British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Cinematt

The only other Kurosawa Toho released in their crop of 4K remasters was Kagemusha, which obviously we'd expect to go to Criterion, not least because it's a Fox title in the UK so even if someone else wanted to try and grab it they've got bigger problems than Toho to deal with.

They did bring us Floating Clouds from their Toho deal before they got stuck in to Kurosawa so perhaps we'll see more Naruse, but the options are pretty vast so who knows.

I was wondering if they might have picked up Humanity and Paper Balloons, or even Ozu’s The Munekata Sisters, both of which were restored fairly recently and released already on Blu-ray by Toho in Japan. I’m not gonna start begging for Teshigahara or Kobayashi until restorations have been confirmed!

Alternatively, they might look into some Honda stuff and/or kaiju stuff in general, but that feels like more Criterion and Arrow’s bag these days.

[The big sleep]

Originally Posted by rapta

I was wondering if they might have picked up Humanity and Paper Balloons, or even Ozu’s The Munekata Sisters, both of which were restored fairly recently and released already on Blu-ray by Toho in Japan. I’m not gonna start begging for Teshigahara or Kobayashi until restorations have been confirmed!

Alternatively, they might look into some Honda stuff and/or kaiju stuff in general, but that feels like more Criterion and Arrow’s bag these days.

Have just finished rewatching my Ozu HD releases and further upgrades from the BFI would be welcome. Their recent Ozu releases suggest that this is a possibility, especially as there are other 4k restorations to draw upon beside the Munekata Sisters. The End of Summer (1961) - released in France on the Carlotta box set: in the UK Artificial Eye brought out a dvd (out of print now?). Tokyo Twilight (1957), never had a HD release, but dvd released by Tartan (so perhaps the bfi could obtain the rights, as they did with Flavour of Green Tea over Rice?).

Perhaps they will continue upgrading the films which they only relesed on dvd: Early Spring (1956) was on the Three Melodramas set; A Mother Should be loved (extra on Late Autumn) What did the Lady Forget? (on Early Summer) and there are plenty of films to draw upon from his early career which have only relased on dvd: Woman of Tokyo; The Gangster Films (only Dragnet Girl has so far been upgraded); The Student Comedies.

A further possibility is that they upgrade their existing blurays (as they did with Tokyo Story).

Or do I wait for the Crtierion box set: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Untit...lu-ray/353010/

[rapta]

Originally Posted by The big sleep

Have just finished rewatching my Ozu HD releases and further upgrades from the BFI would be welcome. Their recent Ozu releases suggest that this is a possibility, especially as there are other 4k restorations to draw upon beside the Munekata Sisters. The End of Summer (1961) - released in France on the Carlotta box set: in the UK Artificial Eye brought out a dvd (out of print now?). Tokyo Twilight (1957), never had a HD release, but dvd released by Tartan (so perhaps the bfi could obtain the rights, as they did with Flavour of Green Tea over Rice?).

Perhaps they will continue upgrading the films which they only relesed on dvd: Early Spring (1956) was on the Three Melodramas set; A Mother Should be loved (extra on Late Autumn) What did the Lady Forget? (on Early Summer) and there are plenty of films to draw upon from his early career which have only relased on dvd: Woman of Tokyo; The Gangster Films (only Dragnet Girl has so far been upgraded); The Student Comedies.

A further possibility is that they upgrade their existing blurays (as they did with Tokyo Story).

Or do I wait for the Crtierion box set: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Untit...lu-ray/353010/

I've enquired about both Tokyo Twilight and Early Spring before, but both are licensed through Shochiku so would have been more feasible when they did the recent Ozu sets (surprised they didn't throw them in one of them, or release them individually as with Tokyo Story and The Flavour of Green Tea Over Rice).

The End of Summer might be possible through Toho though, along with The Munekata Sisters, and perhaps a good excuse to bundle them together...

[The big sleep]

Originally Posted by rapta

I've enquired about both Tokyo Twilight and Early Spring before, but both are licensed through Shochiku so would have been more feasible when they did the recent Ozu sets (surprised they didn't throw them in one of them, or release them individually as with Tokyo Story and The Flavour of Green Tea Over Rice).

The End of Summer might be possible through Toho though, along with The Munekata Sisters, and perhaps a good excuse to bundle them together...

At least the Tokyo Story reissue has the upscaled Brothers and Sisters of the Toda Family as an extra.

[Jerry2345]

Originally Posted by The big sleep

Tokyo Twilight (1957), never had a HD release, but dvd released by Tartan (so perhaps the bfi could obtain the rights, as they did with Flavour of Green Tea over Rice?).

BFI did release Tokyo Twilight on DVD as part of their “three melodrama’s”-set.

Shochiku released it in 2018 on blu ray (apparently with English subs), based on a 4K restoration:

Carlotta also released it on blu ray in 2019 (presumably the same transfer as the Shochiku), but of course only French subs. You can check caps on the Carlotta disc on this French review (see the caps of “crepuscule a Tokyo”): https://www.dvdclassik.com/test/blu-...films-carlotta

[The big sleep]

Originally Posted by Jerry2345

BFI did release Tokyo Twilight on DVD as part of their “three melodrama’s”-set.

Shochiku released it in 2018 on blu ray (apparently with English subs), based on a 4K restoration:

Carlotta also released it on blu ray in 2019 (presumably the same transfer as the Shochiku), but of course only French subs. You can check caps on the Carlotta disc on this French review (see the caps of “crepuscule a Tokyo”): https://www.dvdclassik.com/test/blu-...films-carlotta

That's the collectors dilema: if I import its a certainty that bfi would then make an announcment!

If Criterion release an Ozu set I will import that

[The big sleep]

New announcements up. In for the Kurosawa and Akerman vol.2
https://www.bfi.org.uk/news/4k-uhd-b...rm=Read%20more

[jackranderson]

GOD DAMN. BFI are killing it!

[MifuneFan]

Throne of Blood 4K UHD

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/throne-of-bl...-ultra-hd.html

• Restored 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Audio commentary by Japanese film expert Michael Jeck
• Other extras tbc

A new 4K restoration of Akira Kurosawa’s astonishing film that’s considered to be one of the great adaptations of Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

A truly remarkable film, Throne of Blood manages to combine beauty and terror to produce a mood of truly haunting power. Starring the irrepressible Toshiro Mifune as the doomed warlord Washizu and a wonderfully creepy turn by Isuzu Yamada as the Lady Macbeth-inspired Asaji, the film shows Kurosawa's familiar mastery of atmosphere and action combined with the savagery of war.

[CavebobSpongeman]

TWENTYFOURSEVEN AAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!
Please please PLEASE let them do Romeo Brass next.

[OnlyJapantown]

Good announcements. I'm hesitant to pick up High & Low on blu-ray because a 4K seems inevitable.

More Takeshi please!

[MifuneFan]

La Haine 4K UHD

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/la-haine-4k-ultra-hd.html

Extras

• 4K restoration supervised by director of photography Pierre Aїm and presented on UHD in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Audio commentary by Mathieu Kassovitz (2004)
• Redefining Rebellion (2020, 5 mins): film critic and programmer Kaleem Aftab explores the spirit of revolution in La Haine
• Screen Epiphany: Riz Ahmed introduces La Haine (2020, 14 mins): the award-winning actor talks about his connection to the film
• Interview with Mathieu Kassovitz (2020, 35 mins): interview with the actor, writer and director
• Three short films by Mathieu Kassovitz: Fierrot le pou (1990, 7 mins): a young man shoots hoops (or tries) in a gym, in an effort to impress a young woman, Cauchemar Blanc (1991, 10 mins): a group of white men carry out a racist attack in the banlieue, and Assassins (1992, 12 mins): Kassovitz’s short film that he later developed into the feature Assassin(s) in 1997
• 10 Years of La Haine (2005, 84 mins): feature-length documentary marking the 10th anniversary of Matthieu Kassovitz’s award-winning film
• Casting and rehearsals (1995, 19 mins)
• Anatomy of a Scene (1995, 7 mins): a look at the shooting of a particularly challenging scene
• Behind the Scenes (1995, 6 mins): Kassovitz, his cast and crew prepare to embark on making La Haine
• Colour deleted and extended scenes (1995, 17 mins): including afterwords by Mathieu Kassovitz on selected scenes
• Original trailers
• 25th anniversary trailer
• 80-page book featuring writing by Ginette Vincendeau and Kaleem Aftab, an interview with Mathieu Kassovitz, archival essays and reviews, and more

[MifuneFan]

Chantal Akerman Collection: Vol 2 1982 - 2015

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/chantal-aker...y-box-set.html

Covering the later years of Chantal Akerman’s career, this 5-disc set completes the two-volume Akerman collection.

Born in Brussels in 1950 to parents who had survived the Holocaust, Chantal Akerman directed more than 40 films (short, medium and feature-length) over almost 50 years, spanning fiction, documentary, musical comedy and literary adaptation. Today, she is regarded as one of the most important and influential directors of her generation. Akerman’s personal, non-conformist body of work has resonated with cinephiles globally and become increasingly relevant since her death in 2015, with filmmakers including Joanna Hogg (The Eternal Daughter), Céline Sciamma (Petite Maman), Alice Diop (Saint Omer) and Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez), among others, citing her radical and experimental approach to cinema as a direct inspiration.

Covering the later years of Akerman’s career, this set explores her experimentations with form and genre and includes musical comedy Golden Eighties (1986) and her final film, No Home Movie (2015).

The Films:

Toute Une Nuit (1982)
Les Annees 80 (1983)
Golden Eighties (1986)
La Paresse (1986)
Histoires d'Amerique: Food, Family and Philosophy (1988)
D'Est (1993), Sud (1999)
La Captive (2000)
De l'Autre Côté (2002)
La Folie Almayer (2011)
No Home Movie (2015

Extras

• Five Blu-ray set featuring 11 landmark films by Chantal Akerman
• 72-page perfect-bound book with new essays by Erin Nunoda, Daniella Shreir, Rachel Pronger, Catherine Wheatley, and Alisa Lebow
• Other extras tbc

[LeSamourai.]

I received an e-mail from BFI just over half an hour ago, and Takeshi Kitano's Brother was listed amongst the other titles! I've been waiting ages for this title to be released here on Blu-ray.

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/brother-blu-ray.html

[MifuneFan]

TwentyFourSeven (1998)

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/twentyfourseven-blu-ray.html

In a 1990s Midlands town, youth from local housing estates are struggling to find purpose. Recently returned to his town, Alan Darcy (Bob Hoskins) interrupts their lives by reviving the local boxing club of his youth.

Directed by cult favourite Shane Meadows (This is England), TwentyFourSeven charts the story of working-class youth finding friendship, self-respect and meaning in post-industrial Midlands. Shot in black and white and scored with classical music, this alternatingly heartwarming and confronting story is threaded through with a sense of undeniable hope.

Extras

• Newly remastered by the BFI and presented in High Definition
• Extras tbc

[MifuneFan]

Brother (2000)

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/brother-blu-ray.html

Extras

• Presented in High Definition
• The Green Flash (1988, 23 mins): Adam Davis’ short film about an encounter between a runaway and a gangster featuring a young Omar Epps in his first screen role
• Other extras tbc
• **FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Illustrated booklet featuring new writing on the film

Takeshi 'Beat' Kitano directs and stars in this brutal crime thriller about a Japanese yakuza forced to flee to Los Angeles after the death of his boss.

In the wake of a failed gang war, Yamamoto ‘Aniki’ (Kitano) arrives in Los Angeles with nothing but a new name and a bag of cash. Re-uniting with his younger brother, he uses his extensive experience as a hardened gangster, to grow a small-time drug operation into an far-reaching criminal brotherhood, attracting the attention of rival gangs with bloodthirsty consequences.

[DAT_JB]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

La Haine 4K UHD

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/la-haine-4k-ultra-hd.html

[IMG]

[Show spoiler]https://shop-cdn.bfi.org.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/4088ca07390e11598713fc5e2ff6ef9d/l/a/la_haine_uhd_30th_anniversary.jpg

[/IMG]

Very nice! Had just thought about getting the Criterion in the next sale to see if that one is really that much better than the 4K from SC.
Will definitely get the BFI now and sell the SC.

[MifuneFan]

Slade in Flame (1974)

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/slade-in-fla...t-edition.html

Described as 'the Citizen Kane of British pop movies' by critic Mark Kermode, Slade in Flame both confounded and delighted audiences when it was released in 1975, at the height of the legendary glam-rock band's success. Starring the band themselves, this was a music film like no other.

Charting the rise and fall of a pop group at the end of the 1960s - from bold beginnings in seedy clubs to booze-addled endings in spectacular stadiums - this darkly cynical, warts-and-all portrait of a band in freefall amidst the music-industry suits who want a piece of the pie was not what anybody was expecting.

Acclaimed as a stone-cold bona-fide cult classic over subsequent decades, and boasting a razor-sharp screenplay, superb performances and a power-packed foot-stomping soundtrack, Slade in Flame has been newly remastered by the BFI from the best available 35mm materials for its first ever release on Blu-ray.

Extras
Newly remastered by the BFI and presented in High Definition and Standard Definition
Extras tbc

[justwannaboogie]

Amazing, gonna be needing another HMV code shortly!

Talk about obscure, Eclipse doesn't have a single review on Letterboxd.

[MifuneFan]

Eclipse (1976) (Flipside #51)

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/eclipse-flip...1-blu-ray.html

Extras

• Newly remastered by the BFI and presented in High Definition
• Newly recorded audio commentary by director Simon Perry
• New interview with actor Tom Conti
• Other extras tbc
• **FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Illustrated booklet with new writing on the film by the BFI’s Vic Pratt

A remote cliff-side house on the Scottish coast is the weather-beaten setting for Simon Perry’s eerie, atmospheric psychological thriller, inexplicably blown adrift since 1976.

Tom Conti (Oppenheimer, Slade in Flame) stars as a bereaved brother troubled by memories of his twin who died at sea. Having returned to his childhood home, a Christmas celebration with his brother’s widow (Gay Hamilton) and her son goes horribly awry, as dark secrets and sibling rivalries return to haunt them - before the past can be laid to rest.

Unsettling, strange, and barely seen since it was shot nearly forty years ago, Eclipse is the latest addition to the popular BFI Flipside collection. With writer and director Simon Perry's approval and involvement, the BFI is now making this unjustly neglected title available on Blu-ray disc for the first time worldwide, in a new scan made from the best-available 35mm archival materials.