British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[Marcus Aurelius]

Originally Posted by Yami

I don't think there's been any indication that the BFI have the home video rights to Night of the Demon

Thanks for clearing that up Yami. Bit of a shame. I'll have to get the French release then I suppose as recommended by Le Grande Blu.

[Aclea]

Originally Posted by rapta

Could anyone recommend any of the following? Before the Revolution

The BFI's release is good, but I'd recommend the Italian BD instead - much more extras and all with English subtitles:



Before the Revolution is a ravishingly cinematic piece of work, with Bertolucci showing a real confidence with both camera and location that both serves and enhances the script. It doesn't always work, but when it does, it's an outstanding piece of cinema first and foremost - the politics is more a reflection of a universal weakness of character than a specific moment in time a la Godard (the film was adapted and updated from Stendhal's The Charterhouse of Parma). Even the movie references don't gall the way they almost always do in modern films because Bertolucci not only puts them into context with the other arts (literature, music, painting, photography) but makes them personal obsessions that are part of character - the movie buff isn't just there to talk about Bertolucci's favorite films, or even to point out that in cinema style is content: it's simply how that character communicates by equating life to art. A surprisingly exciting piece of cinema.

The very impressive Italian 2-disc set offers a superb widescreen transfer with English subtitles and a wide array of interviews, all with English subtitles, with cast, crew, academics and directors influenced by the film, including several not included on the BFI's forthcoming Blu-ray release. The full list, for those who are interested: Travelling Companions (Enzo Siciliano, Adriano Apra and Giovanni Bertolucci), Self-Portrait (Bernardo Bertolucci, 45 minutes), Gina and Fabrizio (Adriana Asti and Francesco Barilli), The Workshop of the Young Masters (Roberto Perpignani, Vittorio Storaro and Ennio Morricone), Re-Readings (Francesco Casetti, Giovanna Grignaffini and Lucilla Albano) and After the Revolution (Marco Tullio Giordana and Marco Bellocchio). The DVD also includes workprint/final cut comparisons, an extract from TV programmes Cinema d'Oggi from the film's original release and Effetti Personali from 1984 as well as stills gallery and original trailer - the latter the only item on the disc without English subtitles.

By contrast, the BFI's Region B-locked blu-ray offers only the trailer in high definition, with the remainder of the extras relegated to the DVD: these are the 46-minute Self-Portrait interview with Bernardo Bertolucci, The Workshop of the Young Masters interviews (Roberto Perpignani, Vittorio Storaro and Ennio Morricone), the workprint/final cut comparisons, an extract from TV programme Cinema d'Oggi from the film's original release and, the soe extra unique to the BFI version apart from the accompanying booklet, a 12-minute Q&A with Bertolucci at the NFT from 2011. (The interviews with Adriana Asti, Francesco Barilli, Francesco Casetti, Giovanna Grignaffini, Lucilla Albano, Marco Tullio Giordana and Marco Bellocchio and the extract from Effetti Personali from 1984 from the Italian release have not been carried over.)

[pro-bassoonist]

Rossellini: The War Trilogy Blu-ray



NEWS
https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=15369

Rossellini: The War Trilogy Blu-ray

The British Film Institute has revealed that it will release a box set of recently restored films from Italian director Roberto Rossellini. The limited edition Blu-ray box set will be available for purchase on March 23, 2015.

This limited edition Blu-ray box set includes Rossellini's celebrated War Trilogy, made during and immediately after World War II - Rome, Open City, Paisà and Germany Year Zero - as well as his controversial 1948 film L'Amore starring Anna Magnani and Federico Fellini. These are the films that established Roberto Rossellini as one of the most important and influential filmmakers of all time. All of the films in this strictly limited Blu-ray box set (of 3000 numbered units) have been restored in 4K.

Content/Special Features:

Rome,Open City
Paisà
Germany Year Zero
L'Amore
Booklet with film notes and complete credits
And More...

Pro-B

[pro-bassoonist]

Also to be released on Blu-ray:

1. Fenf Xiaogang's Back To 1942

2. Walter Summers' The Battles of Coronel and the Falkland Islands

Pro-B

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Also to be released on Blu-ray:

1. Fenf Xiaogang's Back To 1942

2. Walter Summers' The Battles of Coronel and the Falkland Islands

Pro-B

Was hoping for The Battles of Coronel and the Falkland Islands!

[rapta]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Also to be released on Blu-ray:

1. Fenf Xiaogang's Back To 1942

2. Walter Summers' The Battles of Coronel and the Falkland Islands

Pro-B

Interesting. I was hoping Spring in a Small Town, The Goddess or Night Will Fall would be one of their next titles. When will The Battles of Coronel and the Falkland Islands likely see a release? January/February?

[Yami]

Back to 1942 is an interesting pick-up for the BFI. I'm not surprised that they're releasing a Feng Xiaogang film, considering they held a season at the Southbank (isn't it strange that the BFI don't make their releases coincide with their retrospectives? You'd think they'd take advantage of the press at the time) but I thought it would be one of his earlier films. I've heard good things about it though, so I'll make sure to take a look.

Goes without saying that, on paper, Rossellini's War Trilogy is an early contender for the best release of 2015.

Also, sad to report that Spring in a Small Town is getting a DVD-only release in January. Almost certainly because of the source, but considering it's a new restoration (did anyone see it in cinemas or on the BFI Player?) I would have thought that they would have released it on Blu-Ray anyway. I'd take something like Artificial Eye's battered and scratched Mizoguchi releases over a DVD of the same any day.

[EddieLarkin]

Originally Posted by Yami

I'd take something like Artificial Eye's battered and scratched Mizoguchi releases over a DVD of the same any day.

Definitely. I fear that when the BFI decide to go DVD only for a title with a mediocre source, they're thinking more about how the average consumer will receive the disc as opposed to the film loving videophile. As long as it's got a half decent grain field, I'd prefer a Blu-ray every time!

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Yami

Back to 1942 is an interesting pick-up for the BFI. I'm not surprised that they're releasing a Feng Xiaogang film, considering they held a season at the Southbank (isn't it strange that the BFI don't make their releases coincide with their retrospectives? You'd think they'd take advantage of the press at the time) but I thought it would be one of his earlier films. I've heard good things about it though, so I'll make sure to take a look.

Goes without saying that, on paper, Rossellini's War Trilogy is an early contender for the best release of 2015.

Also, sad to report that Spring in a Small Town is getting a DVD-only release in January. Almost certainly because of the source, but considering it's a new restoration (did anyone see it in cinemas or on the BFI Player?) I would have thought that they would have released it on Blu-Ray anyway. I'd take something like Artificial Eye's battered and scratched Mizoguchi releases over a DVD of the same any day.

Oh, that is a shame. Let's hope they'll release some other early Chinese cinema in 2015 though, if they can restore it to a level they seem worthy for blu-ray! The 'more Rossellini' rumour...does that mean we're likely to see Journey To Italy and Stromboli finally get releases?

And yes, I do find it weird they don't put out their home video releases to coincide with a film season as that would be ideal for sales! They could sell them after screenings or even just advertise them. Is a bit odd they're releasing something so contemporary though...not usually their 'style'.

EDIT: seems Night Will Fall is gonna be DVD-only as well. All the listings and dates are up on Amazon if anyone's interested...

This document seems to point to BFI and CFA restoring several Chinese titles...let's hope one or some of them end up on blu-ray over here: http://filmlondon.org.uk/library/doc...ListforFAN.pdf

[Yami]

The films restored by the Rossellini Project were:

Rome, Open City
Paisan
L'Amore
Germany Year Zero
Stromboli
Machine to Kill Bad People
La Paura
Voyage to Italy
India, Matri Buhmi
La Forza e la Ragione (Interview with Salvadore Allende)

If there is another box set, like they implied, I'm guessing it would be a Rossellini/Ingrid Bergman set. But hopefully improving upon the Criterion by including the restored La Paura along with Joan of Arc at the Sake (even in SD).

[hustlermane]

I'm as excited by the war trilogy as much as the next person here, but the news article above is slightly misleading in calling the set The War Trilogy; it's a set of four films, not three. L'AMORE is in no ways minor and isn't just some extra thrown in - powerhouse Magnani performance(s) and although not as known now, one of the most infamous and scandalous films of its time. There's not a strong thematic link between it and the other three, but it's on par IMO and per the news article will also be in 4K. But anyways, this is huge news.

[Yami]

Originally Posted by hustlermane

I'm as excited by the war trilogy as much as the next person here, but the news article above is slightly misleading in calling the set The War Trilogy; it's a set of four films, not three.

I presume this is because the BFI themselves are advertising and selling the set as ]'The War Trilogy'. I assume the packaging will do likewise.

[EddieLarkin]

Note the absence of Europe '51 from The Rossellini Project. This explains why the BFI originally announced only Stromboli and Journey to Italy. Checking the Criterion booklet, they do state that the Europe '51 presentation was their own restoration, not anything done by the Italians.

So if the BFI are planning a Rossellini/Bergman box set, they'll either have to do their own Europe '51 transfer or licence the Criterion. Both very expensive options.

[tenia]

The BFI have licenced from Criterion in the past, for the Ozu project and also for their Cassavetes releases.
I guess this might be in the realm of the possible for Europe '51, though in this case, it's not licencing an "older" HD master but a brand new one.

Wait & see, I guess.

[Yami]

Criterion have licensed from the BFI (e.g. Terence Davies) so hopefully they'll have worked out a quid pro quo arrangement

[Dan8700]

Originally Posted by EddieLarkin

Checking the Criterion booklet, they do state that the Europe '51 presentation was their own restoration, not anything done by the Italians.

Yeah... moreover, their transfer features several scratches which are nowhere to be found on the great Italian DVD (=different source)... and that's not the only issue with the disc.

[tenia]

Originally Posted by Dan8700

Yeah... moreover, their transfer features several scratches which are nowhere to be found on the great Italian DVD (=different source)... and that's not the only issue with the disc.

Except that there are things you can do when working for DVD rez that you can't do anymore at 2K (even less at 4K) because that would be highly noticeable.

I prefer a scratch than an obvious digital removal.

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by Yami

Also, sad to report that Spring in a Small Town is getting a DVD-only release in January.

Wow. I'm crushed.

[Judex]

Eyes Without a Face moved to March 23, 2015 according to Amazon.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Judex

Eyes Without a Face moved to March 23, 2015 according to Amazon.

NOOO! This can't be. Really? I really hope Amazon are wrong on that one...