Dersu Uzala (1 Viewer)

BrianSiano · Dec 19, 2008

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.)

Rob Tomlin · Dec 20, 2008

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.

Michel_Hafner · Feb 8, 2009

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.

Rob Tomlin · Feb 8, 2009

Aye carumba!

Robert Harris · Feb 12, 2009

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

Rob Tomlin · Feb 12, 2009

Well, that's great news. If that is the case, then whoever has the rights should "get on with it" already!

Robert Harris · Feb 12, 2009

At a running length of 16,500 feet approx., this is no small task.

Rob Tomlin · Feb 12, 2009

All the more reason for them to "get on with it" already!

Rob Foss · Feb 13, 2009

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.

Lord Dalek · Feb 14, 2009

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.

francisca2 · Jul 17, 2009

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.

snudley · Feb 4, 2010

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.

WalterMitty · Jul 16, 2010

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...

OliverK · Jul 29, 2010

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.

Ralphie_B · Jul 29, 2010

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.

Angelo Colombus · Aug 17, 2020

Looks like a Blu-ray is coming out from Spain in November. There is a trailer posted on YouTube and it looks good. You can also see the film on the Criterion Channel and i hope Criterion will release it on disc soon.

Lord Dalek · Aug 17, 2020

^Looks like another reduction element transfer.

Angelo Colombus · Aug 17, 2020

I did read that the 70mm negative was in bad shape so i do not know if a new print will come out of that?

Angelo Colombus · Oct 6, 2022

Both DVDBeaver and The Digital Bits have a review of the Imprint Blu-ray release and the news is not that bad. Both talk about uneven color and density and i have seen that in all the discs i have. Also the film was made using Soviet film stock instead of Kurosawa's preferred Kodak or Fuji which was better quality. Hope to see Deepdiscount ship the Blu-ray out soon.

OliverK · Oct 6, 2022

Angelo Colombus said:
Both DVDBeaver and The Digital Bits have a review of the Imprint Blu-ray release and the news is not that bad. Both talk about uneven color and density and i have seen that in all the discs i have. Also the film was made using Soviet film stock instead of Kurosawa's preferred Kodak or Fuji which was better quality. Hope to see Deepdiscount ship the Blu-ray out soon.

Even with Soviet film stock the negative would allow for a better picture than what you are seeing but at least it seems to look better than a DVD so it will be an improvement. The greenish tint is authentic by the way, I have seen it with every East European / Russian 70mm film so far and also with Dersu Uzala.

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