Strange New Worlds: Science Fiction at DEFA (1960-1976) Eureka

[Dailyan]

SPECIAL FEATURES

Limited Collector's Edition Box Set [2000 copies]
Limited edition hardcase featuring new artwork by Carly A-F
Limited edition 60-page collector’s book featuring an introduction by Mariana Ivanova, Academic Director of the DEFA Film Library, and new writing by DEFA historians Sebastian Heiduschke, Sonja Fritzsche and Evan Torner
All four films presented in 1080p HD from restorations by the DEFA Foundation
Reversible inner sleeve artwork featuring new designs for each film by Carly A-F
Signals: A Space Adventure presented from a new 6K scan of the original 70mm camera negative
Eolomea presented from a 4K scan of the original 70mm camera negative
The Silent Star and In the Dust of the Stars presented from 2K scans of the original 35mm camera negatives
The Robot (Klaus Georgi, 1968) – animated short produced by the DEFA Studio for Animation Film
Jana and the Little Star (Christl Wiemer, 1971) – animated short produced by the DEFA Studio for Animation Film
Love 2002 (Joachim Hellwig, 1972) – documentary short on the future of love in East Germany produced by the DEFA Studio for Newsreels and Documentary Films
Optional English subtitles on all features and shorts, newly revised for this release
New audio commentaries on all four features by Jim Morton, founder of the East German Cinema Blog
Blast Off – new interview with science fiction scholar Mark Bould
Red Skies – new interview with Soviet cinema expert Claire Knight
Exploring the Cosmos – new video essay by science fiction expert Paweł Frelik
British Filmmaker Visits DEFA (1959) – archival newsreel documenting Anthony Asquith’s visit to the set of The Silent Star
A Rocket in the Soviet Zone (1959) – archival newsreel covering the making of The Silent Star
Cosmonaut Dreams – archival featurette on the making of Eolomea, featuring special-effects cameraman Kurt Marks, costume designer Barbara Müller-Braumann and technician Jan-Peter Schmarje
Dusting Off After 30 Years – archival interview with Peter Suring, director of photography on In the Dust of the Stars
Original theatrical trailers

Titles include: The Silent Star • Signals: A Space Adventure • Eolomea • In the Dust of the Stars

Following the division of Germany in the aftermath of World War II, DEFA was established as the state-owned film studio of East Germany or the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Active from 1946 until its dissolution in 1992, the studio made hundreds of feature films in a diverse range of genres, from hard-hitting dramas to crime thrillers, fairytale adaptations and Westerns. During the 1960s and 1970s, it also produced a series of colourful and wildly imaginative science fiction films in which courageous cosmonauts attempt to unravel the secrets of the universe: The Silent Star, Signals: A Space Adventure, Eolomea and In the Dust of the Stars.

Based on Stanisław Lem’s The Astronauts, The Silent Star begins as an extraterrestrial object is unearthed in the Gobi desert. When it is found to have originated on Venus, the crew of the spacecraft Kosmoskrator is dispatched to the yellow planet to solve its mysteries. In Signals: A Space Adventure, the Laika and its crew are sent to find a lost research vessel, the Ikaros. But as they draw nearer to the missing craft, they begin to intercept a series of strange radio transmissions. Then, Eolomea sees eight ships dispatched from the space station Margot disappear without trace – and it’s down to science officer Maria Scholl (Cox Habbema) to find out what happened to them. Finally, In the Dust of the Stars follows the crew of the Cyrano as they land on the planet TEM 4 to investigate a distress signal – and find themselves under the psychedelic influence of its bizarre inhabitants.

Pitched somewhere between Forbidden Planet, Star Trek, Solaris and 2001: A Space Odyssey, DEFA’s science fiction films are marvels of production design and practical effects work – as well as poignant commentaries on the central issues of the atomic age, including nuclear warfare, rapid technological advancement and capitalist expansion. The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present all four of DEFA’s space-faring films together for the first time on any format from astonishing restorations by the DEFA Foundation, accompanied by a wealth of new and archival extras.

https://eurekavideo.co.uk/movie/stra...ction-at-defa/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2asT2nkzJZQ

[Reddington]

I know absolutely nothing about DEFA or any of these films, but this set is certainly intriguing. Looks like it could be a solid blind buy.

[Spud_Almighty]

IMDB ratings are pretty bad BUT this does look very interesting. I am going to go look up more about these films.

[Doomhunter]

Cool, The Silent Star is excellent! I’ll have to check if I’ve seen the others though. Think I’ve seen Eolomea recently.

[Horse_Hockey]

If one doesn't recognize the rocketship on the cover, The Silent Star is better known in the US as First Spaceship on Venus. Deaf Crocodile recently started taking pre-orders for their own release of Signals and In the Dust of the Stars; while I love Deaf Croc with all my heart I'm going with Eureka for this set.

[Doomhunter]

Yes, Deaf Crocodile has three different cover art variations for their releases

[GlacierTuba]

I went to the Deutsche Kinematek in Berlin last year (check the Travel sub forum for photos) and at the end of the museum exhibits was an amazing showcase of East German cinema and propaganda. I think if I remember right that DEFA was mentioned in the exhibit. Someone might confirm as I'm not 100% on it.

Anyway, the East Germany film and television exhibit was amazing. So to see this set from Eureka, and having peeked at the trailer for this box set on YouTube...

I'm all in for this box set. Absolutely have to have this set!

What's the deal with Eureka? Are they IOSS-friendly?

[Superclassics3]

I purchased the dvd box set years ago very excited to see the long version of First Spaceship on Venus. Was not disappointed. I can't say the same about the other 2 movies on the set. The only one not on the set was signals and I am curious about that one. Silent Star is a classic and must have. If you want to buy the set be my quest but unless you can say signals is as good as Star you would be better off just waiting to see if Silent Star will be released on its own. Think Godzilla movies when he gave boxing lessons.

[Willms]

I have only watched Der schweigende Stern and Signale, but I am so ready for this set. Signale I actually watched on 70mm a few years back with the first reel only available in 35mm. Not a great film, but the general mood is great.

[ElGranBluchadore]

All over this.

[WaverBoy]

This and the krimi set might be the releases of the year.

[ikms]

Originally Posted by WaverBoy

This and the krimi set might be the releases of the year.

Mabuse Lives! is coming out in March and they typically save the headliner for late in the year. Suffice to say Eureka hasn't gone this hard on (classic) film sets since the pre-HK days, I'm glad they seem to have figured out a workable balance.

[Horse_Hockey]

DiabolikDVD has added the set to their pre-orders! There was some suspicion that they wouldn't carry it, as they are the official US source for Deaf Crocodile releases, and they waited a while, but it's up now. Don't miss it!

[Hellboy]

These Eureka sets are all kinds of tempting. Already gave in on Mabuse Lives and Terror in the Fog. While this one doesn’t quite grab me like those two it’s still quite intriguing.

[ikms]

Originally Posted by Horse_Hockey

DiabolikDVD has added the set to their pre-orders! There was some suspicion that they wouldn't carry it, as they are the official US source for Deaf Crocodile releases, and they waited a while, but it's up now. Don't miss it!

I was suspicious myself, but on the DC podcast that just dropped they went into the issue a bit, ultimately they are encouraging people to pick up both sets if possible and double-dip in general (with related anecdotes about vinyl releases) since the supplements vary. Even then there are plans for releasing more DEFA product in the future - but they did not specify what titles in particular.

[Reddington]

Beaver's review:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film12/blu-...FA_blu-ray.htm

[PGW]

My copy arrived in the States today.

[exidor]

Anyone else given In the Dust of the Stars a spin yet? The Beaver review says it's got the best image quality in the set but there's some very weird neon green artifacting going on in the darker shots. I thought at first that it was a deliberate effect but it's too random for that. You can see it on the eyelids, eyelashes and the hairs at the side of the nose in this screenshot so it's not like it wasn't there for them to notice.

[Spud_Almighty]

Originally Posted by exidor

Anyone else given In the Dust of the Stars a spin yet? The Beaver review says it's got the best image quality in the set but there's some very weird neon green artifacting going on in the darker shots. I thought at first that it was a deliberate effect but it's too random for that. You can see it on the eyelids, eyelashes and the hairs at the side of the nose in this screenshot so it's not like it wasn't there for them to notice.

Are you sure it's not just the make up?

[exidor]

Originally Posted by Spud_Almighty

Are you sure it's not just the make up?

Only if they're wearing make up on their clothes as well.