Shinji Somai

[Calvin]

Cinema Guild also haven't announced any home video plans for Moving, so I wouldn't read anything into P.P. Rider in particular. I've got no idea why they haven't - they haven't responded to any of my tweets or emails. I wonder if they're trying to put together a box set instead of individual releases, but that might be wishful thinking.

I messaged Third Window about Kaza Hana and they've said they've got no plans for further Somai as he's "now very popular so [they're] sure many other distributors will handle [his] works"

[feihong]

That's strange, I was sure I saw announcements of home video releases for Moving and for P.P. Rider on various Cinema Guild posts, but I guess not.

Interesting about Third Window. Tokyo Heaven is on the list for the Director's Company releases, but maybe they're running out of steam on those? I think the exceptional Mermaid Legend is slowly making its way out on blu ray right now. I thought they were planning to release all the movies they listed for the company.

[Calvin]

That's strange, I was sure I saw announcements of home video releases for Moving and for P.P. Rider on various Cinema Guild posts, but I guess not.

Interesting about Third Window. Tokyo Heaven is on the list for the Director's Company releases, but maybe they're running out of steam on those? I think the exceptional Mermaid Legend is slowly making its way out on blu ray right now. I thought they were planning to release all the movies they listed for the company.

I believe that's just literally a list of all Director's Company films, not necessarily ones that they are releasing. Unfortunately.

I suppose Third Window are best placed to decide what is needing their attention most, but I think Adam is being overly optimistic with Obayashi in particular - only Beijing Watermelon is an actual new to (English friendly) Blu-Ray title that has been released subsequent to Third Window's 80s box set. I don't see anyone rushing to put out The Rocking Horsemen or Chizuko's Younger Sister.

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

I suppose Third Window are best placed to decide what is needing their attention most, but I think Adam is being overly optimistic with Obayashi in particular - only Beijing Watermelon is an actual new to (English friendly) Blu-Ray title that has been released subsequent to Third Window's 80s box set. I don't see anyone rushing to put out The Rocking Horsemen or Chizuko's Younger Sister.

I agree, but they're probably waiting to see if the U.S. release of those four '80s Kadokawa titles spurs any further interest from American distributors.

That's strange, I was sure I saw announcements of home video releases for Moving and for P.P. Rider on various Cinema Guild posts, but I guess not.

Moving at least was supposed to get a home video release per the announcement of the Cinema Guild acquisition, but they've recently dialed back on physical media to an alarming degree—they haven't released anything since Cane Fire in February (a film I like, but an odd choice IMO) and even the Hong Sangsoo BDs have dried up (including A Traveler's Needs, which ought to have a bit more commercial appeal than his usual given Huppert's involvement). They also haven't given any indications of a physical media release for Love Hotel. Maybe they'll do a Sōmai box after The Friends finishes its theatrical run, but that might be clutching at straws.

[ryannichols7]

Cinema Guild going silent is one of my least favorite things to happen in awhile, just wanted to say. but they did explicitly say Moving was coming to disc and... we're onto a Criterion length wait. I'm sure they'll somehow become the next Vinegar Syndrome label in due time and I'll have to fight with their crowd over buying Hong titles

[dadaistnun]

Cinema Guild going silent is one of my least favorite things to happen in awhile, just wanted to say. but they did explicitly say Moving was coming to disc and... we're onto a Criterion length wait. I'm sure they'll somehow become the next Vinegar Syndrome label in due time and I'll have to fight with their crowd over buying Hong titles

Same here. I can't recall the usual window of time for theatrical -> disc for the Hong films, but we still don't have the other back catalog titles they acquired (Night and Day, Ha Ha Ha, and Like You Know It All), and on the new film front we're still waiting for In Our Day (which I loved) before A Traveler's Needs. I think Nova Media has released those two, but a) the prices are high (not good for a Hong addict) and b) I'd really love to continue supporting CG. I'm beginning to doubt we'll get discs of Schanelec's Music or Helena Wittman's Human Flowers of Flesh to mention a couple of other semi-recent releases I'd really like to get on disc.

[senseabove]

I'm beginning to doubt we'll get discs of Schanelec's Music or Helena Wittman's Human Flowers of Flesh to mention a couple of other semi-recent releases I'd really like to get on disc.

I suspect our CG wishlist should be moved to the CG thread, but... I'd love to have Human Flowers of Flesh, too, but I'd be absolutely shocked if something like that got a release. I'd take a Bas Devos double feature of Here and Ghost Tropic while we're throwing out hypothetical CG releases.

[mrb404]

The Friends coming from Survivance in France on October 6th, 2025.

They already released Moving and Typhoon Club last year.
Moving had English + French subtitles, but Typhoon Club had only French subs.
The Friends (Jardin d'été) is not listed yet on Survivance's website, so subs to be confirmed, but the first listings on online shops only mention French.