will release Boxcar Bertha too. Great news, and a cracking find Rapta!

[rapta]

Originally Posted by nitin

You haven't seen Alice? Excellent film, and quite different to Scorsese's other stuff from that period.

Nah it's one of the Scorsese films I've not seen that has been OOP on DVD for a while now, so a BFI DF is incredible news! Interested in Who's That Knocking at My Door as well but Alice in particular is day one for me.

Originally Posted by samdvd1

Hopefully they will release Boxcar Bertha too. Great news, and a cracking find Rapta!

As it's with Fox/MGM and Twilight Time just released that in the States, I reckon it could come from almost any UK label at this point. Quite likely to come from Signal One unless BFI/MoC/Arrow Academy are particularly interested in it. I'd love to see that too as I've never seen that one either!

And yeah, I was surprised to read that bit. I saw a few Tweets from people mentioning a new BFI Scorsese theatrical season, and went to the BFI site to find out more (thinking there might be mention of some WCP/FF titles showing theatrically, perhaps even Brocka's Maynila/Insiang) and was shocked to find they'd actually acquired some actual Scorsese films! Very happy to see BFI continue their trend of releasing some less obvious titles by big-name directors (e.g. Polanski's Tess, Wise's Odds Against Tomorrow etc). In this particular case, I'm very excited since Scorsese is one of the greatest living filmmakers, in my own opinion.

I expect they will record some extras specifically for both of those during the season (interviews, Q&A's etc), so maybe they won't actually appear 'til mid-2017. I'm very happy to wait though! Especially considering great titles like The Wages of Fear, The Crying Game and El Sur will be showing up in the meantime...

[Yami]

Fantastic news. I wonder if the man himself might make an appearance during the season as well...

It would be great if the BFI got his early short films/docs as extras.

[rapta]

Yet more seemingly good BFI-related news: just noticed the listing for Charles Burnett's THE GLASS SHIELD has been updated with Dual Format artwork and a new release date of January 23rd.



I guess they changed their minds and decided the materials were good enough to release on Blu-ray after all? I doubt they'd go to the trouble of creating a front cover for a title they were cancelling. Of course this is a little confusing 'cause my BFI contact told me it was never planned for Blu-ray and that was a miscommunication, so perhaps something changed since then. Possibly the demand for a Charles Burnett film on Blu-ray (or just more Ice Cube).

[javi92]

Originally Posted by rapta

There was also mention of a new 4K restoration of The Age of Innocence, which I assume Eureka may be looking to pick up (unless Criterion have already got there first).

That restoration premiered a couple of years ago at the New York Film Festival IIRC. Not sure why Sony has been sitting on it for so long.

[Yami]

Originally Posted by javi92

That restoration premiered a couple of years ago at the New York Film Festival IIRC. Not sure why Sony has been sitting on it for so long.

They've released it in many territories, so the only reason I can think of is that Criterion's got it.

[rapta]

Sounds like we'll get a full Q1 2017 lineup announcement on Friday by the way guys.

Originally Posted by Yami

They've released it in many territories, so the only reason I can think of is that Criterion's got it.

The obvious question now being whether Criterion UK have it as well, or Eureka didn't negotiate it first. I'd be happy to get it from either label (but obviously MoC are a little more affordable).

[Yami]

I'd put my money on Criterion, purely because if MoC had a 4K Scorsese restoration up their sleeves I think they'd be prioritising it over La Bamba and Roxanne

[IanSchultz23]

Originally Posted by rapta

Nah it's one of the Scorsese films I've not seen that has been OOP on DVD for a while now, so a BFI DF is incredible news! Interested in Who's That Knocking at My Door as well but Alice in particular is day one for me.



As it's with Fox/MGM and Twilight Time just released that in the States, I reckon it could come from almost any UK label at this point. Quite likely to come from Signal One unless BFI/MoC/Arrow Academy are particularly interested in it. I'd love to see that too as I've never seen that one either!

And yeah, I was surprised to read that bit. I saw a few Tweets from people mentioning a new BFI Scorsese theatrical season, and went to the BFI site to find out more (thinking there might be mention of some WCP/FF titles showing theatrically, perhaps even Brocka's Maynila/Insiang) and was shocked to find they'd actually acquired some actual Scorsese films! Very happy to see BFI continue their trend of releasing some less obvious titles by big-name directors (e.g. Polanski's Tess, Wise's Odds Against Tomorrow etc). In this particular case, I'm very excited since Scorsese is one of the greatest living filmmakers, in my own opinion.

I expect they will record some extras specifically for both of those during the season (interviews, Q&A's etc), so maybe they won't actually appear 'til mid-2017. I'm very happy to wait though! Especially considering great titles like The Wages of Fear, The Crying Game and El Sur will be showing up in the meantime...

I would say Signal One would be a good choice for Boxcar Bertha, it's not a very good film though even Scorsese says so

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Yami

I'd put my money on Criterion, purely because if MoC had a 4K Scorsese restoration up their sleeves I think they'd be prioritising it over La Bamba and Roxanne

You might be right, but Eureka could be taking their time with it (assembling extras, booklet etc). I know it sounds unlikely but you never know!

Does seem more at home with Criterion to be honest, but occasionally MoC do surprise us with something Criterion have released before (e.g. Seconds, Medium Cool, The Friends of Eddie Coyle, Kes etc).

Originally Posted by IanSchultz23

I would say Signal One would be a good choice for Boxcar Bertha, it's not a very good film though even Scorsese says so

Yeah seems like the right fit for them. I guess we'll hear something in the next few months. I'd definitely blind-buy it, and I'm sure there would be potential for some interesting extras (the TT is basically bare-bones). Maybe some interviews or an essay or Scorsese. We'll see.

[rapta]

Okay so a few very exciting things confirmed about upcoming BFI releases. These will be confirmed tomorrow but one in particular was too exciting to not post...

• The Wages of Fear will indeed be the brand new 4K restoration (worldwide exclusive debut), and there's no firm date yet but it will be released in the first half of 2017

• The Glass Shield is definitely now coming out as a Dual Format Edition as they discovered an HD master recently, and according to both the BFI site and Amazon that one is now scheduled for January 23rd

• Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore and Who's That Knocking At My Door? will be confirmed tomorrow, but I'm guessing their release will coincide with the January/February Scorsese season, so we're getting them very soon!

And lastly, the biggest news:

[Show spoiler]

• March will see a Limited Edition 4-disc Dual Format Edition including both Maynila and Insiang (RRP of £34.99)!