Ozu: The Melodrama Collection (2 Discs)
The BFI presents three films by Japanese master director Yasujiro Ozu.
Melodrama is not a word usually associated with Ozu's quietly poetic oeuvre but his post-war Early Spring (1956) and Tokyo Twilight (1957) combine darker elements with his idiosyncratic style to create powerful dramas.
Also available for the first time on DVD in the UK is Ozu's rare silent Woman of Tokyo (1933), a tragic tale of misunderstood sacrifice. Woman of Tokyo features a newly commissioned score by Ed Hughes.
BFI: 32 Ozu Films
Moderator: MichaelB
- bigP
- Joined: Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:59 am
- Location: Reading, UK
Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
Ozu: The Melodrama Collection on release June 18th
- perkizitore
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:29 pm
- Location: OOP is the only answer
Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
DVD ONLY?
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- Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2011 11:12 am
Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
+1perkizitore wrote:DVD ONLY?
Tokyo Twilight is my favourite post-war Ozu and judging from previous releases, the elements are in good enough shape for a Blu-Ray.
- Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
I'd have thought that Tokyo Twilight's elements would have merited a 1080p upgrade as well. On the plus side, no need to double-dip or sell the Eclipse set.
- Cash Flagg
- Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:15 pm
Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
Unfortunately I sold my Eclipse sets in anticipation of Blu-ray upgrades, so looks like I'll be buying DVDs a second time.Finch wrote:On the plus side, no need to double-dip or sell the Eclipse set.
- perkizitore
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:29 pm
- Location: OOP is the only answer
Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
After the Ozu project was announced, I sold both Eclipse sets. On the plus side, I get Woman of Tokyo!
- Peacock
- Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:47 pm
- Location: Scotland
Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
Early Spring and Tokyo Twilight.... DVD only? Incredibly disappointing, I was convinced both would be HD and what with Criterion having put them in Eclipse there is no hope for blu-rays of these titles.... man so far seeing these Ozu films in HD has been revelatory so it's disappointing that two of the remaining four unreleased sound films with good elements aren't getting the same love as the others. If there's any way for this to be changed... well I hope it is.
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- Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2011 11:12 am
Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
We could always make a stand on Facebook and/or Twitter. Might not get anywhere but it wouldn't hurt.
- perkizitore
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:29 pm
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- MichaelB
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
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Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
Can I respectfully suggest that you refrain from actual abuse? At least until you find out what the story behind this release is?perkizitore wrote:Direct your abuse here
- perkizitore
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:29 pm
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Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
I was joking, I just pointed where people can respectfully direct their comments and suggestions, abuse is never acceptable!
- tenia
- Ask Me About My Bassoon
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Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
Indeed, it is both disappointing but also surprising when you see what the Eclipse DVD looks already like.
I'm just wondering when will be the next HD release for the Ozu collection, and hope that An Autumn Afternoon wasn't the last one. I think that the biggest interest in all this was especially the HD upgrade for half the titles. Now, I'm afraid that all the remaining movies might "only" be realeased in SD.
Maybe the material was not good enough for HD, but it would be quite surprising.
I'm just wondering when will be the next HD release for the Ozu collection, and hope that An Autumn Afternoon wasn't the last one. I think that the biggest interest in all this was especially the HD upgrade for half the titles. Now, I'm afraid that all the remaining movies might "only" be realeased in SD.
Maybe the material was not good enough for HD, but it would be quite surprising.
- perkizitore
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:29 pm
- Location: OOP is the only answer
Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
I am afraid that sales were disappointing and that they decided to cut on costs by releasing the remaining Ozu titles on SD only. Let's hope I am mistaken
- ellipsis7
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 1:56 pm
- Location: Dublin
Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
We know that A STORY OF FLOATING WEEDS & FLOATING WEEDS exist in HD masters for the Criterion release, pointing to a dual format BFI package for these two... I'm guessing THE END OF SUMMER may also make the cut to BR/DVD, and perhaps also RECORD OF A TENEMENT OF A TENEMENT GENTLEMAN & FLAVOUR OF GREEN TEA OVER RICE, but it probably all turns on the materials and mostly whether an HD master already exists or it is realistic and economic to make a new HD transfer...
- MichaelB
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
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Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
That's pretty much the situation as I understand it. As soon as people highlighted that these titles went to Eclipse, that dropped a pretty strong hint that HD materials simply don't exist at present - and of course the economics of this project dictates the use of off-the-shelf masters pretty much without exception.
True, the BFI did make an exception for Good Morning, because it's a major title and the Criterion master was notoriously flawed - but if no HD master currently exists for the other titles, whether or not it's possible to create one largely depends on whether Shochiku is prepared to grant access to 35mm materials. And if they're not, there's obviously nothing that the BFI can do if Shochiku and Criterion's masters are SD only (which is presumably the case).
Put it like this, the BFI's evangelical track record with regard to HD releases should really speak for itself by now - and in pretty much all other cases of surprise DVD-only releases (The Devils being a particularly good example), there's a reason for this that's beyond the BFI's control. So I'd say it's very safe indeed to assume that a similar situation is at play here.
True, the BFI did make an exception for Good Morning, because it's a major title and the Criterion master was notoriously flawed - but if no HD master currently exists for the other titles, whether or not it's possible to create one largely depends on whether Shochiku is prepared to grant access to 35mm materials. And if they're not, there's obviously nothing that the BFI can do if Shochiku and Criterion's masters are SD only (which is presumably the case).
Put it like this, the BFI's evangelical track record with regard to HD releases should really speak for itself by now - and in pretty much all other cases of surprise DVD-only releases (The Devils being a particularly good example), there's a reason for this that's beyond the BFI's control. So I'd say it's very safe indeed to assume that a similar situation is at play here.
- Peacock
- Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:47 pm
- Location: Scotland
Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
But I was under the impression that Tartan had created some HD masters which BFI had used for a couple of the releases? Making Tokyo Twilight seem a likely choice. Perhaps I'm mistaken?
I disagree though that the reason these aren't coming out in HD is beyond BFI's control... sure in the case of The Devils and some other British films that makes sense, but in this case it's presumedly down to costs rather than licensing or problematic materials. I mean why would Tokyo Twilight and Early Spring only exist in SD masters worldwide while they other films which have been released with good PQ have had Blu's?
And I suspect ellipses is probably correct about Tenement Gent and Green Tea getting an HD release as, if I remember correctly, Criterion on Facebook mentioned these as getting a release in "2012" (we'll see) in a reply to someone many months ago, so maybe BFI will wait around and use the masters for those if it's another Only Son/There was a Father kinda deal.
I disagree though that the reason these aren't coming out in HD is beyond BFI's control... sure in the case of The Devils and some other British films that makes sense, but in this case it's presumedly down to costs rather than licensing or problematic materials. I mean why would Tokyo Twilight and Early Spring only exist in SD masters worldwide while they other films which have been released with good PQ have had Blu's?
And I suspect ellipses is probably correct about Tenement Gent and Green Tea getting an HD release as, if I remember correctly, Criterion on Facebook mentioned these as getting a release in "2012" (we'll see) in a reply to someone many months ago, so maybe BFI will wait around and use the masters for those if it's another Only Son/There was a Father kinda deal.
- MichaelB
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
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Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
You must be, because if HD masters were available off the shelf, the BFI would certainly have used them.Peacock wrote:But I was under the impression that Tartan had created some HD masters which BFI had used for a couple of the releases? Making Tokyo Twilight seem a likely choice. Perhaps I'm mistaken?
(It's worth mentioning that there are three ex-Tartan people amongst BFI DVD Publishing's current staff - including the present head of DVD Publishing and his boss - so you can rest assured that they know what's available!)
If no HD masters exist already, they have to be created from scratch from film materials, which requires both the co-operation of the rightsholder and a reasonable deal to be struck over who foots the bill.I disagree though that the reason these aren't coming out in HD is beyond BFI's control...
Usually when the BFI creates a brand new HD master, they have various avenues from which they can recoup that investment (and of course there's an archival remit), but this wouldn't apply to an Ozu film or indeed any Japanese title. So if it comes down to them having to meet the entire cost of an HD master, it's very possible that it may be beyond the project's budget.
You'll have to ask Shochiku.I mean why would Tokyo Twilight and Early Spring only exist in SD masters worldwide while they other films which have been released with good PQ have had Blu's?
My understanding is that if an HD master exists, and the quality is deemed sufficient for a 1080p release, it will get one - the example of The Only Son being a case in point, since it's arguable that the 1080p upgrade doesn't make a huge amount of difference, the slight increase in definition being offset by far more visible damage.And I suspect ellipses is probably correct about Tenement Gent and Green Tea getting an HD release as, if I remember correctly, Criterion on Facebook mentioned these as getting a release in "2012" (we'll see) in a reply to someone many months ago, so maybe BFI will wait around and use the masters for those if it's another Only Son/There was a Father kinda deal.
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- Joined: Sun Sep 13, 2009 5:55 am
- Location: Doncaster UK
Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
As per Michael's earlier comment, I'm confident that the BFI must have a good reason for releasing these on DVD only and that's good enough for me.
The pre-order has gone in, I just hope Amazon drop the price again from the £22.49 they're currently asking.
The pre-order has gone in, I just hope Amazon drop the price again from the £22.49 they're currently asking.
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- Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:16 pm
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Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
It's understandable that at the moment the HD masters just don't exist for the BFI to use, and I'll happily buy any Ozu release, whether it's on Blu-ray, or DVD, as long as it's the best that's available. I'd like to think in the future though, as better elements become available, they may eventually be re-released onto Blu-ray.
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- Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2011 11:12 am
Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
BFI on Facebook: We're currently looking into the availability of better master materials, but if none exist, then there is very little we can do to improve matters.
- manicsounds
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 10:58 pm
- Location: Tokyo, Japan
Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
Remember that the Eclipse box version of "Tokyo Twilight" had its problem being the only interlaced disc, as they couldn't get a progressive scan transfer for release. Maybe BFI had the same problem here.
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- Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2007 5:07 pm
- Location: Bracara Augusta, Portugal
Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
Received my silent comedies set, funny thing tough: in the menus, the silent or orchestrated options are switched. My question is: due to the ost credits at the start of the feature, is the sound still sincronized with the picture? Will try to check later today, just to be sure, but thanks.
- Michael Kerpan
- Spelling Bee Champeen
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Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
It was nice seeing Where Now Are the Dreams of Youth properly subbed. And I didn't mind the accompaniment. The Rayns visual essay was pretty good. The rest of the set remains unexplored.
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- Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2007 5:07 pm
- Location: Bracara Augusta, Portugal
Re: BFI: 32 Ozu Films
Tried on a different blu player and dvd player, all good. Never experienced something similar before.