Shiraz: A Romance of India
Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2017 9:47 am
Franz Osten's 1928 silent film coming to a dual format edition on Feb 26.
http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/
http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=15107
I was at the Barbican for this at the LFF. It really was a great film. And the Anoushka Shankar score was ace, so that's great if this is part of it. I'll have to find A Throw of Dice too (the BFI released it a while back).TMDaines wrote:Very cool. I look forward to this - and just in time for our 1920s project!
• Presented in High Definition and Standard
• Restoration Demonstration (2017, 3 mins)
• Temples of India (1938, Hans M Nieter, 10 mins): Indian travelogue featuring beautiful colour footage of the Taj Mahal shot by Jack Cardiff
• Musical Instruments of India (1944, 12 mins): public information film made by the Government of India to promote Indian arts and culture
• Illustrated booklet with essays by Bryony Dixon, Simon Broughton and Gautam Chintamani
Shiraz: A romance of India
A BFI National Archive restoration
Directed by Franz Osten
New score by Anoushka Shankar
Released on Blu-ray/DVD in a Dual Format Edition on 26 February 2018
See the new trailer here.
Franz Osten’s sumptuous Indian silent classic, now restored by the BFI National Archive with a new score by Anoushka Shankar, imagines the sweeping love story of the 17th-century princess Mumtaz Mahal and the subsequent construction of the iconic Taj Mahal in her honour. Following its premiere at the BFI London Film Festival last October and theatrical release today (2 February), Shiraz will be released on Blu-ray/DVD in a Dual Format Edition on 26 February.
The film’s producer, Himansu Rai, also stars as humble potter Shiraz, who follows his childhood sweetheart Selima (Enakshi Rama Rau) when she is sold by slave traders to the future emperor (Charu Roy). Selima catches the eye of the prince but finds a bitter rival in an ambitious favourite (Seeta Devi) from his harem. Shiraz, meanwhile, is fated to design the queen’s iconic mausoleum.
Shot entirely in India, featuring lavish costumes and gorgeous settings – including the extraordinary fort at Agra – this treasure is available on Blu-ray for the first time with a new 4K restoration by the BFI National Archive and a stunning new score from world-renowned sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar.
Special features
• Presented in High Definition and Standard Definition;
• Restoration Demonstration (2017, 3 mins);
• Temples of India (1938, Hans M Nieter, 10 mins): Indian travelogue featuring beautiful colour footage of the Taj Mahal shot by Jack Cardiff;
• Musical Instruments of India (1944, 12 mins): public information film made by the Government of India to promote Indian arts and culture;
• Illustrated booklet with essays by Bryony Dixon, Simon Broughton and Gautam Chintamani, and full film credits.
Product details
RRP: £19.99/ Cat. no. BFIB1293/ Cert U
Germany, India, UK / 1928 / black and white / 106 mins / silent with English intertitles / original aspect ratio 1.33:1 / BD50: 1080p, 24fps, PCM 2.0 stereo audio (48kHz/24-bit), 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio (48kHz/24-bit) / DVD9: PAL, 25fps, PCM 2.0 stereo audio (48kHz/16-bit), DTS 5.1 surround audio (48kHz/16-bit)