The Saragossa Manuscript & The Hourglass Sanatorium (Wojciech Has) - Mr. Bongo

[Akijama]

Release date: September 7

Amazon pre-orders:

The Hourglass Sanatorium

The Saragossa Manuscript

[nitin]

they will probably use the masters from the existing polish releases, in which case Saragossa Manuscript will look extremely underwhelming and Hourglass should look excellent.

[dumb_dutchman]

Originally Posted by nitin

they will probably use the masters from the existing polish releases, in which case Saragossa Manuscript will look extremely underwhelming and Hourglass should look excellent.

Let's think positive thoughts...

I can live with my Polish releases, but Saragossa Manuscript does need some work.

Who holds the Region 1 rights to Saragossa?

[Yami]

Fantastic news! Never expected Mr. Bongo to upgrade these, but very happy that they will.

[rapta]

Good news, glad Mr Bongo are unveiling more Blu-ray titles. I wonder if we'll see some more of their back catalogue upgraded over the coming year...I'd especially like to see I Am Cuba or some Rocha films hit Blu-ray too!

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by nitin

they will probably use the masters from the existing polish releases, in which case Saragossa Manuscript will look extremely underwhelming and Hourglass should look excellent.

Polish restorers are infuriatingly inconsistent on the subject of digital "improvements". At their best, the results can be absolutely stunning - but at their worst they're DNR soup.

I saw a particularly excruciating example on the big screen at last year's Gdynia Film Festival (Days of Matthew), and what made it even more painful were the brief glimpses in the dissolves of how good the picture could have looked if they hadn't futzed around with the grain.

Incidentally, on the subject of the aspect ratio of The Hourglass Sanatorium, I recently had a chance to talk directly to cinematographer Witold Sobociński about it, and he confirmed that 1.85:1 is definitely the intended aspect ratio, regardless of whether it was initially screened in 2.35:1 in cinemas. Unlike The Saragossa Manuscript, which was shot using conventional anamorphic lenses, with The Hourglass Sanatorium Sobociński used a modified camera to shoot a format that was effectively Super 35 avant la lettre, so you're getting more of the original image on the BD than you'd have seen in the cinema.

[ravenus]

Whoa, was wondering whether to bag the DVD's but this is better news. Hourglass Sanatorium will hopefully have some extras that explain the movie a bit. It looked great but I was lost through most of it.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Hourglass Sanatorium will hopefully have some extras that explain the movie a bit. It looked great but I was lost through most of it.

I always assume that a Mr Bongo disc will be completely barebones until proven otherwise.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Polish restorers are infuriatingly inconsistent on the subject of digital "improvements". At their best, the results can be absolutely stunning - but at their worst they're DNR soup.

I saw a particularly excruciating example on the big screen at last year's Gdynia Film Festival (Days of Matthew), and what made it even more painful were the brief glimpses in the dissolves of how good the picture could have looked if they hadn't futzed around with the grain.

Incidentally, on the subject of the aspect ratio of The Hourglass Sanatorium, I recently had a chance to talk directly to cinematographer Witold Sobociński about it, and he confirmed that 1.85:1 is definitely the intended aspect ratio, regardless of whether it was initially screened in 2.35:1 in cinemas. Unlike The Saragossa Manuscript, which was shot using conventional anamorphic lenses, with The Hourglass Sanatorium Sobociński used a modified camera to shoot a format that was effectively Super 35 avant la lettre, so you're getting more of the original image on the BD than you'd have seen in the cinema.

I have only picked up Hourglass, Man of Iron, Promised Land and Man of Marble, but I did check reviews and posts beforehand because of what happened with Saragossa.

Also picked up Dom Zly based on one of your recommendations in a BFI article

[rapta]

Artwork up:

[IanSchultz23]

The Hourglass Sanatorium is brilliant, found it in my local charity shop for 50p. Still haven't seen Saragossa Manuscript but will wait till the blu-ray comes out though, I do have the dvd though.

[drat]

Does anyone know for sure what region The Hourglass Sanatorium is?

Amazon says it's Region B; this site indicates it's Region A.

[themp3000]

Originally Posted by drat

Does anyone know for sure what region The Hourglass Sanatorium is?

Amazon says it's Region B; this site indicates it's Region A.

And Bongo's site is saying ALL.

I want these but I hope they are (a) A-friendly and (b) good transfers. I don't have high hopes they'll look as good as the region free Polish discs that are financially out of reach.

[themp3000]

Originally Posted by drat

Does anyone know for sure what region The Hourglass Sanatorium is?

Amazon says it's Region B; this site indicates it's Region A.

Sorry for the double post:

Yes, its All Region. I asked Bongo on Twitter about them. They are also using the same master as Zebra used. So this should, in theory, be a safe purchase.

[Judex]

I hope they don't botch these...

[IanSchultz23]

Just started my copy of Saragossa Manuscript, looks pretty good probably a direct port of the Polish blu-ray.

[Le Grande Blu]

Originally Posted by IanSchultz23

Just started my copy of Saragossa Manuscript, looks pretty good probably a direct port of the Polish blu-ray.

If the faces look slightly squashed and there isn't a great deal of film grain, then it'll be the Polish master.

[IanSchultz23]

Yep that fits the description

[ravenus]

Please anyone let me now if there are any extras or booklet on the Hourglass Sanatorium, which give some context about the movie. I saw it some while ago and it looks fabulous, but I could not understand or feel involved with any of the proceedings on screen.

[IanSchultz23]

The Bruno Schulz book is great as well but it's a relatively loose adaptation at times. It's not a novel it's a series of short stories.