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Dersu Uzala

post #1 of 15
12/19/08 at 8:09am
Thread Starter 
Criterion's releasing _Dodeskaden_ next year, which reminds me to wonder if there's any news about a Blu-ray transfer of _Dersu Uzala_. If I recall correctly, Mosfilm has a 70mm print, but all home video transfers have come from 35mm copies.

Does anyone here have any information about the prospects of a really nice edition of _Dersu Uzala_?

(I know RAH probably has his plate full with other projects, but this discussion area does seem to be a general default for all aspects of film restoration.)
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post #2 of 15
12/20/08 at 1:01pm

Re: Dersu Uzala

I would absolutely love to see this done. Dersu Uzala is an amazing film, and I consider it one of Kurosawa's most underrated pieces of work.

The DVD is pretty bad, and really not watchable on my projection system. A new transfer of this great film on Blu-ray would be fantastic news indeed.
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post #3 of 15
2/8/09 at 3:16am

Re: Dersu Uzala

I remember watching this film in a big open air cinema event in the 90s. After some time I wondered about the strange framing and camera movements. It turned out they were showing a 35mm pan and scan TV print. Ouch.
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post #4 of 15
2/8/09 at 8:46am

Re: Dersu Uzala

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michel_Hafner
I remember watching this film in a big open air cinema event in the 90s. After some time I wondered about the strange framing and camera movements. It turned out they were showing a 35mm pan and scan TV print. Ouch.

Aye carumba!
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post #5 of 15
2/12/09 at 4:39am

Re: Dersu Uzala

There should not be any major problems with this title. I would surmise that it simply needs to be printed or scanned from the OCN.

RAH
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post #6 of 15
2/12/09 at 8:19am

Re: Dersu Uzala

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
There should not be any major problems with this title. I would surmise that it simply needs to be printed or scanned from the OCN.

RAH

Well, that's great news. If that is the case, then whoever has the rights should "get on with it" already!
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post #7 of 15
2/12/09 at 1:25pm

Re: Dersu Uzala

At a running length of 16,500 feet approx., this is no small task.
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post #8 of 15
2/12/09 at 4:32pm

Re: Dersu Uzala

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
At a running length of 16,500 feet approx., this is no small task.

All the more reason for them to "get on with it" already!
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post #9 of 15
2/14/09 at 2:20am

Re: Dersu Uzala

Quote:
Originally Posted by BrianSiano
Criterion's releasing _Dodeskaden_ next year, which reminds me to wonder if there's any news about a Blu-ray transfer of _Dersu Uzala_. If I recall correctly, Mosfilm has a 70mm print, but all home video transfers have come from 35mm copies.

Does anyone here have any information about the prospects of a really nice edition of _Dersu Uzala_?

(I know RAH probably has his plate full with other projects, but this discussion area does seem to be a general default for all aspects of film restoration.)

I seem to recall reading somewhere that Russia has no facilities for dealing with 70mm & the likelihood of removing the original to another country where such facilities do exist is, well, remote, to put it mildly.
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post #10 of 15
2/14/09 at 9:14am

Re: Dersu Uzala

I can only hope that if we do finally get a new release of Dersu Uzala finally (and hopefully through Criterion as Janus does control this title IIRC) that we get the film's original 6-track mix as an audio option.
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post #11 of 15
7/17/09 at 11:57pm

The film is almost entirely shot outdoors in the ruggedly beautiful Siberian wilderness. As with most of Kurosawa's work, each frame is carefully composed to form a dramatic picture. The film explores the theme of a native of the forests who is fully integrated into his environment, leading a style of life that will inevitably be destroyed by the advance of civilization. It is also about the growth of respect and deep friendship between two men of profoundly different backgrounds, and about the difficulty of coping with the loss of strength and ability that comes with old age.

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post #12 of 15
2/4/10 at 9:45am

I was honored to see this film in a 70mm print at the Inwood Theater in Dallas a very long time ago.  It was one of the films that really put the lifelong film-nut bug in me.

It has always been on my short restoration/hi-def wish list. 
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post #13 of 15
7/16/10 at 3:53am

A properly restored, high definition release of Dersu Uzala, and all the missing bits of The Magnificent Ambersons to be found in some long-time neglected vault, that's all I want for Christmas...


Edited by WalterMitty - 7/16/10 at 4:22am
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post #14 of 15
7/29/10 at 7:15am

It has been shown in Karlsruhe, Germany in 70mm at least twice in the last 10 months. I attended one of the screenings and can attest ot the fact that this print is in very good shape and not faded like western Eastman Kodak productions. It is also the best looking East European 70mm production that I have seen so far.

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post #15 of 15
7/29/10 at 1:01pm

I really liked this movie, but was disappointed by the quality of the DVD I received from Netflix.  I was not aware this was a 70mm film; I cannot imagine how good this could look if faithfully reproduced on Blu-Ray.  It's very hard to pick favorites among Kurosawa's works, but this one is high on my list of ones I'd like to see released as a quality Blu-Ray.

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