criterionforum.org

They did mention Matador was a last minute confirmation. Perhaps they hadn't meant to include it in the announcement until then and the numbering reflected that.

domino harvey wrote: Wed Jan 07, 2026 4:17 pm The Oshima box is at 80% based on the latest newsletter today, it may get restocked in their store

Back in stock today, but I imagine it won't hang around for much longer!

I noticed La terra trema is suddenly down to 90% so panic-ordered a copy yesterday. Hope I don't regret it (bet it'll show up in a multibuy offer next week now). It does look like a strong seller from the number of people who added it to their collections on Blu-ray.com, so maybe there are some shy neorealist fanatics out there...or maybe it's the disc debut of a new restoration.

dda1996a wrote: Thu Jan 08, 2026 3:19 pm Matador is spine 174, and the Rozier set ends at 171. Did I miss something? What are 172-173?

They don't announce in spine number order. I imagine spine numbers are allocated soon after the title is licensed rather than when it's released, much like Indicator or Eureka often do (and of course Criterion, who likely started the trend).

PS: I just noticed the 'POR' clue on the teaser list, could it be Imamura's The Pornographers? Has a decent HD master and always wondered why it was skipped by Eureka initially (Elephant released a French disc), and later on by Arrow when they were dealing with Nikkatsu. From clips it actually looks stronger than many of the Imamura masters that did get released by Eureka!

Can anyone share with an old sailor the latest stock update list?

And please remind me, does that list get sent out as part of the email Newsletter? I may need to sign up. Thanks!

It goes out in the monthly announcements email


AVAILABILITY WATCH

UK
Malpertuis - 99% sold out
Tattooed Life - 99% sold out
Dogra Magra - 99% sold out
The Dead Mother - 99% sold out
Murder Obsession - 99% sold out
Gang War in Milan - 99% sold out
A Story Written with Water - 99% sold out
Revenge of the Blood Beast - 99% sold out
We Still Kill the Old Way - 99% sold out
Hardboiled - 95% sold out
The Boss - 95% sold out
Nothing is Sacred - 95% sold out
Japan Organised Crime Boss - 95% sold out
Misunderstood - 95% sold out
Arrebato - 95% sold out
The Italian Connection - 95% sold out
Death Occurred Last Night - 90% sold out
Panic in Year Zero - 90% sold out
The Story of Adele H - 90% sold out
Black God, White Devil - 90% sold out
The Eel - 90% sold out
Haxan - 90% sold out
La terra trema - 90% sold out
Night of the Juggler - 85% sold out
Hokuriku Proxy War - 85% sold out
Radical Japan: Cinema and State - 80% sold out

US
Hokuriku Proxy War - 90% sold out
Underworld Beauty - 90% sold out
A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness - 90% sold out
The Shape of Night - 90% sold out
Dogra Magra - 90% sold out
Japan Organized Crime Boss - 85% sold out
Sympathy for the Underdog - 85% sold out
Shinobi Vol 2 - 80% sold out
Elegant Beast - 80% sold out
A Moment of Romance - 80% sold out
Slap the Monster on Page One - 80% sold out
Daiei Gothic Vol 2 - 80% sold out
Bandits of Orgosolo - 75% sold out
The Beast to Die - 70% sold out

In Berlinale Classics:

The satirical Erogotoshi-tachi yori: Jinruigaku nyûmon (The Pornographers, Japan 1966) by Shōhei Imamura, who would have turned 100 years old in 2026, pinpoints greed and base instinct as the drivers of society after World War II. The restoration in 4K was done from the original 35 mm negative, provided by the Nikkatsu Corporation, in collaboration with Radiance Films.

this marks yet another title Criterion released in the DVD era that Radiance will seemingly be releasing first. there is a "POR" clue on the hint sheet, but personally I'd be surprised if this is the only Imamura forthcoming

Wow, I actually guessed a clue right! Very happy about that. As I said before, the master already looked pretty good from the clip on YouTube (for the Elephant Films release a decade ago), but a 4K restoration is even better news. I'm well up for that, will be pre-ordering that an any other Imamura they might be sorting out. Was also hoping Intentions of Murder and Endless Desire might be available from Nikkatsu, and perhaps Warm Water Under a Red Bridge.

I guess the 'WW' clue might be Warm Water Under a Red Bridge? I think someone else did suggest that not long ago.

ryannichols7 wrote: Wed Jan 14, 2026 6:17 pm this marks yet another title Criterion released in the DVD era that Radiance will seemingly be releasing first. there is a "POR" clue on the hint sheet, but personally I'd be surprised if this is the only Imamura forthcoming

This is great news. I suppose this means a well-deserved standalone release?

I was wondering whether the future volumes of Radical Japan might be thematically organized rather than director-focussed, with a sex-themed edition including this film alongside, say, Inferno of First Love and films by Wakamatsu and Adachi. Radical politics / protest would also be a theme with lots of potential inclusions.

I thought I read that Radical Japan 2 is going to get a US release, which would mean that The Pornographers isn't going to be in it?

I like zedz’ idea! But any configuration which gets us J New Wave cinema from Radiance is fine by me. Hopefully the Pornographers and Radical Japan 2 aren’t too far away.

I had a feeling the next set could be Terayama, but if 'BOX' turns out to be Boxer (1977), then similar to this Imamura announcement, that would obviously indicate otherwise.

I did think Wakamatsu was a big blind spot, so could be him, possibly Hani too. Shinoda would be my favourite pick, but I think there was talk of Shochiku not playing ball (same issues for Nomura, and some key Gosha titles too).

Masumura feels like a natural fit for Radiance, if only because Arrow seem to have slowed down on releasing his films. Perhaps they got some movement with Kon Ichikawa in the end? They tried to license Ten Dark Women from Kadokawa, but there are plenty of others they could license from them, and Nikkatsu too. Could be coincidence, but worth noting Criterion recently ported The Burmese Harp (Nikkatsu) to the UK, but not Fires on the Plain (Kadokawa). Are Masumura or Ichikawa 'radical' enough?

dwk wrote: Wed Jan 14, 2026 10:05 pm I thought I read that Radical Japan 2 is going to get a US release, which would mean that The Pornographers isn't going to be in it?

Probably proof enough that Imamura won't be the director focus for Radical Japan 2, seeing as there are two separate clues ('RJ2' and 'POR'). Slight shame but I'll take any Imamura I can get!

FWIW, Fran mentioned earlier that The Pornographers will be due out 'later this year'. He also mentioned he asked Nikkatsu if he could license it, they said they weren't happy with the master, so he offered to restore it in house...hope that may lead to more Nikkatsu collaborations, Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Retribution for example.

Box is surely Boxcar Bertha

domino harvey wrote: Wed Jan 14, 2026 10:58 pm Box is surely Boxcar Bertha

Could be, may fit more with Tranmission's output at this point though. Been a distinct lack of Corman from Radiance in general.

rapta wrote: Wed Jan 14, 2026 10:52 pm Masumura feels like a natural fit for Radiance, if only because Arrow seem to have slowed down on releasing his films. Perhaps they got some movement with Kon Ichikawa in the end? They tried to license Ten Dark Women from Kadokawa, but there are plenty of others they could license from them, and Nikkatsu too. Could be coincidence, but worth noting Criterion recently ported The Burmese Harp (Nikkatsu) to the UK, but not Fires on the Plain (Kadokawa). Are Masumura or Ichikawa 'radical' enough?

I'd say that Masumura isn't really New Wave, and Ichikawa definitely isn't, but there's no reason that "radical Japan" should only apply to nuberu bagu titles, even if that's what most of us have assumed. Something like Blind Beast would have fit the bill, for instance.

As for a Terayama box, wouldn't Emperor Tomato Ketchup be unreleasable uncut in the UK? That's kind of a pivotal title and surely the one with the most name recognition to the general public (thanks, Stereolab!)

Which reminds me that I've always felt that Yanagimachi's God Speed You! Black Emperor could have sustained an English-friendly release based solely on curious fans of the band picking it up. That film could also squeak in under the "radical Japan" banner. . .

as much as I like the thematic idea, Radical Japan has confirmed to be directors, or at the least for the next volume or two. I would be surprised if Terayama isn't next - though yes, Emperor Tomato Ketchup is going to pose some issue in the UK if that's indeed the case. especially since the majority of Terayama's output (if not all of it) could fit in a set. if it is indeed getting a US release (possible, since we've never known Criterion to have any interest in Terayama), I don't think it'd be an issue considering Radical Japan wasn't numbered, unlike World Noir. since it's technically Radical Japan: Cinema and State, I assume Terayama (or whichever director) will just get another subtitle.

I notice we didn't mention Yoshida who is definitely "new wave", and the Radical Japan series is also confirmed to focus solely on that movement. I think you're realistically looking at Terayama, Yoshida, Shinoda (or please, if nothing else, a release of Himiko), Imamura (likely ruled out now with The Pornographers solo), and a surprisingly outside one with Koreyoshi Kurahara. a lot of the Masumura titles (he's like, borderline New Wave) that we haven't gotten aren't particularly "new wave", maybe Manji but Kisses, The Blue Sky Maiden, and A Wife Confesses I don't think you're gonna see in a Radical Japan set. I would not at all be surprised to see Yoshida involved since Fran had a close relationship with him and even reached out to the director before he passed away. A Story Written With Water and the Arrow Academy set are solid coverage but there's still plenty more to release! obviously Teshigahara would be a fit but...Toho.

I have advocated for God Speed You! Black Emperor on the discord before, I don't see any reason that couldn't come out at some point

domino harvey wrote: Wed Jan 14, 2026 10:58 pm Box is surely Boxcar Bertha

maybe...I don't know if I see it, but we'll see what happens

domino harvey wrote: Wed Jan 14, 2026 10:58 pm Box is surely Boxcar Bertha

My bets are on it being The Boxer and Death, although there’s also a chance that Second Run could release that one too.

TechnicolorAcid wrote: Thu Jan 15, 2026 12:35 am

domino harvey wrote: Wed Jan 14, 2026 10:58 pm Box is surely Boxcar Bertha

My bets are on it being The Boxer and Death, although there’s also a chance that Second Run could release that one too.

think/hope Second Run gets to that. Poland is a little different but otherwise Radiance hasn't waded into central Europe and I'm not sure i see it changing...Radiance has other avenues they like hitting. but yes, more Peter Solan, loved The Barnabas Kos Case

ryannichols7 wrote: Thu Jan 15, 2026 12:27 am I notice we didn't mention Yoshida who is definitely "new wave", and the Radical Japan series is also confirmed to focus solely on that movement. I think you're realistically looking at Terayama, Yoshida, Shinoda (or please, if nothing else, a release of Himiko), Imamura (likely ruled out now with The Pornographers solo), and a surprisingly outside one with Koreyoshi Kurahara.

Susumu Hani definitely deserves a shot. I don't think any of his films have had an English-friendly release before. His debut Bad Boys is a key film of the movement (as is Inferno of Kirst Love), and She and He was one of the first films of the Japanese New Wave to get significant international recognition, with its win at Berlin in 1964.

Silence Has No Wings was on Fran's Sight and Sound list, so I'd be pretty surprised if this series did not include a Kazuo Kuroki set

senseabove wrote: Wed Jan 14, 2026 4:40 pm In Berlinale Classics:

The satirical Erogotoshi-tachi yori: Jinruigaku nyûmon (The Pornographers, Japan 1966) by Shōhei Imamura, who would have turned 100 years old in 2026, pinpoints greed and base instinct as the drivers of society after World War II. The restoration in 4K was done from the original 35 mm negative, provided by the Nikkatsu Corporation, in collaboration with Radiance Films.

Radiance confirmed “a physical media release later this year” on their Instagram a little bit ago.

Calvin wrote: Thu Jan 15, 2026 7:07 am Silence Has No Wings was on Fran's Sight and Sound list, so I'd be pretty surprised if this series did not include a Kazuo Kuroki set

That would be wonderful, but is he really a contender for a whole 'Radical Japan' set to himself? Most of his 60s films are documentaries.

Is there a rights complication with films on the old Eureka Imamura set? Because that one is kind of pre-curated.

More likely to be a simple case of it not selling enough copies to justify renewing the rights for multiple titles. They’d only have been licensed initially for a few years, as per standard practice.

I'd also think that re-issuing the content of an existing UK BluRay set might be riskier for Radiance than trying previously unreleased films, or something never upgraded like The Pornographers.

zedz wrote: Thu Jan 15, 2026 7:02 pm

Calvin wrote: Thu Jan 15, 2026 7:07 am Silence Has No Wings was on Fran's Sight and Sound list, so I'd be pretty surprised if this series did not include a Kazuo Kuroki set

That would be wonderful, but is he really a contender for a whole 'Radical Japan' set to himself? Most of his 60s films are documentaries.

I could see something like Silence Has No Wings / Cuban Lover / Evil Spirits of Japan / The Assassination of Ryoma / Preparation for the Festival / Lost Love.