BFI: 32 Ozu Films

[Peacock]

Early Spring and Tokyo Twilight.... DVD only? Incredibly disappointing, I was convinced both would be HD and what with Criterion having put them in Eclipse there is no hope for blu-rays of these titles.... man so far seeing these Ozu films in HD has been revelatory so it's disappointing that two of the remaining four unreleased sound films with good elements aren't getting the same love as the others. If there's any way for this to be changed... well I hope it is.

[Calvin]

We could always make a stand on Facebook and/or Twitter. Might not get anywhere but it wouldn't hurt.

[perkizitore]

Direct your abuse here

[MichaelB]

Direct your abuse here

Can I respectfully suggest that you refrain from actual abuse? At least until you find out what the story behind this release is?

[perkizitore]

=; I was joking, I just pointed where people can respectfully direct their comments and suggestions, abuse is never acceptable!

[tenia]

Indeed, it is both disappointing but also surprising when you see what the Eclipse DVD looks already like.
I'm just wondering when will be the next HD release for the Ozu collection, and hope that An Autumn Afternoon wasn't the last one. I think that the biggest interest in all this was especially the HD upgrade for half the titles. Now, I'm afraid that all the remaining movies might "only" be realeased in SD.

Maybe the material was not good enough for HD, but it would be quite surprising.

[perkizitore]

I am afraid that sales were disappointing and that they decided to cut on costs by releasing the remaining Ozu titles on SD only. Let's hope I am mistaken

[ellipsis7]

We know that A STORY OF FLOATING WEEDS & FLOATING WEEDS exist in HD masters for the Criterion release, pointing to a dual format BFI package for these two... I'm guessing THE END OF SUMMER may also make the cut to BR/DVD, and perhaps also RECORD OF A TENEMENT OF A TENEMENT GENTLEMAN & FLAVOUR OF GREEN TEA OVER RICE, but it probably all turns on the materials and mostly whether an HD master already exists or it is realistic and economic to make a new HD transfer...

[MichaelB]

That's pretty much the situation as I understand it. As soon as people highlighted that these titles went to Eclipse, that dropped a pretty strong hint that HD materials simply don't exist at present - and of course the economics of this project dictates the use of off-the-shelf masters pretty much without exception.

True, the BFI did make an exception for Good Morning, because it's a major title and the Criterion master was notoriously flawed - but if no HD master currently exists for the other titles, whether or not it's possible to create one largely depends on whether Shochiku is prepared to grant access to 35mm materials. And if they're not, there's obviously nothing that the BFI can do if Shochiku and Criterion's masters are SD only (which is presumably the case).

Put it like this, the BFI's evangelical track record with regard to HD releases should really speak for itself by now - and in pretty much all other cases of surprise DVD-only releases (The Devils being a particularly good example), there's a reason for this that's beyond the BFI's control. So I'd say it's very safe indeed to assume that a similar situation is at play here.

[Peacock]

But I was under the impression that Tartan had created some HD masters which BFI had used for a couple of the releases? Making Tokyo Twilight seem a likely choice. Perhaps I'm mistaken?

I disagree though that the reason these aren't coming out in HD is beyond BFI's control... sure in the case of The Devils and some other British films that makes sense, but in this case it's presumedly down to costs rather than licensing or problematic materials. I mean why would Tokyo Twilight and Early Spring only exist in SD masters worldwide while they other films which have been released with good PQ have had Blu's?

And I suspect ellipses is probably correct about Tenement Gent and Green Tea getting an HD release as, if I remember correctly, Criterion on Facebook mentioned these as getting a release in "2012" (we'll see) in a reply to someone many months ago, so maybe BFI will wait around and use the masters for those if it's another Only Son/There was a Father kinda deal.

[MichaelB]

But I was under the impression that Tartan had created some HD masters which BFI had used for a couple of the releases? Making Tokyo Twilight seem a likely choice. Perhaps I'm mistaken?

You must be, because if HD masters were available off the shelf, the BFI would certainly have used them.

(It's worth mentioning that there are three ex-Tartan people amongst BFI DVD Publishing's current staff - including the present head of DVD Publishing and his boss - so you can rest assured that they know what's available!)

I disagree though that the reason these aren't coming out in HD is beyond BFI's control...

If no HD masters exist already, they have to be created from scratch from film materials, which requires both the co-operation of the rightsholder and a reasonable deal to be struck over who foots the bill.

Usually when the BFI creates a brand new HD master, they have various avenues from which they can recoup that investment (and of course there's an archival remit), but this wouldn't apply to an Ozu film or indeed any Japanese title. So if it comes down to them having to meet the entire cost of an HD master, it's very possible that it may be beyond the project's budget.

I mean why would Tokyo Twilight and Early Spring only exist in SD masters worldwide while they other films which have been released with good PQ have had Blu's?

You'll have to ask Shochiku.

And I suspect ellipses is probably correct about Tenement Gent and Green Tea getting an HD release as, if I remember correctly, Criterion on Facebook mentioned these as getting a release in "2012" (we'll see) in a reply to someone many months ago, so maybe BFI will wait around and use the masters for those if it's another Only Son/There was a Father kinda deal.

My understanding is that if an HD master exists, and the quality is deemed sufficient for a 1080p release, it will get one - the example of The Only Son being a case in point, since it's arguable that the 1080p upgrade doesn't make a huge amount of difference, the slight increase in definition being offset by far more visible damage.

[richard_t]

As per Michael's earlier comment, I'm confident that the BFI must have a good reason for releasing these on DVD only and that's good enough for me.

The pre-order has gone in, I just hope Amazon drop the price again from the £22.49 they're currently asking.

[Opdef]

It's understandable that at the moment the HD masters just don't exist for the BFI to use, and I'll happily buy any Ozu release, whether it's on Blu-ray, or DVD, as long as it's the best that's available. I'd like to think in the future though, as better elements become available, they may eventually be re-released onto Blu-ray.

[Calvin]

BFI on Facebook: We're currently looking into the availability of better master materials, but if none exist, then there is very little we can do to improve matters.

[manicsounds]

Remember that the Eclipse box version of "Tokyo Twilight" had its problem being the only interlaced disc, as they couldn't get a progressive scan transfer for release. Maybe BFI had the same problem here.

[Paupau]

Received my silent comedies set, funny thing tough: in the menus, the silent or orchestrated options are switched. My question is: due to the ost credits at the start of the feature, is the sound still sincronized with the picture? Will try to check later today, just to be sure, but thanks.

[Michael Kerpan]

It was nice seeing Where Now Are the Dreams of Youth properly subbed. And I didn't mind the accompaniment. The Rayns visual essay was pretty good. The rest of the set remains unexplored.

[Paupau]

Tried on a different blu player and dvd player, all good. Never experienced something similar before.

[ellipsis7]

[MichaelB]

Mondo Digital on The Student Comedies.

[MichaelB]

Full specs announced:

The Ozu Collection
Three Melodramas
By Yasujiro Ozu

Three Melodramas by Yasujiro Ozu, released on 18 June, is the latest addition to the BFI’s DVD strand The Ozu Collection. Melodrama is a word rarely associated with the work of the master Japanese director, whose beautifully constructed films capture the poetry of everyday life. Spanning his career, these three films, Early Spring (1956), Tokyo Twilight (1957) and the rare silent Woman of Tokyo (1933), demonstrate the director’s ability to apply his exquisite style to darker themes.

Disc One

Woman of Tokyo (Tokyo no onna)

Ozu’s silent Woman of Tokyo sees the director experimenting with the cutaways that were to become so associated with his later style. Chikako (Yoshiko Okada) works hard to pay for her brother Ryoichi’s (Ureo Egawa) college fees. When Ryoichi learns the true nature of this work disaster ensues. This tragic tale of misunderstood sacrifice features a new score by Ed Hughes.

Early Spring (Soshun)

Made just after his celebrated Tokyo Story, Ozu’s Early Spring tackles the problems of young salaried workers. Shoji (Ryu Ikebe) and his wife Masako, played by the multitalented Chikage Awashima (Late Spring), struggle to come to terms with a family tragedy. When the office flirt ‘Goldfish’ (Keiko Kishi) starts to interest Shoji, the couple’s fragile peace is severely threatened.

Japan / 1933 + 1957 / black and white / silent with optional score, Japanese intertitles and audio with English subtitles; Japanese, English subtitles / DVD 9 / 45 mins + 139 mins / Dolby digital 320kbps / Original aspect ratio 1.33:1

Disc Two

Tokyo Twilight (Tokyo Boshoku)

Abandoned by their mother when they were young, sisters Akiko (Ineko Arima) and Takako (Setsuko Hara) live with their father Shukichi (played by Ozu’s favourite actor Chishu Ryu). Each nurses her own personal sorrow but when Akiko falls into desperate trouble she turns away from her family. Ozu’s last film in black and white, Tokyo Twilight is a masterpiece of atmospheric chiaroscuro.

Japan / 1957 / black and white / Japanese, English subtitles / DVD 9 / 135 mins / Dolby digital 224kbps / Original aspect ratio 1.33:1

Special features

• Optional score for Woman of Tokyo by Ed Hughes commissioned exclusively for the BFI;
• Illustrated booklet including a newly commissioned essay from Asian cinema expert Tony Rayns and other contributions

Release date: 18 June 2012
RRP: £29.99 / cat. no. BFIVD950 / Cert 12

[AK]

Preordered this in March from Amazon.co.uk and just received an e-mail from them notifying me it's been shipped. Can't wait!

[NABOB OF NOWHERE]

Please let Dragnet Girl be in the next batch. Ozu Hoods anyone?

[Michael Kerpan]

I wish this new set constituted an _upgrade_ from the Criterion versions of Early Summer and Tokyo Twilight. ;~}

[Anthony]

Please let Dragnet Girl be in the next batch. Ozu Hoods anyone?

I hear ya, big time... wink, wink.