Criterion Newsletter (Part 2)

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Ashirg · #201 Post by **Ashirg** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 4:19 am

Mon oncle Antoine was released in Canada by Christal Films, so I doubt it will be distributed in Quebec by Criterion/Image. Unless Christal Films distributes Criterion's version like Alliance did with Traffic.

Saturnome · #202 Post by **Saturnome** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 5:04 pm

My only experience with Christal Films was Costa-Gravas' Z. There's actually a message before the film begins asking to forgive the bad look of the print.

They released Hiroshima mon amour but I have no idea of how it looks.

Michael Kerpan wrote:I wonder what the Ile aux Coudres (where this was shot i the 50s) is like today?

It became a tourist spot. What was shot then just doesn't exist anymore.

And how do I agree about Back and Norstein.

Cronenfly · #203 Post by **Cronenfly** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:48 pm

Ashirg wrote:Mon oncle Antoine was released in Canada by Christal Films, so I doubt it will be distributed in Quebec by Criterion/Image. Unless Christal Films distributes Criterion's version like Alliance did with Traffic.

Entirely possible that Criterion's Mon Oncle Antoine DVD won't end up in Quebec due to Christal. Maybe things are different in Quebec, but when Short Cuts and My Own Private Idaho got released by Criterion they were very much available in Ontario (without any packaging difference to indicate that they were being distributed by Alliance like with Traffic), with Alliance putting out their own bare bones editions a little while later. On the flipside, though, Alliance's releases of the New/Fine Line-owned Waterland and Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle releases predated the superior Image editions, but I've never seen the Image editions in store here (though they are available from Amazon.ca). Needless to say, I'm interested to see how Criterion's Mon Oncle Antoine works out both in Quebec and the rest of Canada.

PimpPanda · #204 Post by **PimpPanda** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:25 pm

Good Riddance (Les Bons débarras) was recently restored and I've heard that it was great. Maybe that could be a Quebec film in the running for a dvd release soon enough?

Michael Kerpan · #205 Post by **Michael Kerpan** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:40 pm

PimpPanda wrote:Good Riddance (Les Bons débarras) was recently restored and I've heard that it was great. Maybe that could be a Quebec film in the running for a dvd release soon enough?

Well, the recent Canadian DVD of this film is certainly watchable -- but doesn't look like it was "restored" at all.

If there is a scarier film about the relationship between a parent and child (without any supernatural element), I've not seen it. ;~}

jaredsap · #206 Post by **jaredsap** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:34 pm

BRAND UPON THE BRAIN! ?

redbill · #207 Post by **redbill** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:35 pm

jaredsap wrote:BRAND UPON THE BRAIN! ?

Careful, most likely

Des Esseintes · #208 Post by **Des Esseintes** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:37 pm

Either way, F@#K YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#209 Post by **domino harvey** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:40 pm

Oh God why

Antoine Doinel · #210 Post by **Antoine Doinel** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:42 pm

Not a fan of Maddin, but definitely a big surprise. Good work Criterion.

Tribe · #211 Post by **Tribe** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:48 pm

jaredsap wrote:BRAND UPON THE BRAIN! ?

My guess too...fantastic!

Tribe

clownmeat · #212 Post by **clownmeat** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:59 pm

Interesting. It's almost certainly Careful, as silence is a key idea in that movie. Kino had put out much of Maddin's early catalogue in recent years: I wonder if this means there might be a "Gimli Hospital" on Criterion in the near future as well? (Personally, I think that Maddin's early films would be a corker of an Eclipse set rather than individual Criterion releases; for me they're great one-time viewing experiences.)

Tribe · #213 Post by **Tribe** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:09 pm

clownmeat wrote:Interesting. It's almost certainly Careful, as silence is a key idea in that movie. Kino had put out much of Maddin's early catalogue in recent years: I wonder if this means there might be a "Gimli Hospital" on Criterion in the near future as well? (Personally, I think that Maddin's early films would be a corker of an Eclipse set rather than individual Criterion releases; for me they're great one-time viewing experiences.)

True that silence is essential to Careful. But Zeitgeist still holds the rights on that (if you look at the Kino case you'll see the Zeitgeist logo). On the other hand, the Kino release of Careful is now out of print (although the Gimli Hospital release is still around). I'd bet on Brand since it was mentioned (not as a potential release) several newsletters back.

Tribe

Kudzu · #214 Post by **Kudzu** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:14 pm

domino harvey wrote:Oh God why

Hey, it's not Twilight of the Ice Nymphs!

arsonfilms · #215 Post by **arsonfilms** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:20 pm

Kudzu wrote:
domino harvey wrote:Oh God why
Hey, it's not Twilight of the Ice Nymphs!

Or another Ozu?

justeleblanc · #216 Post by **justeleblanc** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:33 pm

Maybe we'll get that Rossellini doc as well? Though I was hoping they'd save that for the war trilogy, if it is ever released.

miless · #217 Post by **miless** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:30 pm

arsonfilms wrote:
Kudzu wrote:
domino harvey wrote:Oh God why
Hey, it's not Twilight of the Ice Nymphs!
Or another Ozu?

did I miss a meeting or something? since when is Ozu a loathed filmmaker?

Tommaso · #218 Post by **Tommaso** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:41 pm

I'd love to see "Careful" finally. A friend of mine who's not exactly interested in film is constantly raving about it, which I interpret as a good sign.

And no, Ozu isn't loathed. What is loathed (not by me) is that we get Ozu at Eclipse galore, and no Mizoguchi instead.

#219 Post by **domino harvey** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:45 pm

We mock Ozu mass-releases, not Ozu himself. Unlike Maddin-- though his inclusion will make future "Worst Film in the Collection" lists easier to compile.

miless · #220 Post by **miless** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:53 pm

I am not a fan of Maddin. But there are those who do love his films (I know many, personally, who think he's one of the best filmmakers ever).
I mean, he has a shtick and he's sticking to it.

Cinephrenic · #221 Post by **Cinephrenic** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:29 pm

I think this will make a nice set with plenty shorts.

miless · #222 Post by **miless** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:50 pm

I just don't care for his style. I've never really been one for super-sized grain and jumpy fast-motion (under-cranking). That and I often find his films trying and very hard to get into, like they're supposed to be funny, but I'm not in on the joke.

Tribe · #223 Post by **Tribe** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:11 pm

Maddin is a mixed bag for lots of people, and like someone mentioned above he does have his schtick...which is what some of us like, and others don't care for. I do think that no matter how you look at it, Maddin doesn't take himself terribly seriously and just has fun with those crazy movies he makes.

Tribe

Poncho Punch · #224 Post by **Poncho Punch** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:23 pm

While I find that Maddin's features tend to disappoint me in the end, I'd gladly pay for a Criterion The Heart Of The World. I know I'm not the only one who thinks a set of shorts (even if only as bonus material to a feature) would be more than welcome in the collection (or on DVD at all).

Des Esseintes · #225 Post by **Des Esseintes** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:46 pm

I love everything Maddin's done since Archangel, and am thrilled Criterion's finally adding him to the roster.

Also, if you want a book that will never leave your bedside table, pick up From the Atelier Tovar: Selected Writings of Guy Maddin. It is hilarious, lurid, moving, crazy, everything the films are.

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Criterion Newsletter (Part 2)