Recent Film Restorations

[cantinflas]

It would have to be close since they only formed a few years before that.

Cheers Aunt Peg for mentioning that film, I was unaware of it so now I'm very intrigued to see it.

[Aunt Peg]

Aside from Esben Storm's hugely under seen and undervalued In Search of Anna (1978)

Hopefully that will lead to a Blu-ray. I've only seen it on an ex-rental VHS. Other than one TV showing in 1984, to the best of my knowledge it's not been shown in the UK, not in London anyway, and has never been distributed here. I'd suggest it to the London Australian Film Society, but I doubt it'd get much of an audience.

I haven't checked, but was this the first time AC/DC turned up on an Australian film's soundtrack?

Don't know about AC/DC but quite possibly so.

I'm sort of doubtful of a Blu Ray release as much as I personally would love for In Search of Anna to get one. Bliss (1985) was restored a number of years ago and still no release. I'm hoping Ebsen Storm's With Prejudice (1983) will be next on the restoration list but the subject matter is way to touchy even decades later for that to happen I fear. Would make a go double with a documentary on the same subject matter called Frame Up (1983 or 1984). Both films have fallen off the face of the earth.

I remember that one of the major local distributions GUO picked the film up for Australian release but didn't know what to do with the film and quietly released in in 1979 where it only ran 3 weeks in Sydney. I saw it the opening Friday night and the cinema was packed, so go figure. It got great reviews and everyone I know who has seen it loved it but like so many small gems sort of disappeared.

[Aunt Peg]

It would have to be close since they only formed a few years before that.

Cheers Aunt Peg for mentioning that film, I was unaware of it so now I'm very intrigued to see it.

You are most welcome and I hope to go to one of the screenings myself.

Haydn Keenan will be introducing the film which should prove interesting. Haydn directed a wonderful film called Going Down (1982-83) which was also recently restored in 4K and will be playing the the NSW Art Gallery.

It's actually showing at the NSW Art Gallery on 1 April in the afternoon and the evening but it appears it has been sold out. I was hoping to revisit this wonderful slice of life for that era (I grew up and lived in Newtown for much of my life). I'm bummed it has already sold out but hopefully it may encourage more screenings and/or a Blu Ray release. The late David Argue steals the film from the wonderful ensemble. Another 'lost' gem of Australian cinema from it most fruitful creative period: https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/whats ... bour-city/

[cantinflas]

You're actually in luck Aunt Peg, tickets are released at the beginning of each month for that month's sessions! So given that Going Down screens on 1st April you'll be able to get the tickets and see it then. They also do keep some seats available for walk ins as I imagine quite a few people would just rock up on the day. I remember when I was going to the AGNSW to see films every week like 20 years ago I would just turn up and get a seat easy. Shamefully I'm still yet to go to the gallery since the renovations...

But yeah that film and the whole program does look excellent, thanks heaps for letting me know! I'll have to finally head in and check some out. I'm a big fan of James Vaughan's Friends and Strangers so that's my rec if you haven't seen it.

Have you been seeing anything at the French Film Festival?

[GaryC]

I'm sort of doubtful of a Blu Ray release as much as I personally would love for In Search of Anna to get one. Bliss (1985) was restored a number of years ago and still no release.

At least we in London did get to see the Bliss restoration (I had seen the film on release and on DVD in between). It was on at the London Australian Film Festival as an anniversary screening and as part of a double bill with Gracie Otto's documentary Otto by Otto, for which she attended. She stayed on to watch Bliss as she hadn't seen that in a cinema before.

I would think In Search of Anna is too obscure to fly for a London screening, even as an anniversary screening in 2028. If it was shown, I suspect it would be me and a single-figured number of other people in the audience. Sad, but there it is. If it does get a Blu-ray, I'll do my best to review it.

[Aunt Peg]

I'm sort of doubtful of a Blu Ray release as much as I personally would love for In Search of Anna to get one. Bliss (1985) was restored a number of years ago and still no release.

At least we in London did get to see the Bliss restoration (I had seen the film on release and on DVD in between). It was on at the London Australian Film Festival as an anniversary screening and as part of a double bill with Gracie Otto's documentary Otto by Otto, for which she attended. She stayed on to watch Bliss as she hadn't seen that in a cinema before.

I would think In Search of Anna is too obscure to fly for a London screening, even as an anniversary screening in 2028. If it was shown, I suspect it would be me and a single-figured number of other people in the audience. Sad, but there it is. If it does get a Blu-ray, I'll do my best to review it.

I remember when Bliss was shown in Cannes and released in Australia. It received a terrible reception at Cannes and whether as a result of that or maybe Ray Lawrence's intention anyway, the film from trimmed down.

I saw it at an industry screening two months after Cannes in what would become the offical version of the film and it was very well received. It was due to open commercially shortly later in Sydney at a tiny cinema attached to the majestic State Theatre known as State 2. The small venue was designed to play newsreels but at some point in time (before the mid 1970s when I started going to the cinema on a regular basis) regular releases were shown there. Anyway, word of mouth on Bliss was building up to positively that the cinema chain before the release date decided to release it at a much larger venue around the corner (the 3 cinema complex known as The Pitt Centre) where Bliss opened to great acclaim, great attendance and ran for months.

When it was released on DVD in Australia in the very early 2000's I purchased it for my collection and was thrilled that it included the version shown at Cannes. On watching that version I can completely understand it's poor reception. Too many scenes just go on and on with information that is simply not needed and really slow down the pace of the film. The second official cut is by far the superior version.

I hope should Bliss ever see the light of day on Blu Ray that the Cannes cut is included (even if it is not restored) simply for it's historical value.

Ray Lawrence is a National Treasure as far as I'm concerned. Three great films, all beautifully put together, cast, acted and written to perfection. Such a shame he only ever made 3 films and none of them have turned up on Blu Ray. And all critically acclaimed box office hits.

[Aunt Peg]

You're actually in luck Aunt Peg, tickets are released at the beginning of each month for that month's sessions! So given that Going Down screens on 1st April you'll be able to get the tickets and see it then. They also do keep some seats available for walk ins as I imagine quite a few people would just rock up on the day. I remember when I was going to the AGNSW to see films every week like 20 years ago I would just turn up and get a seat easy. Shamefully I'm still yet to go to the gallery since the renovations...

But yeah that film and the whole program does look excellent, thanks heaps for letting me know! I'll have to finally head in and check some out. I'm a big fan of James Vaughan's Friends and Strangers so that's my rec if you haven't seen it.

Have you been seeing anything at the French Film Festival?

Thanks so much for that. I'll ear mark that day.

I've been attending a lot at the French Film Festival. It is my favourite of all the festivals that run throughout the year. To be honest I am having a hard time enjoying it at the moment because I am having some health issues so I am somewhat distracted. But regardless the best so far for me have been Case 137, The Stranger, The Richest Woman in the World, Six Days in Spring (approach with caution - all my friends HATED it), Little Amelie or the Character of Rain, The Great Arch and 13 Days, 13 Nights. I'll also give a shoutout to The Little Stranger & Enzo which I had seen at the Sydney Film Festival.

I was somewhat disappointed in Ozon's The Stranger. It was gorgeous to look at and had genuine tension and intrigue but also felt rather empty. That hasn't stopped me purchasing the French Blu Ray which has English subtitles to give the film another go when I am in a better frame of mind. I'm a big Ozon fan. Also, I did prefer Visconti's adaptation.

Still have more films to see at the festival over the next 2 weeks....

[cantinflas]

You're actually in luck Aunt Peg, tickets are released at the beginning of each month for that month's sessions! So given that Going Down screens on 1st April you'll be able to get the tickets and see it then. They also do keep some seats available for walk ins as I imagine quite a few people would just rock up on the day. I remember when I was going to the AGNSW to see films every week like 20 years ago I would just turn up and get a seat easy. Shamefully I'm still yet to go to the gallery since the renovations...

But yeah that film and the whole program does look excellent, thanks heaps for letting me know! I'll have to finally head in and check some out. I'm a big fan of James Vaughan's Friends and Strangers so that's my rec if you haven't seen it.

Have you been seeing anything at the French Film Festival?

Thanks so much for that. I'll ear mark that day.

I've been attending a lot at the French Film Festival. It is my favourite of all the festivals that run throughout the year. To be honest I am having a hard time enjoying it at the moment because I am having some health issues so I am somewhat distracted. But regardless the best so far for me have been Case 137, The Stranger, The Richest Woman in the World, Six Days in Spring (approach with caution - all my friends HATED it), Little Amelie or the Character of Rain, The Great Arch and 13 Days, 13 Nights. I'll also give a shoutout to The Little Stranger & Enzo which I had seen at the Sydney Film Festival.

I was somewhat disappointed in Ozon's The Stranger. It was gorgeous to look at and had genuine tension and intrigue but also felt rather empty. That hasn't stopped me purchasing the French Blu Ray which has English subtitles to give the film another go when I am in a better frame of mind. I'm a big Ozon fan. Also, I did prefer Visconti's adaptation.

Still have more films to see at the festival over the next 2 weeks....

Nice, you've seen so many. I used to go quite often but I've become so slack these days. What'd you think of Case 137? I really wanted to see that and Alpha most of all, possibly the Ozon as I love him too but this one did seem a bit off. They are showing the restoration of Lelouch's A Man and a Woman as well which I should go see on the big screen...

Yeah still a couple of weeks to catch them all and the others you and GaryC have been discussing, I appreciate it as I need the motivation!

[Aunt Peg]

Case 137 is utterly compelling. Whilst not based on an actually true story it is inspired by true events. Would made perfect a perfect double bill with a French documentary from 2019 The Monopoly of Violence.

If you don't make it to those screenings both Case 137 & Alpha have Australian distribution and at the very least will end of up streaming by the end of the year.

I'm interested in going to A Man and a Woman having only ever seen it on VHS in 1989. I didn't care for it and am personally find Claude Lelouch very hit and miss and though I didn't care for A Man and a Woman I would like to give it another go.

[willoneill]

The new restoration of Guy Maddin’s Careful premiered last night at the International Film Festival of Ottawa. According to Maddin, the restoration work only finished earlier this week, so he watched the film from the back of the theatre jus to make sure the colours came out how he wanted (and they did!). A couple of tidbits from the Q&A: like Tales From the Gimli Hospital and Archangel, the plan is the Careful restoration will be put out on blu-ray by Zeitgeist, but those plans aren’t solid yet. Maddin also mentioned that although Careful was inspired by old German Bergfilms, he had never actually seen any Bergfilms before making Careful, and only saw a few after when he was in Munich touring with Careful. Finally, someone asked Maddin if he thought Wes Anderson ripped off Careful for The Grand Budapest Hotel. Maddin said that he doesn’t even know if Anderson has seen Careful, but that in general Anderson’s films “irked him”, and that he met Anderson once at a small dinner party hosted by Isabella Rossellini, because “those are the kinds of people you meet when you hang out with Isabella Rossellini.”

Anyway, I thought the restoration looked great and can’t wait to watch it again on blu-ray eventually.

[Stefan Andersson]

The Yellow Canary, Buzz Kulik, DCP:
https://www.americancinematheque.com/no ... ry-4-4-26/

Point of Order, Emile de Antonio, 4K:
https://www.filmswelike.com/films/point-of-order

[hearthesilence]

Point of Order, Emile de Antonio, 4K:
https://www.filmswelike.com/films/point-of-order

Hah, I saw a great new restoration for this during my very first time at To Save and Project…in 2010! I’ve never come across it again but I guess this one will be even better.

[Stefan Andersson]

Upcoming: a restoration of the silent version of Lubitsch´s Monte Carlo, according to Robert A. Harris:
"the silent version is on our restoration schedule. 4k scan of original camera negative elements."
See post 5 here:
https://www.hometheaterforum.com/commun ... ew.388310/

[guyetgenevieve]

Didn't see this in the last few pages, but apparently, MGM has carried out a new restoration of West Side Story (1961). From Capelight, who's set to release a 4K disc of the film in August:

Unfortunately, we have to inform you today that we have to postpone the release of "West Side Story".

We know that you were probably really looking forward to your order... but it will be worth the wait!

Shortly before production of the discs began, we received information from MGM that there will be a brand new 4K master based on an 8K scan of the 65 mm version, including all restoration work and color corrections.

Of course, we don't want to deprive you of this, so we have decided not to continue working with the "old" master. Accordingly, we unfortunately have to postpone the release until August 6.

Of course, you can cancel your pre-order at any time. In this case, your payment will be refunded.

[Stefan Andersson]

Reunion, Schatzberg:
https://www.rialtopictures.com/
https://filmforum.org/film/reunion

Interesting. I did indeed see this at the MoMA Schatzberg retrospective mentioned (which I also posted about before), and it was a very nice looking DCP. I wonder if it's the same one? Rialto's site says the film's restored but has no further detail - neither does Film Forum (or MoMA's page, if it ends up being the same DCP).

Update:
Reunion has had a 4K restoration. Trailer:
https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=38092

[hearthesilence]

It doesn't matter to me if it is a 4K restoration or isn't, but if it's not misreporting on Blu-ray.com's part, I'm surprised Rialto didn't bother putting that anywhere in the trailer. I imagine "4K" still has some marketing value.

[Aunt Peg]

Regardless I hope this brings brings Reunion into the spotlight so to speak.

Saw it back when it was released in cinemas (and failed at the box office) and I don't feel the film itself have ever received the attention and acclaim that it deserved.

I purchased the French Blu Ray a number of years ago and visually it was gorgeous. Whilst the subtitles cannot be removed via the disc or the remote, they can be pushed out of view (I can't remember the trick but one can easily Google it).

Great film and one of the unsung gems of cinema.

If it gets a 4K or even just Blu Ray US or UK release, it will be a day one purchase from me.

[Stefan Andersson]

Mueda, Memoria e Massacre, Ruy Guerra, Mozambique 1979, restored in 2017. Info from 2022:
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/20 ... e-massacre

Turang, Bachtiar Siagian, Indonesia 1958; a 2026 showing:
https://www.eyefilm.nl/en/whats-on/turang/1603597
info from 2025:
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/20 ... red-turang
https://iffr.com/en/iffr/2025/films/turang

[Stefan Andersson]

Vakond, Ildikó Enyedi, 2025 restoration:
https://www.cinematheque.fr/seance/45035.html

[Stefan Andersson]

Slightly Scarlet (Allan Dwan, 1956) has been restored by the Film Noir Foundation. Showing in Palm Springs in May, as part of the Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival:
https://arthurlyonsfilmnoir.org/films/
Also showing: new digital restorations of Gunn, 1967, and Manhandled, 1949.

Comments from Alan K. Rode here: https://variety.com/2026/film/news/noir ... 236697221/

[Stefan Andersson]

Tampopo, 4K restoration, plus a restoration of Erdgift (Paul Otto, 1919) based on Wedekind´s play Erdgeist; see p. 72 and 83:
https://www.duesseldorf.de/fileadmin/Am ... ersion.pdf

[hearthesilence]

Tampopo, 4K restoration...

Unfortunate that Criterion missed out on the 4K restoration - maybe it was by the slimmest of margins, but I wish they put off their release just so they could license it. Given how well over a decade has passed without an upgrade of Visconti's The Leopard (similarly released right before a superior restoration debuted in theaters the same year), it's all the more frustrating.

[dwk]

Tampopo, 4K restoration...

Unfortunate that Criterion missed out on the 4K restoration - maybe it was by the slimmest of margins, but I wish they put off their release just so they could license it. Given how well over a decade has passed without an upgrade of Visconti's The Leopard (similarly released right before a superior restoration debuted in theaters the same year), it's all the more frustrating.

I think 4K restorations of all of Itami's films were announced just after Criterion either released or announced their Blu-ray of The Funeral.

[Lowry_Sam]

I think 4K restorations of all of Itami's films were announced just after Criterion either released or announced their Blu-ray of The Funeral.

Amazon UK has been out of stock of (Criterion) The Funeral & Tampopo. Could a UK label have picked up these 4k restos?
Minbo is at the top of my wishlist, but a box set would be even better.

[Matt]

Criterion's master for Tampopo is from a 4K restoration. I don't see any indication on this calendar of film screenings that this is a newer restoration than what Criterion used.

Even if it is newer, Criterion will gleefully put a new restoration on a 4K UHD while continuing to use an older master for the included Blu-ray.

Criterion's disc of The Funeral, on the other hand, is from a "high-definition digital master," so they definitely missed the boat on that one.