The Eclipse Series

[pro-bassoonist]

The films directed by the great Satyajit Ray in the last ten years of his life have a unique dignity and drama. Three of them are collected here: the fervent Rabindranath Tagore adaptation The Home and the World; the vital Henrik Ibsen–inspired An Enemy of the People; and the filmmaker’s final film, the poignant and philosophical family story The Stranger. Each is a complex, political, and humane portrait of a world both corrupt and indescribably beautiful, constructed with Ray’s characteristic elegance and imbued with autumnal profundity. These late-career features are the meditative works of a master.

The Home and the World
Satyajit Ray 1984

The Home and the World, set in early twentieth-century Bengal, concerns an aristocratic but progressive man who, in insisting on broadening his more traditional wife’s political horizons, drives her into the arms of his more radical school chum.

An Enemy of the People
Satyajit Ray 1989

In Satyajit Ray’s absorbing contemporary adaptation of a play by Henrik Ibsen, a good-hearted doctor discovers that the serious illness befalling the citizens of his small Bengali town may be due to a contamination of the water at the local temple.

The Stranger
Satyajit Ray 1991

Written by the filmmaker, The Stranger involves a bourgeois couple who are bemused by the news that a man claiming to be the wife’s long-lost uncle will be coming to stay with them after years of travel.

Pro-B

[smoss469]

This thread needs so much more love! Just ordered my first 2 sets and expect to get a few more for Christmas (or buy more myself before the end of the BN sale next month).

[hustlermane]

I've only recently opened my eyes up to the goldmine that the Eclipse series is. I'm picking up Shepitko and Czech New Wave in this sale, and possibly more. The Japanese ones look very enticing.

Is the Carlos Saura set the only one so far that is OOP?

[pro-bassoonist]

I strongly encourage you to take a look at the Fassbinder box set. Top-notch release!



Pro-B

[Nielsb90]

Well I just recently discovered these sets. Larisa Shepitko seems like a must-blind-buy for me and I will probably get When Horror Came to Shochiku as well. They sure look interesting!

[jrsl76]

Originally Posted by hustlermane

Is the Carlos Saura set the only one so far that is OOP?

Yes.

[oildude]

I wish this thread got more attention. Despite being a huge Eclipse series fan I rarely visit here, so I, and fellow fans, only have to look in the mirror as to why it doesn't get much love. I will try to make this one of my visited threads. Hopefully, others will do the same.

Pro-B, I said it before when you created this thread, and it bears repeating, thanks for acknowledging these wonderful DVD releases from Criterion and giving them a home. These sets contain some of the most outstanding films ever released.

[oildude]

The reason I came to this thread today was I am thinking of finally picking up Eclipse Series 9: The Delirious Fictions of William Klein, if Criterion has their expected February flash sale. This is one of the few Eclipse series sets that my local six B&N stores never stock. I am on the fence with this one. Can someone please write about it both pro and con? Information on this one seems hard to come by. From the few clips I can find online, it seems like something I could get into, but maybe not so enthusiastically as I have with others.

[Nielsb90]

I just blind bought the Larisa Shepitko set. My first Eclipse set but it will find its place on my BD shelf I've read nothing but stellar reviews of "Ascent". As I am getting into Soviet cinema and love myself a good war movie this set seemed like a safe starter! Next buy will probably be "When Horror Came to Shochiku" if this first set lives up to my expectations.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by oildude

Pro-B, I said it before when you created this thread, and it bears repeating, thanks for acknowledging these wonderful DVD releases from Criterion and giving them a home. These sets contain some of the most outstanding films ever released.

You are very welcome, Oildude. All of these sets are worth owning. In fact, in terms of content many are far better than what is available on Blu-ray in the collection.

Some info on William Kline: Basically, the films in the box set fall between Godard-esque absurdism and De Palma-esque kitsch. Mister Freedom, in particular, is loaded with leftist political overtones, but it works as Euro kitsch as well (of course done by an American).

Who Are You, Polly Maggoo? has the heart of a counter-culture film, but it satirizes haute couture.

The Eclipse set is definitely the one to own because it also has The Model Couple. Long before these films came to America I actually obtained the French releases (see below), but at the time The Model Couple was not out. Anyhow, if you enjoy Godard, you will like Klein's work.

Have a great weekend, Olidude

[Nielsb90]

Just received my Larisa Shepitko set in the mail.

Can someone tell me why the sidebars are grey instead of black? I remember having the same thing happen when watching Tales from the Crypt dvds. Never had it happen with a BD in 1.33:1 format.

[blujazz]

Just bought my first eclipse set… late ozu.

Man, that slipcover is quite cumbersome.

[Hazel Motes]

would LOVE to see an Eclipse set for Jules Dassin/Melina Mercour containing some, if not all, of the following:

Never on Sunday
He Who Must Die
The Law
Topkapi
10:30 P.M. Summer
Promise at Dawn
A Dream of Passion

[oildude]

Only one Eclipse release so far this year. Since there were only two last year, I guess we are in for one more in the Fall.

[Ben-hur]

I actually don't own an Eclipse release yet. Does anyone know where I should start?

[Edward J Grug III]

What sort of movies do you enjoy?

[Ben-hur]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

What sort of movies do you enjoy?

I really enjoy hitchcock's stuff. I'm very interested in Akria Kurosawa too, so that's a start

[oildude]

Originally Posted by Ben-hur

I really enjoy hitchcock's stuff. I'm very interested in Akria Kurosawa too, so that's a start

Lots of good ones. I'd start with any of these:

Eclipse 7: Postwar Kurosawa
Eclipse 17: Nikkatsu Noir
Eclipse 5: The First Films of Samuel Fuller
Eclipse 13: Mizoguchi's Fallen Women
Eclipse 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System
Eclipse 11: Larisa Shepitko

One that I find outstanding, and was my very first Eclipse set because I wanted to own the films in the set enough to overcome my aversion to buying more DVDs is Eclipse 11: Larisa Shepitko. Two excellent films and a cheap introduction to the Eclipse series.

My second Eclipse was the Samuel Fuller set. After that, I got interested in the many Japanese sets, eventually bought them all, and enjoy all of them.

[BTTF_]

Which ones should i buy?????????????????

[ghornett]

Late Ozu.