Criterion on Blu-ray

By Christopher P. Jacobs
Movies Editor

Slowly but steadily the Criterion Collection has been releasing its amazing library of international cinema to Blu-ray, along with Blu-rays of many intriguing titles new to its catalog. Although their prices are typically about double what Blu-rays of mainstream movies from the major studios cost, their high technical standards for picture and audio quality are far more reliable, and the films they choose to release cover a wide variety of countries, eras, budgets, and cinematic styles, from acknowledged classics to obscure independents.

Each film is virtually guaranteed to be of the highest artistic, social, political, and/or historical significance, making previous familiarity with a title or director all but irrelevant. Even if one doesn’t particularly like a given film, it always has some aspect about it that makes it worth seeing. Also, there are periodic sales at substantial savings of a third to half or more off the retail prices from retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, making “blind buys” more attractive, even if one has never heard of the titles.

Here are three Criterion releases from the past few months that are well worth checking out. Before their addition to Criterion’s release schedule, I had heard of only one of the titles (“People on Sunday”) and of the directors for two of the films (Robert Siodmak/Edgar G. Ulmer for one, and Kon Ichikawa for the other). The third I was completely unfamiliar with (Masahiro Shinoda’s “Pale Flower”), but it now ranks as a favorite.
In summer of 1929, six young Germans interested in filmmaking raised some money and collaborated on an experimental, largely improvised silent drama of ordinary young people using non-actors they recruited. The result was “People On Sunday,” which premiered in Berlin early in 1930 to critical and audience acclaim. The filmmakers quickly found jobs in the movie industry, and after Hitler’s rise to power all soon made names for themselves in Hollywood.

Directors Robert Siodmak and Edgar G. Ulmer would find success with low-budget thrillers. Writer Billie Wilder would become a legendary writer-director of such American classics as “Sunset Boulevard” and “Some Like It Hot.” Co-writer Kurt Siodmak would later specialize in science-fiction and horror scripts like “The Wolf Man.” Cinematographer Eugen Schüfftan developed major special effects processes and would later win an Oscar for shooting “The Hustler.” Assistant cinematographer Fred Zinnemann would become an Oscar-winning director responsible for Hollywood classics like “High Noon,” “From Here to Eternity,” “A Man For All Seasons,” and more.

“People On Sunday” is a remarkably fresh and natural-looking film of two young couples planning to visit the lake on their day off, their various experiences, occasional personal tensions, tentative resolutions, and return to work the next day. Inspired somewhat by the then-fashionable city-documentary, it anticipates elements of Italian neo-realism of the 1940s-50s and the French New Wave of the 1950s-60s. It’s a perfect film for aspiring filmmakers to study as an example of how to make the commonplace into something cinematic and of interest to others, as well as casting nonprofessionals for type.

Criterion’s high-definition transfer of the restored film is excellent, and there are two fine audio scores included, with one newly-recorded for this edition. Extras include an informative booklet, a half-hour documentary on the film, and a half-hour short made by cinematographer Schüfftan.

PEOPLE ON SUNDAY on Blu-ray – Movie: A /  Video: A /  Audio: A+  /  Extras: B+
“The Makioka Sisters” (1983) is director Kon Ichikawa’s free adaptation of an epic family novel set shortly before World War II. It’s a long but intriguing character drama of the four female heirs to a family business, each with a very different personality and priorities, but all tied to the family traditions to certain degrees, including the rebellious youngest sister. The major plot issue is the sisters’ struggle to marry in the order of age and to maintain the family prestige. In some ways it can be seen as an allegory for Japanese culture’s struggle to modernize and become a global power, and in other ways it is a universal, deeply personal story of individual cares, sacrifices, and family loyalty.

It’s also a film marked by superb color art direction and cinematography that is a feast for the eyes on Criterion’s excellent hi-def transfer. The only extras are an HD trailer and a 20-page illustrated booklet with an essay on the film, comparing it to the novel and to America’s “Gone With the Wind.”

THE MAKIOKA SISTERS on Blu-ray – Movie: A /  Video:  A /  Audio: A /  Extras: C
Masahiro Shinoda’s “Pale Flower” (1964) is an intriguing character drama of the Japanese underworld with stunning, dazzling use of widescreen black-and-white cinematography and avant-garde blending of contemporary jazz music with sound effects. It’s both a classic film noir and experimental New Wave that today manages to look retro and modern at the same time. The plot and characterizations are sometimes hard to follow: basically, a yakuza assassin just released from prison becomes fascinated by a mysterious but beautiful young woman with a passion for gambling. Their troubled relationship makes for a brilliant exercise in cinematic style with symbolic overtones and an unforgettable climax and conclusion.

Criterion’s hi-def transfer again is first-rate, as is the sound. Extras include the original trailer, a new HD video interview with the director, an interesting selected-scene audio commentary mainly discussing Toru Takemitsu’s groundbreaking music score, and an illustrated booklet with credits and a perceptive essay analyzing the film.

PALE FLOWER on Blu-ray – Movie: A-  /  Video: A /  Audio: A /  Extras: B

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