Why Won't They Release Only What I Want?

[knives]

For Brazil they have Black Orpheus and nothing else despite the three listing. That seems worth teasing over.

[Tribe]

For Brazil they have Black Orpheus and nothing else despite the three listing. That seems worth teasing over.

Actually, I think what they've done (beside the obvious goofs like Black Orpheus) is they count extras and interviews as "movies" or "films." So yeah, they may have 16 Mexican films, but the bulk of those are likely interviews and the like.

[FilmFanSea]

An alternative to the TSPDT list .... At the Spanish language portal NOTICINE.com, they conducted a poll in 2008 for the best "Ibero-American" (first time I had ever heard of that descriptor) films of all time. I'm not sure of the methodology, but it's an interesting list. It has many of the usual suspects (Buñuel, Almodóvar, Alea, Salles), but curiously no Black Orpheus or Pixote. And I'm not sure how the French language That Obscure Object of Desire made the list...

Not to be outdone by Michael B, I created an Excel spreadsheet and then looked at DVD or Blu-Ray availability in R1 and A, respectively (Amazon.com was my point of reference), with English subtitles required. What I learned is that 56% of this list appears to have a Region 1/A English subbed release available (a somewhat greater percentage than I had expected, but some of the DVD companies are unknown to me and may simply specialize in the Latin-American US market, so quality of their product may be suspect).

Some of these without obvious US distribution might be good targets for Criterion.


100 Best Ibero-American Films (NOTICINE.com Poll, 2008)

Rank --- Original Title / Translation --- Director(s) --- Year --- Country --- Eng Subbed DVD/BR Available in R1/A? --- Details

1 Memorias del subdesarrollo / Memories of Underdevelopment Alea, Tomás Gutiérrez 1968 Cuba ***NO*** Mr Bongo DVD (R2 PAL - UK); VHS - New Yorker
2 El laberinto del fauno / Pan's Labyrinth del Toro, Guillermo 2006 Spain/Mexico Yes BR- New Line (2007)
3 Los olvidados Buñuel, Luis 1950 Mexico Yes DVD - Amazon On Demand (2011); Films sans frontières DVD (R0 PAL); US rights??
4 Cidade de Deus / City of God Meirelles, Fernando 2002 Brazil Yes BR - Lionsgate (2011)
5 Todo sobre mi madre / All About My Mother Almodóvar, Pedro 1999 Spain Yes DVD - Sony (2009)
6 El ángel exterminador / The Exterminating Angel Buñuel, Luis 1962 Mexico Yes DVD - Criterion (2009)
7 Fresa y chocolate / Strawberry and Chocolate Alea, Tomás Gutiérrez 1994 Cuba Yes DVD - Alliance (Canada)
8 Estación Central / Central Station Salles, Walter 1998 Brazil Yes DVD - Sony (1999)
9 La historia oficial / The Official History Puenzo, Luis 1985 Argentina Yes DVD- Koch Lorber (2004)
10 Dona Flor e Seus Dois Maridos / Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands Barreto, Bruno 1976 Brazil Yes DVD- New Yorker (2008)
11 Belle epoque / The Age of Beauty Trueba, Fernando 1992 Spain Yes DVD- Sony (2003)
12 Lucía Solás, Humberto 1968 Cuba ***NO*** DVD- Mr Bongo (R1 PAL UK - 2010)
13 Mar adentro / The Sea Inside Amenábar, Alejandro 2004 Spain Yes DVD- New Line (2005)
14 El espíritu de la colmena / The Spirit of the Beehive Erice, Victor 1973 Spain Yes DVD- Criterion (2006)
15 La estrategia del caracol / The Strategy of the Snail Cabrera, Sergio 1993 Colombia ***NO*** German DVD release
16 Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios / Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown Almodóvar, Pedro 1998 Spain Yes DVD- Sony (2009)
17 El hijo de la novia / Son of the Bride Campanella, Juan José 2001 Argentina Yes DVD- Sony (2002)
18 Bienvenido Mister Marshall / Welcome Mr. Marshall! Berlanga, Luis García 1953 Spain ***NO*** DVD- Tribanda (R2 PAL)
19 Pantaleón y las visitadoras / Captain Pantoja and the Special Services Lombardi, Francisco 2000 Peru Yes DVD- Warner (2006)
20 Viridiana Buñuel, Luis 1961 Spain Yes DVD- Criterion (2006)
21 Amores perros / Love's a Bitch Iñárritu, Alejandro González 2000 Mexico Yes DVD- Lionsgate (2003)
22 Suite Habana / Havana Suite Pérez, Fernando 2003 Cuba ***NO*** DVD- Trigon (R2 PAL)
23 La ciudad y los perros / The City and the Dogs Lombardi, Francisco 1985 Peru ***NO*** N/A
24 Whisky Rebella, Juan Pablo 2004 Uruguay ***NO*** DVD-Fox R2 PAL
25 Como agua para chocolate / Like Water for Chocolate Arau, Alfonso 1992 Mexico Yes DVD-Lionsgate (2011)
26 El callejón de los milagros / Midaq Alley Fons, Jorge 1995 Mexico ***NO*** DVD-Fox Lorber OOP
27 El crimen del padre Amaro / The Crime of Father Amaro Carrera, Carlos 2001 Mexico Yes DVD- Sony (2003)
28 El lado oscuro del corazón / The Dark Side of the Heart Subiela, Eliseo 1992 Argentina ***NO*** DVD-Cinemateca OOP
29 Historias mínimas / Intimate Stories Sorín, Carlos 2002 Argentina Yes DVD- New Yorker (2006)
30 La lengua de las mariposas / Butterfly Tongues or Butterfly Cuerda, José Luis 1999 Spain Yes DVD- Miramax (2001)
31 Profundo carmesí / Deep Crimson Ripstein, Arturo 1996 Mexico Yes DVD-Homevision (1997)
32 Terra em transe / Entranced Earth Rocha, Glauber 1967 Brazil ***NO*** DVD-Mr Bongo (R1 PAL 2009)
33 Y tu mamá también Cuarón, Alfonso 2001 Mexico Yes DVD-MGM (2002)
34 Bye, Bye Brasil Diegues, Carlos 1979 Brazil Yes DVD- New Yorker (2007)
35 Guantanamera Alea, Tomás Gutiérrez 1995 Cuba Yes DVD- New Yorker (2000)
36 El beso de la mujer araña / Kiss of the Spider Woman Babenco, Héctor 1985 Brazil Yes BR- City Lights (2008)
37 La ley de Herodes / Herod's Law Estrada, Luis 1999 Mexico ***NO*** DVD- Fox (2004--OOP)
38 Nueve Reinas / Nine Queens Bielinski, Fabián 2000 Argentina Yes DVD-Sony (2002)
39 La vendedora de rosas / The Rose Seller Gaviria, Víctor 1990 Colombia Yes DVD-Venevision (2003)
40 Vidas secas / Barren Lives dos Santos, Nelson Pereira 1963 Brazil Yes DVD-New Yorker (2006)
41 Volver Almodóvar, Pedro 2006 Spain Yes DVD-Sony (2007)
42 La vida es silbar / Life is to Whistle Pérez, Fernando 1998 Cuba Yes DVD-New Yorker (2002)
43 El día de la bestia / The Day of the Beast de la Iglesia, Alex 1995 Spain ***NO*** N/A
44 Crónicas / Chronicles Cordero, Sebastián 2004 Ecuador Yes DVD-Palm (2004)
45 Frida, naturaleza viva / Frida Leduc, Paul 1986 Mexico Yes BR-Lionsgate (2012)
46 Jamón, jamón / A Tale of Ham and Passion Luna, Bigas 1992 Spain ***NO*** DVD-Tartan (R0 PAL)
47 La Gente de la Universal Aljure, Felipe 1991 Colombia ***NO*** N/A
48 Los amantes del círculo polar / Lovers of the Arctic Circle Medem, Julio 1998 Spain Yes DVD-Image (2012)
49 Plata quemada / Burnt Money Piñeyro, Marcelo 2000 Argentina Yes DVD-Strand (2002)
50 Vampiros en La Habana / Vampires in Havana Padrón, Juan 1985 Cuba Yes DVD-Vanguard (2002)
51 Arrebato / Rapture Zulueta, Iván 1980 Spain ***NO*** N/A
52 Canoa Cazal, Felipe 1975 Mexico Yes DVD-Desert Mountain (2006)
53 El Buñuel, Luis 1953 Mexico ***NO*** DVD-Films sans frontières (R2 PAL 2001) [corrected]
54 Deus e o Diabo na terra do sol / Black God, White Devil Rocha, Glauber 1964 Brazil ***NO*** DVD-Mr Bongo (R1 PAL 2008)
55 La hora de los hornos / The Hour of the Furnaces Solanas, Fernando 1968 Argentina ***NO*** DVD from Argentina available
56 El Sur / The South Erice, Victor 1983 Spain ***NO*** N/A
57 Satanás / Satan Baiz, Andrés 2007 Colombia Yes DVD- Navarre (2009)
58 Rodrigo D: No futuro / Rodrigo D: No Future Gaviria, Víctor 1990 Colombia ***NO*** DVD-Facets (2004- OOP??)
59 La batalla de Chile / The Battle of Chile Guzmán, Patricio 1975-9 Chile Yes DVD-Icarus (2009)
60 Diarios de motocicleta / The Motorcycle Diaries Salles, Walter 2004 Argentina Yes DVD-Universal (2004)
61 Crónica de un niño solo / Chronicle of a Boy Alone Favio, Leonardo 1965 Argentina ***NO*** ? DVD from "Sanya", no subs mentioned
62 El norte Nava, Gregory 1983 USA Yes BR-Criterion (2009)
63 Jerico Lamata, Alberto 1990 Venezuela ***NO*** N/A
64 El abrazo partido / Lost Embrace Burman, Daniel 2004 Argentina ***NO*** DVD- R2 PAL (Spain) available
65 25 Watts Rebella, Juan Pablo 2001 Uruguay Yes DVD-Cinemateca (2004)
66 Cuestión de Fe / A Matter of Faith Loayza, Marcos 1995 Bolivia ***NO*** N/A
67 La nación clandestina Sanjinés, Jorge 1989 Bolivia ***NO*** N/A
68 El chacal de Nahueltoro / Jackal of Nahueltoro Littín, Miguel 1969 Chile Yes DVD-Terra (2006)
69 Hable con ella / Talk to Her Almodóvar, Pedro 2001 Spain Yes DVD- Sony (2003)
70 Retrato de Teresa / Portrait of Teresa Vega, Pastor 1979 Cuba ***NO*** VHS-New Yorker
71 Cronos del Toro, Guillermo 1993 Mexico Yes BR-Criterion (2010)
72 Boquitas pintadas / Painted Lips or Heartbreak Tango Torre-Nilson, Leopoldo 1974 Argentina ***NO*** VHS- Facets
73 El verdugo / The Executioner Berlanga, Luis García 1963 Spain ***NO*** N/A
74 Ese oscuro objeto del deseo / That Obscure Object of Desire Buñuel, Luis 1977 Spain/France ***NO*** DVD-Criterion (2001-OOP)--now Lionsgate
75 La muerte de un burocrata / Death of a Bureaucrat Alea, Tomás Gutiérrez 1966 Cuba ***NO*** VHS- New Yorker
76 Tropa de elite / Elite Squad Padilha, Jose 2007 Brazil Yes BR- New Video Group (2012)
77 Asignatura pendiente / Unfinished Business Garci, José Luis 1978 Spain ***NO*** N/A
78 La Caza / The Hunt Saura, Carlos 1965 Spain ***NO*** DVD- R2 PAL (Spain) available
79 La última Cena / The Last Supper Alea, Tomás Gutiérrez 1976 Cuba ***NO*** VHS-New Yorker
80 La ley del deseo / Law of Desire Almodóvar, Pedro 1987 Spain Yes DVD-Sony (2009)
81 Nosotros los pobres / We the Poor Rodríguez, Ismael 1947 Mexico Yes DVD-Warner (2009)
82 El cochecito / The Little Coach Ferreri, Marco 1960 Spain Yes DVD- Koch Lorber (2008)-box set only
83 Bajo California: El límite del tiempo / Under California: The Limit of Time Bolado, Carlos 1998 Mexico ***NO*** N/A
84 El pez que fuma / The Smoking Fish Chalbaud, Roman 1977 Venezuela ***NO*** N/A
85 Martín (Hache) / Martin (H) Aristarain, Adolfo 1997 Argentina ***NO*** N/A
86 Japón Reygadas, Carlos 2002 Mexico Yes DVD-Tartan (2004)
87 Lo que le paso a Santiago / Santiago, the Story of His New Life Morales, Jacobo 1989 Puerto Rico ***NO*** N/A
88 Alicia en el pueblo de Maravillas / Alice in Wondertown Díaz Torres, Daniel 1991 Cuba Yes DVD-First Run (2009)
89 Un lugar en el mundo / A Place in the World Aristarain, Adolfo 1992 Argentina Yes DVD-First Look (2006)
90 Deprisa, deprisa / Fast, Fast Saura, Carlos 1981 Spain ***NO*** VHS-Homevision
91 El chacotero sentimental / The Sentimental Teaser Galaz, Cristián 1999 Chile ***NO*** Available Amazon Instant Video only
92 El romance de Aniceto y la Francisca Favio, Leonardo 1966 Argentina ***NO*** N/A
93 Carandiru Babenco, Héctor 2003 Brazil Yes DVD-Sony (2004)
94 Confesión a Laura / Confessing to Laura Osorio, Jaime 1990 Colombia ***NO*** VHS-Facets
95 De cierta manera / Sort of García Espinosa, González Pérez, Alea, and Gómez 1974 Cuba ***NO*** N/A
96 Caluga o menta / Candy or Mint Justiniano, Gonzalo 1990 Chile Yes Terra Entertainment DVD (2006)
97 El colombian dream Aljure, Felipe 2005 Colombia ***NO*** N/A
98 Antonio das Mortes Rocha, Glauber 1969 Brazil ***NO*** Mr Bongo (R1 PAL - UK)
99 Amaneció de golpe Azpúrura, Carlos 1998 Venezuela Yes Maverick DVD (2003)
100 La ministra inmoral Luzardo, Julio 2007 Colombia ***NO*** N/A

[zedz]

That's a very interesting list, with a lot of films I've never heard of and never seen. Unfortunately, a lot of the films I have seen are ones I'd hope never to find on anybody's 100 best list. It seems really unjustifiably skewed towards films from the last two decades. The Day of the Beast and Like Water for Chocolate better than that run of shoulda-been top 10 films at numbers 53 through 56? I think not.

[Gregory]

Looks like they ended up with a list of the most widely seen, most obvious acclaimed "modern classic" titles of the recent era, while all but ignoring the Golden Age, the documentary genre, and a few other huge areas.

[MichaelB]

Looks like they ended up with a list of the most widely seen, most obvious acclaimed "modern classic" titles of the recent era, while all but ignoring the Golden Age, the documentary genre, and a few other huge areas.

Documentary can be problematic when it comes to lists like these, simply because of the extreme inaccessibility of all but the most canonical titles.

Even British documentary, one of the most widely discussed movements in film history tout court, has been surprisingly hard to get hold of until very recently - it's only in the last five years that the BFI has made a really concerted effort to raise awareness outside the comparatively narrow 1930s/40s canon, and even key titles from that period were harder to see than they should have been. I was very conscious, when contributing to the Shadows of Progress book (i.e. the 448-page companion volume, not the booklet that accompanied the DVD box), that we were exploring largely untrod territory - which seems absurd when the brief was to survey British documentary from the late 1940s to the late 1970s. But it really was the case that a full three decades had been largely ignored (aside from comparatively tiny but well publicised movements like Free Cinema), and major talents like John Krish, Guy Brenton, Eric Marquis etc. along with it.

And if you wanted to study Polish documentary, one of the richer documentary catalogues out there, where would you have even started before PWA/NiNA brought out those amazing DVD packages? Essentially, unless you lived in Poland and spoke Polish, they'd have been more or less entirely off limits, aside from a handful of extras on Krzysztof Kieślowski DVDs (which, inevitably, would mostly have been by Kieślowski himself).

Which reminds me - I must get round to tackling the Jan Špáta and Karel Vachek box sets that I picked up recently...

[Lemmy Caution]

100 Best Ibero-American Films (NOTICINE.com Poll, 2008)

Interesting list, if rather heavy on successful films of the past 2 decades.
Probably should copy and paste that list in to the South American film thread so that it doesn't get drowned in this extended complaint thread.

I was glad to see Vidas Secas and Jackal of Nahueltoro on the list, as well as Los Olvidados so high up.

Memorias del subdesarrollo / Memories of Underdevelopment Alea, Tomás Gutiérrez 1968 Cuba ***NO*** Mr Bongo DVD (R2 PAL - UK); VHS - New Yorker

According to Mr. Bongo himself, this film has English subtitles, as I can confirm from my copy. Only selling for £7.99 on Mr. B's site, and possibly cheaper elsewhere. A terrific Cuban New Wave film with broody political and sexual sensibility. Well worth it.

And since Mr. Bongo is UK based, I assume the 3 Glauber Rochas on the list have English subtitles as well.

[neilist]

There are two films by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea on this English friendly set, both of which I heartily recommend. 'La muerte de un burocrata' is on the above list at 75, while 'Las doce sillas' definitely should be on the list in places of some of what is on there, in my opinion.

[MichaelB]

All Mr Bongo titles are English-friendly, as you'd expect from a UK label. Source materials vary wildly, but it's pretty much inconceivable that they'd release anything without English subtitles.

[JPJ]

Bongo's Black god,white devil is truly bad.It has so much ghosting during movements that it's almost unwatchable.Definitely a title that Criterion should consider.

[MichaelB]

Bongo's Black god,white devil is truly bad.It has so much ghosting during movements that it's almost unwatchable.Definitely a title that Criterion should consider.

...though it may well be the case that there are no superior elements available that don't involve spending a small fortune on a restoration. Which I've already argued is likely to be at least one of the reasons that Criterion has historically neglected even major film countries.

[knives]

I actually think their Rocha releases are fine once you consider the quality the materials might be in. Certainly better than nothing.

[MichaelB]

"Better than nothing" is an attitude you have to adopt as a general rule once you start veering off the canonical beaten track. I'm always amazed by the number of people who say that they'll never buy DVDs ever again, because if I was that absolutist I simply wouldn't be able to see about 90% of what I'm interested in!

Handily, the DVDs in my own specialist field of central-eastern European cinema are generally very cheap indeed (astonishingly so at times), and so double-dipping is pretty painless on the rare occasions that it becomes an option.

[Askew]

53 El Buñuel, Luis 1953 Mexico ***NO*** DVD-Films sans frontières (2001 - OOP?)

Great list FlimFan, but I can confirm that Films sans frontières' DVD of El is in print and has English subtitles. It comes packaged with The Criminal Life of Archibald de la Cruz.

[TMDaines]

"Better than nothing" is an attitude you have to adopt as a general rule once you start veering off the canonical beaten track. I'm always amazed by the number of people who say that they'll never buy DVDs ever again, because if I was that absolutist I simply wouldn't be able to see about 90% of what I'm interested in!

Handily, the DVDs in my own specialist field of central-eastern European cinema are generally very cheap indeed (astonishingly so at times), and so double-dipping is pretty painless on the rare occasions that it becomes an option.

A lot of it depends on the country I think. Italian cinema from the golden age is very well handled on DVD in Italy with lots of excellent labels doing excellent transfers. German cinema, especially pre-1970s, has pretty mediocre treatment on DVD in Germany, although though there's a couple of standout labels.

Incidentally where do you buy your DVDs from in Poland? Whenever I travel through Krakow I always enter Saturn(?) at the Dworzec Glowny and the prices seem to be absurd - like HMV levels of crazyness.

[MichaelB]

Incidentally where do you buy your DVDs from in Poland? Whenever I travel through Krakow I always enter Saturn(?) at the Dworzec Glowny and the prices seem to be absurd - like HMV levels of crazyness.

Usually Empik - I bought half a dozen DVDs from the Gdynia branch last week, and a quick check of my online account reveals that they cost me £35.34, or a princely £5.89 apiece. And most of those were very recent releases.

[FilmFanSea]

53 El Buñuel, Luis 1953 Mexico ***NO*** DVD-Films sans frontières (2001 - OOP?)

Great list FlimFan, but I can confirm that Films sans frontières' DVD of El is in print and has English subtitles. It comes packaged with The Criminal Life of Archibald de la Cruz.

That's good to know. I've had my copy for years, and in fact, just rewatched both films this past weekend. I'm particularly fond of El. I'll correct that entry.

[Lemmy Caution]

You should also correct that #53 El has English subtitles (change the ***NO*** to Yes)

Same for the Mr. Bongo films:
#1, 12, 32, 54, 98

And #22, Habana Suite, according to the Trigon website.

And 74, CC's Obscure Object

Once updated, could you throw a copy into the South American cinema thread?
Thanks.

[zedz]

Also, all of the Brazilian Versatil releases of Rocha's films (rich with extras and far superior to Mr Bongo) have English subtitles. The only caveat is that the disc of Black God, White Devil - the first release - doesn't include subs for the extras.

[SpiderBaby]

and Macunaima)

Whatever happened to this release?

[Buzz Cameo]

Gorin, Downey and Mailer. Three reasons why Eclipse is the best thing going. What other company would have the guts to release stuff like this? Criterion give a damn about the entire breadth of world cinema-- the masterpieces alongside the near misses-- which is why we love em. One question though: why no Glauber Rocha or Hou Hsiao Hsien??? Seems like the two most glaring omissions in their otherwise flawless catalog. The rights on these films must be a mess or something.

[SpiderBaby]

One question though: why no Glauber Rocha or Hou Hsiao Hsien??? Seems like the two most glaring omissions in their otherwise flawless catalog. The rights on these films must be a mess or something.

I have been down this path.

[felipe]

why no Glauber Rocha or Hou Hsiao Hsien??? Seems like the two most glaring omissions in their otherwise flawless catalog. The rights on these films must be a mess or something.

It still puzzles me that out of 600 spines, Criterion has never released a single Brazilian film. There are so many good titles to choose from...

[JonasEB]

One question though: why no Glauber Rocha or Hou Hsiao Hsien??? Seems like the two most glaring omissions in their otherwise flawless catalog.

I may be wrong (I certainly hope so) but weren't most of the old Fox Lorber/Winstar titles - all those not purchased at the time of liquidation by Criterion - transferred to Genius Products...and then to the Weinstein Co.? If so, every Hou film since 1990 with the exception of Millennium Mambo would currently be controlled by the Weinsteins. Terrible to think of such a scenario...

I think that leaves Dust in the Wind as the only Hou instantly ready for a U.S. Blu-ray.

[Shrew]

I'm pretty sure a good portion of the earlier Hou films (particularly City of Sadness) are in some sort of rights hell due to various legitimate and not so legitimate groups (supposedly something with Triad ties?) involved in production and distribution.