Mondo Vision

[Mathew2468]

Has The Blue Note ever been released? If not Mondo would have that going for them.

[JimmyTango]

Has The Blue Note ever been released? If not Mondo would have that going for them.

It's out in France ASIN: B000EGESPS

[Iode]

Mondo Vision's website has been updated.

Now we just need a release date and a confirmation on whether it's coming on blu-ray or not.

[Mathew2468]

Super, but is there a date?

[Grand Wazoo]

That cover art is gorgeous. Hoping dearly for a blu.

[Mathew2468]

"A spiral staircase movie, a never-ending metaphysical game of cat-and-mouse, a moral aspiration to the Heavens, a “spotlight” on God, a scornful detective movie, a horror movie and frightful, high-octane baroque work – Possession is all of that at once. It is a film that provokes, but it provokes intelligence above all – not just the merry continuation of our little social mechanisms.

Possession is a visionary, scathing attack on what could be called an “alien” from within. It is a movie that deliberately goes against the new “dominant ideology”, and takes huge risks. This deep-cutting, biological cinema, delves into the guts to reach the soul. Through its fire, it revives something that a lot of contemporary movies have lost: emotion, and the prospect of the audience reacting, perhaps even throwing up (figuratively?) in front of a screen displaying their own fantasies."

[kekid]

Whe will "Possession" be released?
This question has been asked many times, by many forum members, so it seems futile to ask it again. But I sense that we are not getting an honest answer. Since "Possession" has now been announced for release by another label, in another region, it seems that it is ready to go. What are the hold-ups unique to Mondo Vision?

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Isn't Mondo Vision a much smaller operation than Second Sight? If so, that might be a big reason why.

[kekid]

Isn't Mondo Vision a much smaller operation than Second Sight? If so, that might be a big reason why.

I don't know how small is small. We have talked about MoC being "small", and they produce several very high quality DVD's and Blu Rays each year. When Kino was previously criticized in these pages, some people defended them as being "small", but they have been producing ia large number of DVD's and Blu Rays. As I understand, Mondo Vision is focused on a single film for months (perhaps over a year). This is quite different from what we have seen from many other "small" companies.

I do not wish to criticize Mondo Vision if they have other issues (e.g. economic issues) that have resulted in such a long delay. I just would like to have a realistic assessment of what to expect. Should I go ahead and order the UK Blu Ray of "Possession" or should I wait for the Mondo Vision? Perhaps other forum members also face the same choice. Therefore some update on their status is appropriate.

[R0lf]

When you say "announced for release" it is in the early stages of development.

Mondo announced this for release ages ago and I think we'll find it will be up for order first.

I always get excited there is some official news when this thread gets bumped!

[Adam X]

I always get excited there is some official news when this thread gets bumped!

Don't we all...

I'd say that the delay in releasing POSSESSION is related to financial issues and available materials for the transfer, both of which have been discussed previously by David M. in this thread.
I always imagined Mondo Vision to be a company as tiny as MoC, if not more so, except without the financial backing of someone like Eureka! Not to mention that they're focussing on a single director, which obviously narrows any potential financial success. Especially when that director's Zulawski.
As far as Second Sight's release goes, it'd seem fairly certain they're using the transfer created for MV's release, which suggests there'd be a good chance that they were given access to it on condition of Mondo Vision getting their release out first.

[MichaelB]

As far as Second Sight's release goes, it'd seem fairly certain they're using the transfer created for MV's release, which suggests there'd be a good chance that they were given access to it on condition of Mondo Vision getting their release out first.

Doesn't this rather depend on who paid for it? HD transfers don't come cheap.

[Adam X]

No, I know.
I was going on the assumption that given how long Mondo Vision appear to have been working on their release of Possession, for Second Sight to have suddenly announced a release featuring their own director-approved transfer, seems highly unlikely. Though, it is possible they've co-funded the work done, too.
Of course, assumptions are the bane of the internet.

[MichaelB]

It has to be the same transfer - as I said above, Second Sight also has strong connections with Daniel Bird and David Mackenzie.

And given that it's a Blu-ray, with all the additional expense that that implies, it wouldn't surprise me at all if it was a joint effort in terms of funding.

[Iode]

I emailed them a few weeks ago and got this response:

We expect to have it released in the first half of 2013.

Thanks for your patience.

Mazi

MONDO VISION

[towda]

As I understand, Mondo Vision is focused on a single film for months (perhaps over a year). This is quite different from what we have seen from many other "small" companies.

The last mondo vision release was in late 2010, I don't know if they were working on other films but that would be over 2 (and when its all done 2.5) years in between releases. Then again, the size of Mondo Vision is far smaller than someone like Kino, or MoC. They've released what 4 films from the same director over the course of 4 years. Due to their tiny size, it wouldn't surprise me if they ran out of money for a while.

I didn't fully understand why they didn't start with Possession which would be easily the best selling Zulawski film and would help finance the others, but perhaps it took this long to find a quality print (don't get me wrong I love that they released some high quality prints of his previously hard to find classics). In case I'm excited to finally upgrade my old Anchor Bay copy with another beautiful edition from this great company.

[David M.]

I didn't fully understand why they didn't start with Possession which would be easily the best selling Zulawski film and would help finance the others, but perhaps it took this long to find a quality print

I'll say only this. There have been some quite high profile and surprising screwups with new transfers of older films this year, and I wouldn't let Possession be another of them. You could have been watching a version of it this christmas, but, well, you know the rest.

It's hard to stay patient... can't wait to handle that packaging!

[Perkins Cobb]

I'm starting to think we'll get the next Fantoma release before the next Mondo Vision.

[R0lf]

I think that is the first actual confirmation we are getting the Blu?

Thank you!

[David M.]

I was talking more about new scans of old films in general (edited to be more clear). Mondo Vision will need to announce what's happening as for its final destination

[dad1153]

You could have winked, David, but instead you smiled. Clue? ;)

[Beyonder]

Possession package specifics are up on mondo-vision.com. Or at least a tentative overview...

[Mathew2468]

Over 4 hours of special features? Wha? \:D/

A documentary?

[MichaelB]

Presumably the commentary accounts for half of that.

[Mathew2468]

I might have missed it but at least one piece of music from Szamanka doesn't seem to be on the soundtrack. The electric guitar music that plays when the Italian is running around looking for the anthropology department and when she and the guy who's in love with her are in the big machine-thing in the foundry.

The paper insert that lists and names the tracks shows tracks 1-18, and then bonus tracks 21 & 22. Perhaps there are two missing?