Once Upon A Time in Anatolia

[pro-bassoonist]

Another thread must have been lost in the crash

Once Upon a Time in Anatolia Blu-ray REVIEW



Hopefully, Artificial Eye would bring Uzak to Blu-ray soon


Pro-B

[Immersion]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Another thread must have been lost in the crash

Once Upon a Time in Anatolia Blu-ray REVIEW



Hopefully, Artificial Eye would bring Uzak to Blu-ray soon


Pro-B

Thanks for the review Pro-B. It seems like this is almost the same PQ wise as the cinemaguild. I decided to go for the CG, which had slightly more extras.

Artificial Eye don't seem too keen on upgrading older titles to Blu-ray, which is a real shame. Is Uzak a wish, or have you heard anything about a possible release? There were rumors that Climates was going to receive a Blu-ray release from NBC's label a few years back, but nothing seems to have come of it. NBCs label hasn't even released a Blu-ray of this one, which is a surprise, as the Three Monkey's release was brilliant.

[pro-bassoonist]

Hi Immersion,

No news, but I really like the film.

Actually, Artificial Eye are bringing quite a few catalog releases to Blu-ray. Support them

Pro-B

[Immersion]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Hi Immersion,

No news, but I really like the film.

Actually, Artificial Eye are bringing quite a few catalog releases to Blu-ray. Support them

Pro-B

It would be great if they did release the film on Blu-ray. I doubt his earlier films will get released on Blu-ray by NBC.

Artificial Eye used to be my favourite label, but one of their key players left and went to New Wave a year or two back. From the releases I've seen recently, the quality of Aeyes releases has really dropped, especially their DVD releases. Some of their recent DVD releases are rather poor, such as Attenberg, and Los Bastardos. Their Blu-ray releases are getting beaten by most other distributors for lack of extras and supplements, and New Wave are generally picking up the most interesting films for UK distribution; films that were once almost certain to be release by Aeye.

Thankfully New Wave have generally kept a good quality ouput, and have a taste for interesting contemplative cinema like this, Boonmee, Le Quattro Volte, etc.

[aewb]

Originally Posted by Immersion

Thankfully New Wave have generally kept a good quality ouput, and have a taste for interesting contemplative cinema like this, Boonmee, Le Quattro Volte, etc.

I find New Wave a really frustrating label. They've released some excellent films but they seem to bite off more than they can chew. It took them 2 and 1/2 years to release Hadewijch and they've been sitting on Aurora and Puzzle for a similar length of time. Amazed that Tabu is coming out in September.

[amoergosum]

Originally Posted by immersion

thanks for the review pro-b. It seems like this is almost the same pq wise as the cinemaguild. I decided to go for the cg, which had slightly more extras.

>>>

US Blu-ray:

• the making of once upon a time in anatolia (sd, 1:36:39): A blu-ray exclusive, this feature-length making-of documentary includes interviews with everyone involved and lots of behind-the-scenes footage, specifically of ceylan giving directions on location, working carefully with the actors and overseeing practically everything. The term auteur certainly applies here.
• anatolia in cannes (sd, 49:27): There's a ton of material here too, chronicling the film's appearance at cannes, from the photo call with the cast and an entire press conference, to red carpet gala footage and coverage of the award ceremony.
• an interview with nuri bilge ceylan (sd, 24:44): Conducted on a beach at cannes by yekta kopan, this interview is—minute for minute— the most substantive extra on the disc, with ceylan discussing the difficulties of the production, the lighting techniques used during the night scenes, the casting, the film's story, and more.
• "lost in thought" (1080p, 23:34): A visual essay of sorts by haden guest, director of the harvard film archive, who discusses ceylan's career, films, and frequent themes.
• theatrical trailer (1080p, 1:35)
• also from cinema guild: Includes trailers for several recent and upcoming cinema guild releases. Look out for the turin horse, which is coming out on blu-ray next month.

UK Blu-ray:

• trailer - original theatrical trailer for once upon a time in america. In turkish, with imposed english subtitles. (2 min, 1080p).

• making of documentary - an enormous amount of raw footage from the shooting of once upon a time in anatolia as well as numerous interviews and comments from various cast and crew members. In turkish, with optional english subtitles. (93 min, pal).

• interview - in this video interview, conducted for a turkish tv program at the cannes film festival, director nuri bilge ceylan discusses the production history of once upon a time in anatolia, some of the obstacles the tech team had to overcome while shooting the nighttime footage, the main characters, etc. In turkish, with optional english subtitles. (24 min, pal).

[nametag]

Some of these reviews really give too much of the film away...

[Show spoiler]"In the early morning hours, not too far away from the village, they finally discover the corpse. The disgusted police chief goes berserk again. The prosecutor asks one of his assistants to type a quick report. Then the doctor announces that the corpse will be taken to the nearest hospital for autopsy."

That takes you to basically the last (very long) scene of the film!

[nightcrawler]

Originally Posted by nametag

Some of these reviews really give too much of the film away...

[Show spoiler]"In the early morning hours, not too far away from the village, they finally discover the corpse. The disgusted police chief goes berserk again. The prosecutor asks one of his assistants to type a quick report. Then the doctor announces that the corpse will be taken to the nearest hospital for autopsy."

That takes you to basically the last (very long) scene of the film!

Tbh I don't think it does give anything away, other than there's a corpse. They even tell you on the back of the box that they spend the night looking for a body.

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Hopefully, Artificial Eye would bring Uzak to Blu-ray soon


Pro-B

Would love to see Uzak on Blu. Please make it happen AE!!

[Judex]

This turned up this morning, looking forward to it.

[nametag]

Originally Posted by nightcrawler

Tbh I don't think it does give anything away, other than there's a corpse. They even tell you on the back of the box that they spend the night looking for a body.



Would love to see Uzak on Blu. Please make it happen AE!!

But it doesn't say whether they do find it or not, does it?

[Show spoiler]and it's not until about 2 hours that they do, and the autopsy is the last scene of the film.

I think some of these reviews just recite the plot, and too much of it, rather than develop an argument or opinion on the film.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by nametag

But it doesn't say whether they do find it or not, does it?

[Show spoiler]and it's not until about 2 hours that they do, and the autopsy is the last scene of the film.

I think some of these reviews just recite the plot, and too much of it, rather than develop an argument or opinion on the film.

But the plot of the film really has very little to do with the corpse the men are looking for

Pro-B

[nametag]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

But the plot of the film really has very little to do with the corpse the men are looking for

Pro-B

The review still essentially described the events in the film up until the last scene, which I don't think is necessary.

[Show spoiler]You not only describe the discovery of the corpse, but the reaction to it from a character and specifically that it will be taken to a hospital for an autopsy, which is the final scene.

Do you not admit that you do tend to give quite a long description of the events in films you review? I just find it a little frustrating, because you review the Criterions and loads of films I'm really interested in, but find I can never get a sense of whether I'll like the films or not on this site because they usually seem to describe the events quite far into the film.

Obviously a film like this is not particularly 'plot driven' as such, but part of the joy of watching a film for many is always not knowing about the scenes which are coming up, and the events which will happen.

The rest of your reviews are all very thorough, though

[nightcrawler]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

But the plot of the film really has very little to do with the corpse the men are looking for

Pro-B

I agree. For me this film was more to do with the atmosphere/mood it creates, rather than the actual plot.

[GRD43L]

Ceylan always has an underlying message in his films.

IMO, this movie delves into the question, "Is it better to know the real but painful truth, or believe in a false but comforting truth?" It is the revelation of a truth that kicks off the movie with a fight (main narrative involving the policework) and another truth (devastating to the inspector) that is slowly revealed through the movie.

[Show spoiler]The inspector/detective is trying to find the corpse among the hills in the dark (allegory for search for truth) but what he finds at the end of the movie is the real truth (hidden from him) regarding his life. Dark hills, only lit by headlights of cars is not only beautiful to watch but draws a strong parallel to how we, as humans, are in search for the real truth in unlit valleys of our mind/memory. And the young woman, lit only by a lamp, brings drinks to tired and drunken men is literally stunning (to the men in the film and to the audience) that I feel warmth and surging happiness on every watch. It is a point in the movie where the the focus pivots from search of a body to revelations for the individuals.