Radiance Films General Discussion & Wishlist

[Calvin]

I'd love some Jost but, as of December, Fran was "not familiar" with him when I asked so I doubt there will be any releases for the foreseeable.

I’m sorry, but that’s a little nutty for someone running a label like this. It really is a shame that his work isn’t more widely commercially available, but new DCPs exist

I suppose you can't be familiar with everyone but I have now suggested him a few times on the Discord so hopefully there's some Jost films somewhere in the watch pile. Though I suspect that Jost's ongoing dispute with Henry S. Rosenthal, producer on All the Vermeers in New York and The Bed You Sleep In, probably won't help any physical releases of those restorations materialise even if there were interested parties.

And, for what its worth, I also asked Justin LaLiberty if there was any chance on the Cinematographe label (I also asked re: Su Friedrich) and he said "as much as I like Jon Jost and Su Friedrich’s work (especially Hide and Seek) they’re unfortunately cost prohibitive, especially Friedrich, which is likely why it hasn’t been available much on home video (which might even be intentional)."

[MichaelB]

I’m sorry, but that’s a little nutty for someone running a label like this.

What, actually watching someone's films before making any kind of decision on whether or not to acquire them?

[GaryC]

I'm not sure what the situation is now, but Jon Jost was distributing many of his own films on DVD a while back, and some of them are on Vimeo. Word was that he didn't think anyone else distributing them would get him any more money than he would get on his own. Other than that, some of those films have archive prints here and there.

I do remember Channel 4 in its very early days showing a Jost retrospective, with showings of Last Chants for a Slow Dance, Angel City and Speaking Directly, the so far only television showings of those films in the world, ever. Sadly two of them had to be censored by C4 - Last Chants lost the rabbit killing sequence after someone complained after it was mentioned in TV Times (I've not seen the film, but would this get past the BBFC? - the film was distributed in the UK back in the day non-theatrically in 16mm). In Speaking Directly, Jost delivers a paean to his own penis and begins to masturbate on camera, which C4 obscured with a black box which...increased in size during the scene. (That one's from Keith Howes's book Broadcasting It. I did see Angel City, which wasn't cut.)

[beamish14]

I’m sorry, but that’s a little nutty for someone running a label like this.

What, actually watching someone's films before making any kind of decision on whether or not to acquire them?

I was just taken aback with being unfamiliar with Jost’s work! I’m just biased because I adore him and always try to get others to seek out his work.

[beamish14]

I'd love some Jost but, as of December, Fran was "not familiar" with him when I asked so I doubt there will be any releases for the foreseeable.

I’m sorry, but that’s a little nutty for someone running a label like this. It really is a shame that his work isn’t more widely commercially available, but new DCPs exist

I suppose you can't be familiar with everyone but I have now suggested him a few times on the Discord so hopefully there's some Jost films somewhere in the watch pile. Though I suspect that Jost's ongoing dispute with Henry S. Rosenthal, producer on All the Vermeers in New York and The Bed You Sleep In, probably won't help any physical releases of those restorations materialise even if there were interested parties.

And, for what its worth, I also asked Justin LaLiberty if there was any chance on the Cinematographe label (I also asked re: Su Friedrich) and he said "as much as I like Jon Jost and Su Friedrich’s work (especially Hide and Seek) they’re unfortunately cost prohibitive, especially Friedrich, which is likely why it hasn’t been available much on home video (which might even be intentional)."

Friedrich’s work has been receiving restorations from the AMPAS, so I wonder if there are music rights issues with her films, particularly through Hide and Seek

[MichaelB]

I was just taken aback with being unfamiliar with Jost’s work! I’m just biased because I adore him and always try to get others to seek out his work.

I’ve never seen any of his films either. Aside from the telly outings more than four decades ago that Gary mentions, his films have had very, very little circulation in the UK.

[beamish14]

I’ve never seen any of his films either. Aside from the telly outings more than four decades ago that Gary mentions, his films have had very, very little circulation in the UK.

If you like Nina Menkes, you’ll enjoy his films. Often incredibly minimalistic in scope, but rich in character development, and he does a great job of capturing rural America. Some of his features were made with under 6 crew members and with Jost doing the photography and boom work simultaneously

[MichaelB]

Never seen anything by Nina Menkes either.

[Calvin]

I'm not sure what the situation is now, but Jon Jost was distributing many of his own films on DVD a while back, and some of them are on Vimeo. Word was that he didn't think anyone else distributing them would get him any more money than he would get on his own. Other than that, some of those films have archive prints here and there.

I think he's certainly open to licensing, as he posted on Facebook just over a year ago:

[...]after thinking of the Letterboxed reviews of Vermeers, decided to check out if there were new ones on The Bed You Sleep In. There were. The kind of stuff that could give someone a fat head:
https://letterboxd.com/film/the-bed-you-sleep-in/
As I read these, of which there were quite as few (many based on seeing an execrable DVD which my erstwhile "producer" had made years ago - noted by some as the worst DVD ever in quality; there is now an excellent restoration of it done by EYEFilm, in Amsterdam), I pondered, again, just why Criterion, Kino-Lorber and other such classy out-fits had all passed on it, and a clutch of my other films.
I'm not the paranoid sort, but still, after some decades of being cited as "the least known" etc American filmmaker, I continue to wonder what kind of black-list it is that I'm on, which is the most reasonable explanation why I am kept outta sight, "unseen" etc.

You'd think he'd know if the reason they passed was purely asking price, so the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

[Calvin]

Friedrich’s work has been receiving restorations from the AMPAS, so I wonder if there are music rights issues with her films, particularly through Hide and Seek

You can purchase DVDs va Outcast Films, who seem to be primarily aiming at the educational market but I doubt they'd be able to offer it for home use if there were any music rights issues. Su Friedrich seems to make up the bulk of their catalog!

[yoloswegmaster]

The screening for the new restoration of Man of Iron at Cannes was just announced and I wonder if that will be a future release.

[Calvin]

I wonder if the 'TW' clue will be Vittorio De Sica's Two Women - a 4K restoration has just been announced for Cannes Classics and it has now been 10 years since the Cult Films Blu-Ray was released.

[hearthesilence]

I think I posted about this, but there was an online Jon Jost retrospective that took place during lockdown. It was based in Europe but anyone in the world could stream it, and IIRC it covered a large part of his work using new or recent HD masters (i.e. new transfers, not upscales of older transfers). And it was FREE so if you wanted to see his work, there wasn't a better time to do it. Much better looking than what I had viewed in the past so a Blu-ray box set of his work is certainly doable. At minimum, they could package the films he owns outright, but I could see labels balking if they didn't think it would make back the costs. I think Hal Hartley's business model may be more appropriate - a Kickstarter campaign that would get you a really good estimate of demand, and more or less making it an exclusive sale to the campaign donors. It's a good first step in building awareness of his work because until that gets up to a certain level, it's unlikely any boutique will be willing to pay up for a license.

[rapta]

Was a 2nd Commedia All'Italiana box actually hinted or justed speculated? Sergio Corbucci directing Toto would make a nice box.

Not hinted, purely speculated based on the initial Risi set blurb Calvin quoted and the recent tease of 'Italian comedy classics'. Corbucci would be interesting. I previously suggested a focus on Monicelli (could include either Big Deal on Madonna Street and/or The Organiser, much like Il sorpasso in the Risi set) or Wertmüller, or even directors Radiance have touched on before like Germi and Comencini. I even suggested genre-oriented crossovers such a My Name is Nobody, which has recently been restored, though we've not had any sign of Euro-Westerns from Radiance yet so I'm not holding my breath on that front (maybe Eureka or Arrow will pull through there).

In terms of what we're expecting:

Italy - we're expecting an Italian comedy (likely The Magnificent Cuckold) and a Cottafavi
USA - Nadja and/or a Ferrara
Spain - none explicitly hinted at as far as I'm aware; Erice's Dreams of Light was a previous failed licence and more Saura wouldn't be a shock
Japan - Radical Japan 2 and a Kon Ichikawa

On further thought, there's also a clue for 'a whodunit' which shortens the odds for the Kon Ichikawa film being either or both The Inugami Family and its remake The Inugamis

Reckon we might not get Nadja 'til Halloween, but the Ferrara is possible (unless the clue was for another Transmission title). I'm hoping for The Funeral, but could understand why they'd go for Dangerous Game or New Rose Hotel as both have been restored by VS. China Girl could work too if they could license it from Lionsgate (not aware of a restoration though).

Spanish titles could indeed be an Erice (I've never owned The Spirit of the Beehive, and it has been out of circulation for years in the UK), and a couple of Saura titles were shown at Cinema Rediscovered last year (La caza, Deprisa deprisa).

I have to admit the Ichikawa is perhaps my most anticipated of the individual teases, and I too thought it could be The Inugami Family as it covers the 'whodunit' tease. That said, I was hoping for something like Odd Obsession, Conflagration, or the previous 'failed license' Ten Dark Women. If the whodunit doesn't turn out to be The Inugami Family, there's a chance they might have gone for an old MoC DVD title like Kokoro or Alone Across the Pacific.

Don't forget Miike was mentioned as well. I'd be interested to see if they finally got Visitor Q, probably one of Fran's ultimate dream titles. Carlotta did a 4K release of Ichi the Killer last year, so it could be that. Failing that, I'd love Blues Harp, but that could've gone in the Underworld Chronicles set. Alternatively, The Bird People in China would be quite fitting after having a non-typical Johnnie To title recently.

As for Radical Japan 2, are we thinking Wakamatsu at this point? Terayama seemed like a slight possibility but with The Boxer announced separately it even less likely now. I suppose Hani is maybe still a consideration as I think Fran's a fan of Nanami in particular. Not sure how these would fare with the BBFC though. Shinoda would be a more 'obvious' pick but I think Criterion may be hogging rights to a lot of his work.

The screening for the new restoration of Man of Iron at Cannes was just announced and I wonder if that will be a future release.

Thought that as well, but Second Run may also be interested as they did a Wajda box set. I suppose Polish stuff could go to other labels now though after Radiance, Eureka and BFI have also released some in recent years. Would be great to see Radiance significantly improve upon yet another lacklustre Mr. Bongo release.

NB: talking of Polish cinema, these announcements are gradually making those Masterpieces of Polish Cinema box sets less essential by the minute - two from Vol. 1 (Pharaoh, The Hourglass Sanatorium), two from Vol. 2 (Knights of the Teutonic Order, Walkover), and four from Vol. 3 (Ashes and Diamonds, Blind Chance, A Short Film About Killing, Knife in the Water) have all been released here by now. I've heard Second Run have upcoming plans for a couple more (Night Train, Mother Joan of the Angels) and Radiance are speculated to be releasing The Saragossa Manuscript.

[andyli]

Today's announcement is for August--that's 2/3 into the whole year's slate. I don't see how they could hold back the four UHD upgrades any more. At least one of these four national flags has to represent an internal format upgrade, no?

[Finch]

Could be that they're not teasing the upgrades with the flags lest they upset the no upgrades crowd. I figure they just announce them on the day but if the tease does include a 4K upgrade, I'd say it's the US flag for the Dennis Hopper noir - I'm forgetting the title but it sold fast on BD.

Hoping the Japanese flag is for The Inugami Family and in 4K, especially since the domestic UHD is supposed to be amazing.

[andyli]

I'd say it's the US flag for the Dennis Hopper noir - I'm forgetting the title but it sold fast on BD.

The Hot Spot. Or the Spanish could turn out to be a 4K upgrade of the Buñuel title(s)...

[Calvin]

Reckon we might not get Nadja 'til Halloween, but the Ferrara is possible (unless the clue was for another Transmission title). I'm hoping for The Funeral, but could understand why they'd go for Dangerous Game or New Rose Hotel as both have been restored by VS. China Girl could work too if they could license it from Lionsgate (not aware of a restoration though).

As for Radical Japan 2, are we thinking Wakamatsu at this point? Terayama seemed like a slight possibility but with The Boxer announced separately it even less likely now. I suppose Hani is maybe still a consideration as I think Fran's a fan of Nanami in particular. Not sure how these would fare with the BBFC though. Shinoda would be a more 'obvious' pick but I think Criterion may be hogging rights to a lot of his work.

Mary is the other possible Ferrara - it was requested quite a bit on the Discord and MAR is a clue, though that could also either be Borowczyk's La marge or Cottafavi's Maria Zef.

I don't think there's any suggestion one way or the other as to who the subject of Radical Japan 2 will be. There are many filmmakers who would fit the bill - Terayama (Boxer is a different rightsholder so I would not have expected it to be in any ATG box set), Wakamatsu, Kazuo Kuroki, Masao Adachi, Yoshida, a documentary set. Not much we have to go off to narrow it down.

[Peacock]

Any Radical Japan set will be an appreciated Radical Japan set! Wakamatsu though would be fantastic, were the Blaq Out scans HD?

As for the Italian film… I know this is pure wish fulfilment but does anyone know what the deal is with the lack of a Blu of any of Franco Piavoli’s most famous films? Is there a rights issue there or a lack of digital masters or?

Will today be the day Radiance brings us Nostos: The Return to tie in with Nolan’s Odyssey this year? Or will they just do a complete films boxset?

[Finch]

Next month, corruption!

[Finch]

Four films from a single country (Italy) in one month must be a record.

Excited for the Ichikawa!

[TMDaines]

Got cornuto right, and very happy with the boxset too.

Next month, corruption!

The Italian-film lover in me immediately reached for Mauro Bolognini's 1963 La corruzione. Pure Radiance that. Other logical guesses will be available.

[Calvin]

Any Radical Japan set will be an appreciated Radical Japan set! Wakamatsu though would be fantastic, were the Blaq Out scans HD?

As for the Italian film… I know this is pure wish fulfilment but does anyone know what the deal is with the lack of a Blu of any of Franco Piavoli’s most famous films? Is there a rights issue there or a lack of digital masters or?

Will today be the day Radiance brings us Nostos: The Return to tie in with Nolan’s Odyssey this year? Or will they just do a complete films boxset?

There are no rights issues with Piavoli's films.

I asked about him as well back in December and the answer at that point was "I would like to see Nostos again and explore his worth further. Right now I am focused on other Italians though!"

[MichaelB]

The screening for the new restoration of Man of Iron at Cannes was just announced and I wonder if that will be a future release.

I haven't heard anything about a UK label acquisition, and I suspect I'd have been consulted at some point. Not a given, obviously, but with three Andrzej Wajda commentaries already under my belt, extensive writing on him elsewhere (including a 5,000-word booklet essay on Man of Marble) and close involvement with this year's centenary retrospective, I'd be surprised if I was completely blanked as a potential contributor.

Although there's a lot to be said for an actual double-bill package of Man of Marble and Man of Iron, as they add up to a really detailed history of postwar Poland from the Stalinist to the Solidarity eras, and there's tons of scope for really in-depth contextualising. Not least given that the films were aimed in the first place at people who were already clued-up about Polish history and who were therefore capable of reading between the lines that Wajda was consciously writing between.

(I don't imagine it would be feasible rightswise to include Wałęsa: Man of Hope, which in any case is a different type of film, although I daresay you could posit that it's just the kind of critical biography of an iconic political figure that Krystyna Janda's character in Man of Marble was trying to make.)

[andyli]

Isn't this kind of deal usually signed at Cannes during the festival screenings?