The Burmese Harp 4K UHD (1956) (Criterion Collection)

[MifuneFan]

Criterion will be releasing Kon Ichikawa's The Burmese Harp on 4K in August! Fires on the Plain also coming as well.

The Burmese Harp 4K

https://www.criterion.com/films/817-the-burmese-harp

4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• One 4K UHD disc of the film and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
• Interviews with director Kon Ichikawa and actor Rentaro Mikuni
• Trailer
• New English subtitle translation
• PLUS: An essay by critic and historian Tony Rayns

An Imperial Japanese Army regiment surrenders to British forces in Burma at the close of World War II and finds harmony through song. A private, thought to be dead, disguises himself as a Buddhist monk and stumbles upon spiritual enlightenment. Magnificently shot in hushed black and white, Kon Ichikawa’s The Burmese Harp is an eloquent meditation on beauty coexisting with death and remains one of Japanese cinema’s most overwhelming antiwar sentiments, both tender and brutal in its grappling with Japan’s wartime legacy

THE BURMESE HARP - Official 4K Restoration Trailer - YouTube

[Watershipdownisgood]

I think I do remember watching this on TCM many years ago it just has been a long time since I watched it I did quite enjoy it though. I'm really looking forward to rewatching this with the new 4K plus Blu-Ray edition of it. This Fire on the Plains, and Compensation are must buys for me.

[jackranderson]

One of the greatest films ever made. Shame there appears so be so little hype.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by jackranderson

One of the greatest films ever made. Shame there appears so be so little hype.

Hopefully this releases gives the film a lot more exposure. Excited for this and especially Fires on the Plains. Glad Criterion is finally releasing these.

[Littlebigman41]

Any news about the Japanese extended cut? Does it even exist?

[hipsofjw]

Disc Title: THE BURMESE HARP
Disc Label: THE BURMESE HARP
Disc Size: 89,646,398,556 bytes
Protection: AACS2
Playlist: 00003.MPLS
Size: 88,413,358,848 bytes
Length: 01:57:08.938
Total Bitrate: 100.63 Mbps
Video: MPEG-H HEVC Video / 93,990 kbps / 2160p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / Main 10 @ Level 5.1 @ High / 4:2:0 / 10 bits / Limited Range / BT.709 / BT.709 / BT.709
Audio: Japanese / LPCM Audio / 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitle: English / 16.85 kbps

[benricci]

Originally Posted by Littlebigman41

Any news about the Japanese extended cut? Does it even exist?

It hasn't been screened in like 70 years. The current cut is the only extant version available worldwide, and is likely the only remaining version at this point. Even the 4K UHD restoration they put out in Japan features this cut.