British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[SilverBlueSnow]

Originally Posted by Rutger Lundgren

Great announcements. Naruse is back! Just when I downloaded almost 50 of his films, thinking that I won't have an opportunity to get official releases anytime soon. Granted, just Floating Clouds, but it's a start. I hope people buy it so that we can get more.

MOC (Nick Wrigley stated this) and BFI (I think) DVD sets performed poorly so I think this is a release that the physical media community should get behind and preorder. With Naruse 120th anniversary there may be more restorations and possible further BFI releases if this does well.

I was lucky to get both sets and there are some terrific films - Floating Clouds stood out to me as one of the best so very happy that those new to his films will start with this in HD! I suspect that most who see these Naruse films will fall in love with Hideko Takamine.

I have a DVD of Lightning - excellent film - shame it fell through for Radiance - IIRC Fran said the elements were not in great shape!

Chocolat - I watched it 20+ years ago and have strong memories. Looking forward to this release!

Ozu - I held out on the last set because I thought there might be a Criterion boxset . It could still happen but no real rumors of it . I might just get these 2 BFI sets now. Criterion bluray of Good Morning has I Was Born But so I will be double dipping.

I am really hoping for Tokyo Twilight, End of Summer etc 4k restorations - it seems very likely we will get them but maybe a Carlotta type box won’t happen from Criterion.

I remember Ben hinted at more Ozu in 2024 but I can’t remember if more than one release was mentioned.

Great BFI line up yet again!

Japanese film fans are really being spoiled by these releases and the Radiance releases!

[SilverBlueSnow]

Also Adrian Martin commentaries on Naruse and Ozu films - gold ⭐️ BFI

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by tomblu

Does anyone know how frequently BFI do sales? I'm talking about the kind of one they just had on, where you can get single titles for £7.99 and discounts on the boxsets too.

A couple of items I wanted but didn't manage to get them before the current one ended

HMV sales seem to be annual, but there tends to be Rarewaves reductions within months of release, and the occasional BFI Shop offer. Very rarely do I buy a BFI title full price unless the booklet is selling well (but tempted by Ozu!) A lot of 2023 titles were reduced in the latest sale quite quickly.

[trobrianders]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

HMV sales seem to be annual, but there tends to be Rarewaves reductions within months of release, and the occasional BFI Shop offer. Very rarely do I buy a BFI title full price unless the booklet is selling well (but tempted by Ozu!) A lot of 2023 titles were reduced in the latest sale quite quickly.

HMV is a good place especially when a double stack is on the cards. I managed 20 titles at £5.11 each end of November and only 5 came without booklets. Got really lucky.

[rossbirks]

Originally Posted by chard88

I was late to the game so still playing catch up on Region B before I even think about region-free but yes, you're right.

Just a head's up, while listed as Region A, the film desk release of Trouble Every Day is actually region free.

[Rutger Lundgren]

Originally Posted by SilverBlueSnow

Japanese film fans are really being spoiled by these releases and the Radiance releases!

Let's not forget Third Window Films, who've been delivering the goods all along (well, maybe not if you're only interested in 50+ year old films). And I would not say spoiled, but things are finally getting to where they should be, if we ignore more contemporary drama films, which are still poorly represented and only available through expensive imports or not at all.

[Nitroes]

Nice bit of investment:



https://shop.bfi.org.uk/big-banana-f...t-edition.html
https://hmv.com/store/film-tv/blu-ra...ig-banana-feet
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CTMZF1HZ/

[SilverBlueSnow]

Originally Posted by Rutger Lundgren

Let's not forget Third Window Films, who've been delivering the goods all along (well, maybe not if you're only interested in 50+ year old films). And I would not say spoiled, but things are finally getting to where they should be, if we ignore more contemporary drama films, which are still poorly represented and only available through expensive imports or not at all.

Great point - myself I am mostly 50s (and pre 50s) and 60s Japanese Cinema. I must check out Third Window. I have a lot of Koreeda and Kawase and a few other more recent films but most of my collection is Golden Age and New Wave!

[Nitroes]

There's the artwork for Chocolat (although it's listed as Chocloat [sic]):



HMV.co.uk

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CTN2241H/

Film's a must have.

[RossyG]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

Female Filmmakers - Early Women Filmmakers, Maeve, Under the Skin

Under the Skin? That was directed by Jonathan Glazer.

[Rutger Lundgren]

Originally Posted by SilverBlueSnow

I have a lot of Koreeda and Kawase and a few other more recent films but most of my collection is Golden Age and New Wave!

Kore-eda's Broker and Kawase's True Mothers make a great double bill, but True Mothers has to be imported from Japan.

[shimmy]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Glad to see 2 more Ozu films coming

It was bound to happen, I wonder if there are more coming or if BFI just replicated the Japanese set with their two releases.

Originally Posted by SilverBlueSnow

I am really hoping for Tokyo Twilight, End of Summer etc 4k restorations - it seems very likely we will get them but maybe a Carlotta type box won’t happen from Criterion.

Tokyo Twilight was released by Shochiku as did a bunch of other Ozu titles as part of the above line. They all have English subs. I only own Tokyo Twilight but it was well worth the import.

[Nedoflanders]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

Wonder if any other Connolly stand-up shows that could be released on BD?

There's a wealth of TV appearances they can work with (licensors permitting) and the BBC and ITV might possibly have some rushes in their archives, but AFAIK there's very little in the way of his stand-up on film.

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

It’s his earliest Blu-ray now, predating Absolution - and is obscure enough that only 47 people have logged it on Letterboxd (no reviews).

I'm one of the 47.
Saw it through a rental tape many years ago. It's more of a documentary than a concert film. I distinctly remember numerous scenes of Connolly dealing with local press and radio interviews - the Pennebaker Don't Look Back comparison is fair.
Might pick it up at some point.

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by Nitroes

Nice bit of investment:



https://shop.bfi.org.uk/big-banana-f...t-edition.html
https://hmv.com/store/film-tv/blu-ra...ig-banana-feet
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CTMZF1HZ/

Isn't this the first time that this has had ANY release or since its video one?

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

Wonder if any other Connolly stand-up shows that could be released on BD?

The ONLY Billy Connolly stand-ups released on BD prior to the upcoming BFI release are these 2, I saw him live at the Hammersmith Apollo during the tour for the first one:

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by RossyG

Under the Skin? That was directed by Jonathan Glazer.

Not the one released on DVD by the BFI!

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by RossyG

Under the Skin? That was directed by Jonathan Glazer.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0124185...20the%2520skin

[Nitroes]

Morton was amazing in that. I wonder why it was the director's last film?

The BFI DVD still seems to be in print. A Blu-ray or even a HD copy of that would be great.

[SilverBlueSnow]

Originally Posted by shimmy

It was bound to happen, I wonder if there are more coming or if BFI just replicated the Japanese set with their two releases.




Tokyo Twilight was released by Shochiku as did a bunch of other Ozu titles as part of the above line. They all have English subs. I only own Tokyo Twilight but it was well worth the import.

That is very interesting that the recent BFI Ozu releases mirror the Japanese set!

I hold off importing Japanese versions as they are very expensive to import and also I hope for a Criterion or Region B release with extras that will compliment the films.

I am confident more Ozu will come. Thinking now to get those BFI sets.

[shimmy]

Originally Posted by SilverBlueSnow

That is very interesting that the recent BFI Ozu releases mirror the Japanese set!

I hold off importing Japanese versions as they are very expensive to import and also I hope for a Criterion or Region B release with extras that will compliment the films.

I am confident more Ozu will come. Thinking now to get those BFI sets.

I think that with these two new Ozu sets out that just leaves Tokyo Twilight and Early Springs as the movies that Shochiku put out on blu ray in Japan that dont have a BFI counterpart. Unless there are some licensing issues with these particular two movies I would think its only a matter of time before BFI releases them as well.

The one film I would really like to see get a western release is The End of Summer, Toho released a blu ray in Japan but it doesnt list English subs sadly.

Like you say, importing from Japan isnt cheap, I finally got Tokyo Twilight a year or so ago because its one of my favorite Ozu films and I think one of his most underrated, its only the second time I imported a movie from Japan. As an aside Im a huge fan of Japanese blu ray cases. They are slim but they are not flimsy like the ones we get in the west. The plastic is thick and they feel even more sturdy than our regular blu ray cases, I wish this was the industry standard.