UK Releases

[A]

I'm ashamed to admit that I haven't seen any of those DEFA films, though at least "The Gleiwitz Case" and Karbid und Sauerampfer are already considered to be classics by some. Seems like you are getting some interesting releases.
I have Gerhard Klein's film on VHS (taped off TV), but I need to see it yet. When I see it I'll write some notes in the appropriate thread (or maybe arsaib can already do so - seems like he's seen more german films than me. ).

Btw, I'm still working on that piece on another film by Klein, but I don't know when it will be finished. At the moment I have some dozen unfinished film reviews at home, and this is getting a bad habit. Hopefully it will pay of in the end...

[arsaib4]

Klein's Berlin Schoenhauser Corner is also coming out in the U.K. during February.

[A]

Yes, that's the one. OK, I'll try to finish my review before the UK DVD gets released. Maybe this will be enough to get me going.

[arsaib4]

Good.

[trevor826]

MARCH 2007

March 26

Re-releases:

Au Revoir Les Enfants (1987)
Les Amants (1958)
Lift To The Scaffold (aka L`Ascenseur Pour L`Echafaud / 1958)

All previously released as part of "The Louis Malle Collection", personally I'd go for the better value of the box set. Optimum Releasing.

Bigas Luna Collection:
Golden Balls (1993)
Jamon Jamon (1992)
The Tit and the Moon (1994)
The Ages of Lulu (1990)

All previously released singularly Tartan Video

Cinema Paradiso (1988) - (Deluxe Edition) - Giuseppe Tornatore. Third release for this rose tinted nostagia trip. This time a 4 disc set which includes the soundtrack, I assume it will also be packed with extras Arrow Films

Jean-Luc Goddard - The 60s Collection:
Masculin, Feminin (1966)
Two or Three Things I Know About Her (2 ou 3 choses que je sais d'elle / 1967)
Vivre sa vie (1962)

All previously released individually

New releases:

Colour Of The Loyalty (Hak Bak Jin Cheung / 2005) - Siu Hung Cheung, Jing Wong Elephant Video

The Commissar (Komissar / 1967) - Aleksandr Askoldov Artificial Eye

Exiles (Exils / 2004) - Tony Gatlif Drakes Avenue

Fighting Delinquents (Kutabare gurentai / 1960) Seijun Suzuki Yume Pictures

The Flowers And the Angry Waves (Hana to doto / 1964) - Seijun Suzuki Yume Pictures

Heaven`s Soldiers (Cheon Gun / 2005) Min Joon-ki - Elephant Video

Human Resources (Ressources humaines / 1999) - Laurent Cantet Soda Pictures

Nin Nin (Nin x Nin: Ninja Hattori-kun / 2004) - Masayuki Suzuki - Elephant Video

The Page Turner (La Tourneuse de pages / 2006) - Denis Dercourt - Artificial Eye
Excellent low key revenge driven drama with an outstanding performance from Dborah Franois, so different from her previous role in L'Enfant. Slightly let down by one Hollywood style moment but fortunately this is only a minor blip.

Wim Wenders Collection:
The American Friend (1977)
Lightning Over Water (1980)
Notebook on Cities and Clothes (1989)
Paris, Texas (1984)
Room 666 (1982)
The Scarlet Letter (1973)
Tokyo-Ga (1985)
A Trick of the Light (1995)
Wings of Desire (1987)
The Wrong Move (1975) Anchor Bay

Elephant Video is a new name in distribution, well have to see how their releases fare in terms of film and dvd quality.

Although they have no new releases this week, I have to wonder what sort of problems Tartan Video are having, several products are being pushed back again and again, The Bow (Hwal) is one of the latest with a preliminary Feb 07 release date pushed back to May, its difficult to obtain any info on these delays.

Cheers Trev.

[trevor826]

April 02

Co/ma (Coma) (2004) Lions Gate
A documentary charting the progress of several European filmmakers as they attempt to complete a challenge from Mike Figgis to come up with an idea, shoot and edit a feature film within a week, with the film being shown to the public the day after.

Elisa (1995) - Jean Becker Vital Distribution
A film I havent seen for a very long time, wonder if it will live up to my memories of it?

Les Apprentis (1995) - Pierre Salvadori - Vital Distribution

Padre Padrone (1977) - Paolo Taviani, Vittorio Taviani - Arrow Films

Quai Des Brumes (Port Of Shadows / 193 - Marcel Carn Blackhorse Entertainment

Venus Beauty Institute (1999) - Tonie Marshall - Vital Distribution

Cheers Trev.

[arsaib4]

Thanks for your effort, Trev. Much appreciated!

[trevor826]

Thank's arsaib4.

The one thing I've found is that doing the lists for a whole month ahead doesn't give the full picture, films are often added later making mine incomplete. I'll try and keep it just to a fortnight ahead which should be far more accurate.

There is a funny story as far as that goes, I went to the dvd rental store on a monday morning a few weeks ago, I checked the list of releases and picked 2 I knew I wanted, I then noticed a French title I'd never heard of and picked that one as well without seeing the box.

I watched the two films I knew that day and saved the other for the next day, within 10 minutes I knew I'd made a very bad choice, it was a French gay porn film , and I don't mean softcore either needless to say I didn't attempt to watch the whole film.

I took all the the films back to the store then found the box, well if I'd taken the time to look at the cover I'd never have rented the film, the front was very obviously aimed at a gay market while on the back it carried warnings about the "real sex" scenes.

The worst thing I did though was to mention it to the manager who I know quite well, of course he told all the other staff about it and I've been taking stick in there ever since.

For anyone interested, the film was called "Garcon Stupide", which is what I was for renting it blind.

Cheers Trev.

[arsaib4]

I'll try to add to your list, if possible. Haven't had much time lately for DVD releases, foreign or domestic.

[trevor826]

Satan - Sheitan (2006) Directed by Kim Chapiron was just released after a 2 week delay - Tartan Video. Only a 5.5 rating on IMDB but I'll probably give it a whirl as it's available to rent.

Cheers Trev.