115 / BD 5 My 20th Century
- antnield
- Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 1:59 pm
- Location: Cheltenham, England
115 / BD 5 My 20th Century
Ildikó Enyedi’s magical film spins a tale of twin girls, Dóra and Lili, who are born in 1880 Budapest on the same moment Thomas Edison unveils his electric lightbulb to an excited public in New York. The sisters are soon orphaned and separated in childhood, and follow different paths: one grows up to be a naïvely idealistic, bomb-toting anarchist, the other a pampered, hedonistic courtesan whose paths cross once again on the Orient Express on New Year’s Eve 1899…
Moving at a dizzy pace between Budapest, Hamburg, New York, Burma, Austria, Paris and Siberia, this is a film of dazzling beauty and acumen. It is a modernist fable, a fantasmagoria of scientific, political and sexual revolution and radicalism, the birth of cinema, and the joy of life. Shot in luminous monochrome by cinematographer Tibor Máthé, the multi-award-winning My Twentieth Century attempts to claim back from the century of genocide the wonder of existence in a constantly changing world.
"My Twentieth Century is a number of wondrous things... a bracing combination of wit, invention, common sense and lunacy. Superb” Vincent Canby, New York Times
"Abundant with originality. A beautifully assembled collection of black and white images, it bounds along with unhampered, lively confidence" The Washington Post
BLU-RAY AND DVD SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
• Presented from a brand new 2K restoration of the film by the Hungarian Digital Archive and Film Institute, supervised by the filmmakers
• A new filmed interview with director Ildikó Enyedi, shot exclusively for this release by filmmaker Peter Strickland (Berberian Sound Studio; The Duke of Burgundy)
• Booklet featuring a new essay on the film by Jonathan Owen
• New and improved English subtitle translation
• World premiere on Blu-ray
Moving at a dizzy pace between Budapest, Hamburg, New York, Burma, Austria, Paris and Siberia, this is a film of dazzling beauty and acumen. It is a modernist fable, a fantasmagoria of scientific, political and sexual revolution and radicalism, the birth of cinema, and the joy of life. Shot in luminous monochrome by cinematographer Tibor Máthé, the multi-award-winning My Twentieth Century attempts to claim back from the century of genocide the wonder of existence in a constantly changing world.
"My Twentieth Century is a number of wondrous things... a bracing combination of wit, invention, common sense and lunacy. Superb” Vincent Canby, New York Times
"Abundant with originality. A beautifully assembled collection of black and white images, it bounds along with unhampered, lively confidence" The Washington Post
BLU-RAY AND DVD SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
• Presented from a brand new 2K restoration of the film by the Hungarian Digital Archive and Film Institute, supervised by the filmmakers
• A new filmed interview with director Ildikó Enyedi, shot exclusively for this release by filmmaker Peter Strickland (Berberian Sound Studio; The Duke of Burgundy)
• Booklet featuring a new essay on the film by Jonathan Owen
• New and improved English subtitle translation
• World premiere on Blu-ray
Last edited by antnield on Wed Feb 08, 2017 11:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
- What A Disgrace
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:34 pm
- Contact:
Re: 115 My Twentieth Century
Never heard of it. Completely sold on it, though. When is it to be released?
- Ribs
- Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2014 1:14 pm
Re: 115 My Twentieth Century
It's yet another of the Budapest 12 list of the greatest Hungarian films, which are now half released by Second Run (I was trying to figure out where I'd heard of this before and realized quickly it was by being on this list)
- TMDaines
- Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:01 pm
- Location: Stretford, Manchester
Re: 115 My Twentieth Century
I have the Hungarian DVD, but not watched it yet. Is this expected to be an improved transfer from a better source?
- Ribs
- Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2014 1:14 pm
Re: 115 My Twentieth Century
It's listed on the Second Run site as releasing in March, incidentally.
- antnield
- Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 1:59 pm
- Location: Cheltenham, England
Re: 115 My Twentieth Century
March 27th.What A Disgrace wrote:When is it to be released?
- bearcuborg
- Joined: Fri Sep 14, 2007 2:30 am
- Location: Philadelphia via Chicago
Re: 115 My Twentieth Century
This is a very good movie, if memory serves. I first became aware of it as it was in the trailer section of The Icicle Thief (one of my favorite comedies of the 80s) VHS.
I haven't seen the movie since the early 90's...but I look forward to seeing it again. It was also pretty sexy too.
I haven't seen the movie since the early 90's...but I look forward to seeing it again. It was also pretty sexy too.
- swo17
- Bloodthirsty Butcher
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am
- Location: SLC, UT
Re: 115 My Twentieth Century
It's a beautifully shot film, glad it's getting a Blu-ray.
- MichaelB
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
- Location: Worthing
- Contact:
Re: 115 My Twentieth Century
Since it's a Blu-ray, I'd hope that that's a given!TMDaines wrote:I have the Hungarian DVD, but not watched it yet. Is this expected to be an improved transfer from a better source?
- swo17
- Bloodthirsty Butcher
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am
- Location: SLC, UT
Re: 115 My Twentieth Century
The Hungarian DVD includes the short film Első szerelem so might still be worth holding onto.TMDaines wrote:I have the Hungarian DVD, but not watched it yet. Is this expected to be an improved transfer from a better source?
- TMDaines
- Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:01 pm
- Location: Stretford, Manchester
Re: 115 / BD 5 My Twentieth Century
Oh shit! It's a Blu-ray! Fantastic.
- zedz
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:24 pm
Re: 115 / BD 5 My Twentieth Century
A visual stunner. If this is a good transfer it could be one of the best looking BluRays of the year.
- swo17
- Bloodthirsty Butcher
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am
- Location: SLC, UT
Re: 115 My Twentieth Century
I just watched this on my DVD and while it looks interesting (a girl goes on a date with an alien) I should note that it is presented with no subtitles.swo17 wrote:The Hungarian DVD includes the short film Első szerelem so might still be worth holding onto.TMDaines wrote:I have the Hungarian DVD, but not watched it yet. Is this expected to be an improved transfer from a better source?
- jsteffe
- Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 9:00 am
- Location: Atlanta, GA
Re: 115 / BD 5 My Twentieth Century
Agreed, this is a gorgeously photographed black-and-white film. It made a big impression on me during its initial release. It's the kind of film that specifically benefits from the Blu-ray format. It also didn't hurt that both the lead actors (Dorota Segda and Oleg Yankovsky) are gorgeous and we get to enjoy their presence onscreen.
Now can I please beg for a Blu-ray of the new restoration of THE ROUND-UP?
Now can I please beg for a Blu-ray of the new restoration of THE ROUND-UP?
- What A Disgrace
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:34 pm
- Contact:
Re: 115 / BD 5 My Twentieth Century
I am a bit confused as to why this film is getting the BD treatment, and not Three Wishes for Cinderella.
- MichaelB
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
- Location: Worthing
- Contact:
Re: 115 / BD 5 My Twentieth Century
Because there's more of a proven market in the UK for Hungarian arthouse films than there is for Czechoslovak/East German fairytales, I'm guessing.What A Disgrace wrote:I am a bit confused as to why this film is getting the BD treatment, and not Three Wishes for Cinderella.
- swo17
- Bloodthirsty Butcher
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am
- Location: SLC, UT
Re: 115 / BD 5 My Twentieth Century
When you see this you will understand why it merits a Blu-ray, if only aesthetically. I would have thought "Czech fairy tale" to be a fairly marketable description though. Hasn't Valerie done well for them?
- What A Disgrace
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:34 pm
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Re: 115 / BD 5 My Twentieth Century
That's what I was thinking. Far be it from me to put this film down; I haven't seen it but I'm well over the moon for anything Hungarian that SR puts out, Blu-ray or no, but I'd have thought the prospect of something like Cinderella (which I loved) would have been a sure success, and something like this a less certain one.swo17 wrote:When you see this you will understand why it merits a Blu-ray, if only aesthetically. I would have thought "Czech fairy tale" to be a fairly marketable description though. Hasn't Valerie done well for them?
- tenia
- Ask Me About My Bassoon
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:13 am
Re: 115 / BD 5 My Twentieth Century
I'm also unsure about how much bigger the UK BD market is for Hungarian arthouse films compared to Czechoslovak/East German fairytales.
Or maybe they simply deemed the Twentieth Century HD master better than the Cinderella one.
Or maybe they simply deemed the Twentieth Century HD master better than the Cinderella one.
- zedz
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:24 pm
Re: 115 / BD 5 My Twentieth Century
This is absolutely the point, and the only reason Second Run needs. It's a visually ravishing film that will look sensational in HD (if well transferred). Here are a couple of shots I took (with my phone, off the TV screen) when I watched the DVD way back when.swo17 wrote:When you see this you will understand why it merits a Blu-ray, if only aesthetically.
The whole film is filled with striking images like this.
- Bikey
- Joined: Wed Aug 17, 2005 4:09 am
Re: 115 / BD 5 My Twentieth Century
Great news from the Berlin Film Festival - Ildikó Enyedi's new film ON BODY AND SOUL has just scooped TWO prizes:
The FIPRESCI Award for the 'Best Berlinale Competition film', and Readers’ Juries Berliner Morgenpost Award.
The FIPRESCI Award for the 'Best Berlinale Competition film', and Readers’ Juries Berliner Morgenpost Award.
- Bikey
- Joined: Wed Aug 17, 2005 4:09 am
Re: 115 / BD 5 My Twentieth Century
...make that THREE prizes - just announced: it's also won the Ecumenical Jury Prize!
- MichaelB
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
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Re: 115 / BD 5 My Twentieth Century
...and, as a trivial footnote to the above, the Golden Bear.
- TMDaines
- Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:01 pm
- Location: Stretford, Manchester
Re: 115 / BD 5 My Twentieth Century
The Berlinale seems to have had far less coverage than normal this year. The Guardian has nothing on its film site on it.