Radiance Films General Discussion & Wishlist

[Calvin]

I feel like Angel's Egg has been one of the most in-demand titles for some time, I've seen it requested for just about every label. would make for a good hard box set if it came to Radiance

I didn't post above but I have been really convinced Daughters of Darkness is happening. UHD titles have to be big, marketable titles (for a label of this size) and that one is, also fitting the Radiance feel a bit with Delphine Seyrig. plus it only has a stateside 4K, no UK release yet

Oh damn now my hopes are up for Angels Egg to be released by anyone this year.

GKids already confirmed a home video release for Angel's Egg in 2025

[ryannichols7]

As I've mentioned already, the BET/samurai classic clue could be for The Betrayal and if a Theo Angelopoulos release came, that would also be the hint for the slow cinema masterpiece (selfishlessly hoping for The Travelling Players). As for the other clues, the couple serial killers hint could point to Strangler vs. Strangler, although that's not supported by the letter clues and maybe the ghost story could be The Story of Marie and Julien since we know Radiance is releasing a couple Rivettes.

absolutely, meant to add The Betrayal which definitely seems to fit. the letter clues and subscriber clues don't necessarily have to match...I would love to see Strangler vs. Strangler, not that I've seen it but more Serbian cinema would be excellent. the Rivette was guessed elsewhere for the "HIS" clue, I'll throw both in my post

Angelopoulos at the moment is definitely my #1 Radiance want. Fran had Landscape in the Mist in his Sight and Sound top 10 so I'm sure it's up there for him too. I'd be very happy with The Travelling Players too, or any of them really!

MAL could stand for Tropical Malady and that could overlap with the “slow cinema masterpiece”

I sure hope so as I consider myself Apichatpong’s number one stan.

even if I don't think it is, I'll add it to my post. I maintain that Second Run retained the rights and are just waiting on a new restoration to be done rather than reprinting their DVD editions, and I don't believe Tropical Malady nor Blissfully Yours have been restored yet. I feel like we'd definitely have word on either if they were. who knows, maybe a new restoration will show up at Cannes or something. I feel like either title would be a cool 4K UHD launch for Second Run, who are of course one of the last labels to not dip their toe in that format's water yet (and I suspect they'd be way more conservative about it)

GKids already confirmed a home video release for Angel's Egg in 2025

anime Criterion is a great and logical fit, I totally missed that news

[soundchaser]

Histoire de Marie et Julien would be a HUGE release for me, personally. It was part of the batch sold to Cohen in the US, but I'm not sure who has UK rights. And I don't recall hearing of a restoration.

I probably won't end up purchasing most of these titles, but it's really nice to be able to speculate from a set of clues again. Something Criterion has been sorely missing since Polan's death.

[domino harvey]

Artificial Eye put out the DVD in the UK

[soundchaser]

Well, I'd assume that would put Curzon still in control of it, but they also released Va savoir in the UK. Unless the rights to the longer cut are with someone else?

[domino harvey]

Sony released Va savoir in the US— some of you may remember that for a minute there, it was the only Rivette film you could even see on DVD in the states

[Finch]

I hope Tropical Malady is coming from Radiance instead of Second Run if only because the film really needs a good encode especially with the nighttime jungle scenes.

[reaky]

If DAU is Daughters of Darkness, could MAL be Harry Kumel’s other fantasy, Malpertuis?

[senseabove]

even if I don't think it is, I'll add it to my post. I maintain that Second Run retained the rights and are just waiting on a new restoration to be done rather than reprinting their DVD editions, and I don't believe Tropical Malady nor Blissfully Yours have been restored yet. I feel like we'd definitely have word on either if they were. who knows, maybe a new restoration will show up at Cannes or something. I feel like either title would be a cool 4K UHD launch for Second Run, who are of course one of the last labels to not dip their toe in that format's water yet (and I suspect they'd be way more conservative about it)

FWIW, AW said during his visit to BAMPFA in April 2023 that they were working on restorations of both Tropical Malady and Blissfully Yours.

[geoffcowgill]

OK, this is maybe unlikely, but "A 90s crime film by a celebrated American auteur - " and NB = The Newton Boys? Smart money is on Le Notti Bianche for NB, but could be, right?

[therewillbeblus]

A 90s crime film by a celebrated American auteur -

I think someone guessed The Funeral for this a while back, and it’s the first thing that comes to mind for me as well

[dwk]

OK, this is maybe unlikely, but "A 90s crime film by a celebrated American auteur - " and NB = The Newton Boys? Smart money is on Le Notti Bianche for NB, but could be, right?

It appears that it is a 20th Century Fox title, so not a chance in hell is it The Newton Boys

[ryannichols7]

someone on discord made a guess for PAL = Pedro Almodovar, which would be really cool and logical. Matador and High Heels both suit Radiance pretty well. still think it refers to Palindromes but I'm definitely putting it on the board, just because it's an inspired guess and Fran did have Matador on his artwork mockups

those mockups also had Ms. 45 and Vixen. there is a clue for "RM"....

If DAU is Daughters of Darkness, could MAL be Harry Kumel’s other fantasy, Malpertuis?

indeed, have that on the list. haven't seen any other guesses for that clue yet

I think someone guessed The Funeral for this a while back, and it’s the first thing that comes to mind for me as well

that's very likely what it is, I totally forgot. think I even commented on it when the first hint sheet came out. Fran has a close relationship with Ferrara dating back to Arrow too, I think it links pretty well. a lot of other stuff is "too big" or has been released elsewhere. updating my post

I probably won't end up purchasing most of these titles, but it's really nice to be able to speculate from a set of clues again. Something Criterion has been sorely missing since Polan's death.

I genuinely really, really miss it from Criterion. I would've cared so much more about maintaining the speculation roundup if they were even half as transparent as they used to be, but they took all the fun out of that. Radiance is definitely the most fun with it nowadays - Indicator usually reveal stuff on their year end podcasts and elsewhere, Eureka kinda do their little teases (but usually reveal what's coming in the end?), and Second Run kinda got into the fun of it last year with their director list. I'm glad Fran has been doing this, it's made for a lot of fun, and taught me a lot about some titles that I now get to research, watch and then be excited for before the disc is announced

[rapta]

Fran has confirmed they don't have any Shinoda, so there goes that theory. Therefore going to assume 'SHIN' is probably a second set of Shinobi films...

[MichaelB]

It can't possibly be Vixen as Severin has UK and North American rights.

[spectre]

“IMS”, “Controversial classic from France” … could it be In My Skin?

[Calvin]

I'd bet on THE being Alain Cavalier's Therese and I'll make a wild stab at RM being the FWMS restoration of Helmut Kautner's wonderful Romanze in Moll

[TMDaines]

Maybe NB is Bolognini's La notte brava (1959)? It has been restored and is Tomas Milian's debut.

[DJBillyMac]

Wonder if they’ll do spine 100 this next round, and if they’re planning anything special for #100? I’d like to imagine maybe it will be Pastoral: To Die In The Country, since I read on here it’s one of Fran’s favorites, but I really have no idea.

[yoloswegmaster]

Radiance are planning these titles for 2025:

Approximately four titles per month on average (adjusted for box sets)
A Nagisa Oshima Collection
Approximately four UHD releases
Further volumes of our most well-liked box sets
Double bill collections
A New French Extremity UHD
A 1970s horror masterpiece UHD
A 1970s fantasy world debut on Blu-ray
A Palme d’Or winner
A Claudia Cardinale masterpiece
A time travel mind-bender
A slow cinema masterpiece
A ghost story
A couple of serial killers
A samurai classic
A Sundance winner
A film on the Sight and Sound 2022 poll list
A 90s crime film by a celebrated American auteur
French crime classics
Controversial classics from North America and France
Hong Kong classics!
Dostoevsky!
Animation!
Two Ermanno Olmi masterpieces!
Films by Seijun Suzuki!
Peter Fleischmann’s Weak Spot
and more...

There is a US/CA exclusive bundle that contains the following:

Approximately two titles per month on average (adjusted for box sets)
1-2 UHD releases
Further volumes of our most well-liked box sets
A 1970s fantasy world debut on Blu-ray
A Palme d’Or winner
A Claudia Cardinale masterpiece
A ghost story
A couple of serial killers
A samurai classic
French crime classics
Controversial classics from North America and France
Films by Seijun Suzuki!
Peter Fleischmann’s Weak Spot
and more...

Looks like the Oshima boxset will be UK exclusive. I think this also confirms that the Dostoevsky release is for La Notti Bianche since the U.S. rights are with Criterion.

[Peacock]

Well that confirms Visconti’s White Nights…

Edit: I was just beaten by the above comment!

[Finch]

They also presented a template of their 4K/BD dual format releases on their Facebook page and implied that the first title will be appearing in April. Maybe their 4K lineup will align more with my tastes than Indicator's has so far though whatever French extremity title they've picked, will be a pass, too. Given how well Messiah of Evil sold, it's probably the 1970s horror masterpiece hinted at as the first UHD (I keep thinking of Let's Scare Jessica To Death. Maybe Cronenberg's The Brood? Ganja and Hess? I'd have said The Tenant if Paramount wasn't stingy with their UK licenses. Daughter of Darkness would have arthouse crossover appeal.)

[TechnicolorAcid]

Some thoughts:
-This removes the possibility of the Rivette for a ghost story if they have US rights too (considering Cohen would have them) and opens up the chance for Histories du Cinema to be what was meant by the HIS clue.
-Also removes the chance of the couple of serial killers clue being for Strangler v. Strangler since Mondo Macabre has US rights.
-At this point I’d be surprised if one of the 4K titles wasn’t Daughters of Darkness since at least 2 UHDs will be UK exclusives (as is the 1970s horror masterpiece clue).
-Considering Fran’s love of crime films, the Animation clue could very well be for Felidae, especially since it’s a big title that’s been restored for 4K and the clue seems to be for a UK exclusive.
-Finch, I believe Fran said he wouldn’t be re-releasing any titles in 4K so Messiah of Evil is most definitely not what the hint is for.

[Finch]

TA, thanks for pointing out the no re-releases policy. I'd prefer any of the other titles I mentioned in my edited post anyway though Brood might still be with Second Sight. Ganja and Hess is listed as discontinued on Eureka's site.

[TechnicolorAcid]

Let’s Scare Jessica to Death is also with Paramount iirc and while Ganja and Hess would be pretty cool to finally get, it still seems like Daughters of Darkness is the 70s Horror Masterpiece.