I think I read on the Criterion Forum that something may be in the mix. Of course Scosese’s World Cinema Foundation had a hand at restoring it, and they seem to be buddy buddy with Criterion, so I’m pretty sure it’ll get the Criterion treatment.
If any film is deserving of the Criterion treatment, it’s A Brighter Summer Day.
And Taipei Story, and Terrorizers….
If any film is deserving of the Criterion treatment, it’s A Brighter Summer Day—
Agreed. I think it’s just a question of when.
I would really love to see this. Having seen only Yi Yi, since it is the only film of Yang’s readily available, I can say that it’s very sad to see that his work has been treated as such that it cannot even be seen. So messed up, I must say. :(
Savvy
Yeah, apparently they didn’t get started doing the restoration not a moment too soon. David Bordwell blogging from Il Cinema Ritrivato last summer:
“A 1991 Edward Yang film might not seem an obvious candidate for restoration, yet the complete version of A Brighter Summer Day was barely rescued from oblivion. The original negative does not exist, and the print materials on the shorter version were discovered to be moldy. Rescuing these and combining footage from both versions has resulted in a pristine new print of Yang’s greatest achievement.”
Matt, so, essentially, it is still a long version, as in the original length? Hopefully we get to see this soon!
Savvy
Yes, it’s the complete version of the film, but, because of the deterioration of the original negative and prints of the film, they had to assemble material from a few different prints to produce a new internegative.
some of the scenes in the new restored print is still kind of muddy. I suspect that’s the reason Criterion hasn’t announced a release yet.
STOP MAKING ME JEALOUS, COLUM!
my apologies Glem
I’ve only seen Yi Yi, but I absolutely loved it and wish I could see more of his films. Criterion definitely needs to release this, or at least SOMEONE does. Everything I’ve heard about it suggests it is one of the great masterworks of cinema, and yet it is unavailable in the English-speaking world. Any of Yang’s other films would be good choices for Criterion as well, but A Brighter Summer Day seems to be the most important.
Oh, I’ve also heard it played last month in a special screening at the Lincoln Center as part of the Film Comment Selects series. That seems to imply a new/well-preserved print of the film, but whether it means a DVD release any time soon, I have no idea.
Yeah, very good film. Well, based on the crappy version I’ve seen.
I first came across it when a film magazine had a list of the ‘50 5-star films you’ve never heard of’. I got really intrigued and eventually ordered the dvd from Taiwan or China.
Would really like to see a quality version of it.
HHH
There was a rumor floating round of a possible criterion edition of this, but i haven’t heard/read anything solid on the matter – i, like many others have probably seen (or own like me if you managed to get a R0 edition) the release that circulates the internet etc and know the quality is pretty awful.
I know that Yang’s films have terrible mixed up rights issues since his departure but surely if they could get Yi Yi then they could get this, or the Terrorizers etc. It would be a real testimony to him as a creator to release his films, especially A Brighter Summer Day. Which i dont doubt might even be my favourite film of all time if it had a better quality release and i could see the film as it was supposed to be seen.
Internet petitions never work, but if there was ever a worthy cause for a film petition, this would be it!