Criterion releases for August 2008
 

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Pier Paolo Pasolini’s notorious final film, Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom, has been called nauseating, shocking, depraved, pornographic . . . it’s also a masterpiece. The controversial poet, novelist, and filmmaker’s transposition of the Marquis de Sade’s 18th-century opus of torture and degradation to 1944 Fascist Italy remains one of the most passionately debated films of all time, a thought-provoking inquiry into the political, social, and sexual dynamics that define the world we live in.

Special Features

* - SPECIAL EDITION DOUBLE-DISC SET FEATURES:
* - New, restored high-definition digital transfer The End of Salò, a 40-minute documentary about the film’s final scene
* - Salò: Yesterday and Today, a 35-minute documentary featuring interviews with Pier Paolo Pasolini, actor-filmmaker Jean-Claude Biette, and Pasolini’s friend Nineto Davoli
* - New interviews with set designer Dante Ferretti and filmmaker/film scholar Jean-Pierre Gorin
* - Optional English-dubbed soundtrack
* - Theatrical trailer
* - Optional English subtitles
* - PLUS: A booklet featuring new essays by Neil Bartlett, Roberto Chiesi, Naomi Greene, Gary Indiana, and Sam Rohdie, and excerpts from Gideon Bachman’s on-set diary

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In the weird and wonderful super-cinematic world of Canadian cult filmmaker Guy Maddin, personal memory collides with movie lore for a radical sensory overload. This eerie excursion into the Gothic recesses of Maddin’s mad, imaginary childhood is a silent, black-and-white comic science-fiction nightmare set in a lighthouse on grim Notch Island, where fictional protagonist Guy Maddin was raised by an ironfisted, puritanical mother. Originally mounted as a theatrical event (accompanied by live orchestra, foley artists, and assorted narrators), Brand upon the Brain! is an irreverent, delirious trip into the mind of one of current cinema’s true eccentrics.

Special Features

* - New, restored high-definition digital transfer
* - Optional narration tracks by Isabella Rossellini, Laurie Anderson, John Ashbery, Crispin Glover, Guy Maddin, Louis Negrin, and Eli Wallach
* - The Making of "Brand upon the Brain!", a new documentary featuring interviews with the director and crew members
* - Two new short films directed by Maddin: It's My Mother’s Birthday Today and Footsteps
* - Deleted scene
* - Trailer
* - PLUS: A new essay by film critic Dennis Lim

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After the lavish Technicolor spectacle of The Red Shoes, British filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger retreated into the inward, shadowy recesses of this moody, crackling character study. Based on the acclaimed novel by Nigel Balchin, The Small Back Room details the professional and personal travails of troubled, alcoholic research scientist and military bomb-disposal expert Sammy Rice (David Farrar), who, while struggling with a complex relationship with secretary-girlfriend Susan (Kathleen Byron), is hired by the government to advise on a dangerous new German weapon. Frank and intimate, deftly mixing suspense and romance, The Small Back Room is an atmospheric, post–World War II gem.

Special Features

* - New, restored high-definition digital transfer
* - Audio commentary featuring film scholar Charles Barr
* - New video interview with cinematographer Chris Challis
* - Excerpts from Michael Powell’s audio dictations for his autobiography
* - PLUS: A new essay by film scholar Nick James

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Keisuke Kinoshita’s Twenty-four Eyes (Nijushi no hitomi) is an elegant, emotional chronicle of a teacher’s unwavering commitment to her students, her profession, and her sense of morality. Set in a remote, rural island community and spanning decades of Japanese history, from 1928 through World War II and beyond, Kinoshita’s film takes a simultaneously sober and sentimental look at the epic themes of aging, war, and death, all from the lovingly intimate perspective of Hisako Oshi (Hideko Takamine), as she watches her pupils grow and deal with life’s harsh realities. Though little known in the United States, Twenty-four Eyes is one of Japan’s most popular and enduring classics.

Special Features

* - SPECIAL EDITION DOUBLE-DISC SET FEATURES:
* - New, restored high-definition digital transfer
* - Television interview with director Keisuke Kinoshita
* - New video interview with Japanese cinema historian and critic Tadao Sato about the film and its director
* - New and improved English subtitle translation
* - PLUS: A booklet featuring a new essay be renowned film scholar Audie Bock and excerpts from an interview with Kinoshita

Plus, their newest Eclipse release:
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The career of Larisa Shepitko, an icon of sixties and seventies Soviet cinema, was tragically cut short when she was killed in a car crash at age thirty-nine, just as she was emerging on the international scene. The body of work she left behind, though small, is masterful, and her genius for visually evoking characters' interior worlds is never more striking than in her two greatest works: Wings, an intimate yet exhilarating portrait of a female fighter pilot turned provincial headmistress, and The Ascent, a gripping, tragic World War II parable of betrayal and martyrdom. A true artist, who had deftly used the Soviet film industry to make statements both personal and universal, Shepitko remains one of the greatest unsung filmmakers of all time.

Box Set Includes:
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The Ascent (Larisa Shepitko, 1976)
Shepitko’s emotionally overwhelming final film won the Golden Bear at the 1977 Berlin Film Festival and has been hailed around the world as the finest Soviet film of its decade. Set during the darkest days of World War II, The Ascent follows the path of two peasant soldiers, cut off from their troop, who trudge through the snowy backwoods of Belarus evading the Nazis and seeking refuge among villagers. Their harrowing trek leads them on a journey of betrayal, heroism, and ultimate transcendence.

Wings (Larisa Shepitko, 1966)
For her first feature after graduating from the State Institute for Cinematography (VGIK), Larisa Shepitko trained her lens on the fascinating, beloved Russian character actress Maya Bulgakova, giving a marvelous performance as a once heroic Russian bomber pilot now living in quiet, disappointingly ordinary life as a school principal. Subtly portraying one woman’s desperation with elegant, spare camerawork and casual, fluid storytelling, Shepitko, with Wings, announced herself as an important new voice in Soviet cinema.

OH MY GOD!


Brand Upon the Brain! which never saw commercial theatrical release of any kind in Washington DC - thank you Criterion!

I though Criterion mentioned at some point they found a longer cut of Salo

It's a pretty exciting month, in my opinion, though I am a little disappointed by the Eclipse release. I love Russian cinema, and I was hoping there would be more than two of her films in the set. Heck, according to IMDb she only made eight films in her lifetime - how awesome would it have been if they had included all eight (assuming they're all still in existence)? Still, I'm very excited to see these two films... And the rest of the mainline releases have me very excited (especially another Powell and Pressburger film.)

I'll buy Salo. Not letting that one get away from me again.

I'll buy 'Salo', even though a> I already have the laserdisc and b> I still have hopes for a Blu-Ray edition.

Salo finally! I would have just ordered the MoC of Twenty-four Eyes. I'm almost relieved the extras are minimal - now I won't have to double dip.Another textbook Eclipse set - intriguing films from a director I've never heard of. Maddin is always...interesting, and more Powell/Pressberger too. A good month.

AFAIK, Brand Upon the Brain was only shown at Film Festivals and Road-Show style in a few major cities with live music.

I am a big fan of Maddin's work, so naturally Criterion just made my day. I've been wanting to see this movie for a long time.

Also, Salo for real this time and not an April Fool!

I own the MOC 24 Eyes - but I shall also own the Criterion. One of my top-10 movies of all time. Outstanding !!!!

all of these look amazing!!!!

I don't own a single Criterion DVD because they're so expensive in Canada (you could be paying $40-$100 for one film), but I might have to pick up Salo. I saw a few clips on YouTube and it looks like it's described.

Since Criterion is going Blu, I might think about holding off for the BD release of Salo. Maybe I'll start a Criterion collection with Blu-ray. It'll be a small one considering the price Criterion BDs will be, however.

The Ascent / Wings set looks interesting as well, but I can just imagine how much it'll cost. Actually they all look quite interesting.

This is the first time in a while that I have been super stoked on an entire month's line-up. I'm prepared to eat ramen in August.

That being said, the cover of Salo is atrocious

How so? You don't think it captures the flavor of the film?

Pre ordered all of them!!!!!!!!!!!

I've never seen Salo so this will be a long waited treat. I have to admit I'm a little hesitant with the new Blu-ray announcement. I don't think I'll be pre-ordering these but will be waiting for the sales we do not mention.

I pre-ordered them and it said some are backordered. What the hell?

Yeah, the cover of Salo is very good, and appropriate - won't be buying it though - while the extras would be interesting, I really don't want to see the movie again.

I'll be getting Small Black Room, even though I have the R2.

Where did you pre-order them from? Criterion's website?

Salo!! Finally, I'll be complete! Well, as complete as November 2007. I usually just make two huge Criterion purchases a year at the bi-annual unmentionable sale.

Any particular reason Criterion is skimping on the commentaries?
I was gonna blind-buy Salo but the lack of a commentary is unfortunate.

I'll probably just stick with my BFI release of <i>SALO</i> (R2), but I'm jumping on the Powell-Pressburger!

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The others are under the coming soon.

I suppose, but it is lazy. There are some other very good covers, BUTB! is fantastic, as is the P&P cover. Their original cover wasn't very good either IMO. I was looking forward to something a bit more collage like as they've become fond of that style lately. It looks gritty, and I know that is the point, but I think they could've found a better image, and the hash-marks are a bit too literal for my taste.

Wow, looks like a solid and expensive month!

Outstanding news. It is quite a shock that Larisa Shepitko's films will be released on DVD. I am fairly certain there were never Mosfilm restorations for these. One must wonder what Criterion did.

Hopefully Salo appears on Blu-ray soon.

Pro-B