DERSU UZALA NEEDS TO BE IN THE CRITERION COLLECTION!
I haven’t seen it yet but at least you can see it here on The Auteurs (in America at least). I have never heard much about it but I like what you said about it…I’ll have to give it a look.
I’d say that while I’d like a Criterion release of Dersu Uzala, there is a decent release of this by Kino, so I’d give priority to other Kurosawa films. Like The Quiet Duel, or the two Sanshiro Sugatas.
I think Mark’s motion deserves a second. Not being filmed in Japan gives this film a unique feel among Kurosawa’s catalog. The wilderness scenes are stunning and Dersu Uzala himself if a wonderful character. Sure its no Seven Samurai or Ran, but it’s well worth seeing and needs the Criterion treatment.
Absolutely. He won the foreign film Oscar for it, although that isn’t the only reason why it is so deserving.
I own the Kino version of the film but it leaves me feeling very empty handed (there are no special features at all!). It deserves the essays and special features that only are available in the collection. It was the film that saved Kurosawa from the edge of death (he had recently attempted suicide and this film, which he had wanted to create for a long time, resurrected him, plus it’s utterly unique in his filmography). On the technical level, it’s a true epic and the last of its kind (70mm) but, unfortunately, rarely seen and vastly underrated (I’m in the minority here but it’s my favorite epic, even beating out Lawrence of Arabia and Andrei Rublev).
Is this film similar in tone to Andrei Rublev?
(sorry, double post)
They have very different tones—Tarkovsky’s is black and white and often austere, being a spiritual epic, while Kurosawa’s is in color and quite nostalgic, being a nature epic.
@ Joshua W – The Sanshiro Sugata’s ARE being added now in the massive AK boxset.
I as well own the Kino version and the picture quality and special features of it aaren’t what you would call “memorable”. It truly needs a new restored release, Criterion would be preferable for this.
As for the person who said The Quiet Duel, I agree as well on that one. I think I remember reading they wanted it in the Eclipse set but could not get the rights to it. Great film, one of Mifune’s better performances.
CJ Roy, it was me that mentioned Quiet Duel. I think that should be top priority, I have a copy but it is uglyyyy. My Kino Dersu Uzala isn’t the best, but it’s not bad picture quality is better than the terrible copies of several of Kurosawas films. I’m excited for the Sanshiro Sugata additions, but it’s going to take a while for them to make them separate releases and I’m not sure I can justify buying the AK box set for 5 movies I don’t already have.
As yes, both are in the same post. I remember the picture not being great and I really hope someone releases restored print. I still love the case for the US version though and at least it has a DVD release for now.
I agree with you totally. The DVD I own (pirated DVD because of the country I live in) seems to be a russian release, with a quality no more impressive than a VHS ripped movie. This film is the true masterpiece of Kurosawa and has a poetic and beautiful spirit which no movie comes near to it. Criterion must do something about it! It deserves a Criterion release.
Dersu Uzala’s exclusion is unfathomable. It’s Kurosawa’s late masterpiece. His wisest, most beautiful, most human film. Here Criterion has the chance to live up to their claims and preserve an important work.
We have to make this happen. Send them an email suggesting it. suggestions@criterion.com
true. never been released on american home video before
The current version available from Kino is absolute crap. This needs a proper restoration and release.
Every cinephile should see it, whether on Criterion, or not.
If every there was a film for a 4K, this is it.
The current version available from Kino is absolute crap. This needs a proper restoration and release.
Kino is the hell where bad transfers go to die.
and comparing Kino directly to Criterion, check out how badass their DESIGN team is. Super clean cut out job and blending here.
It’s Kurosawa’s late masterpiece. His wisest, most beautiful, most human film. (Chris CS)
If you watch it (again?) using a computer and you pause it in any given moment of your choice, the image frozen on the screen could be viewed as pure poetry – or artwork of the finest kind. I must also confess that I had read the book prior to watching the film, and I was completely unimpressed. It was yet another volume of dry and condensed research data, a more scientific rather than literature experience, a factual and almost undigestible account of two expeditions. Kurosawa put magic in the story and Dersu came to life.
When talking about the book to someone, I mentioned to them that the only soul-touching element in the book was the bunch of black-and-white photos illustrating the story and putting life into the series of emotionless information (I’m talking here about the Hungarian translation, of course, not having had access to the original version). To my huge surprise, while watching the movie I was struck by the revelation that they weren’t the actual footage Arsenyev prepared when writing the book: they were photos from Kurosawa’s movie!!! Not having the book at my hand any more (it was borrowed from someone), I checked the net and found one photo of the real Goldi – and many of Maxim Munzuk, playing the role of Dersu. Yes, the book I read was indeed illustrated using the film shots, only in black and white version. Unknown to me, I was touched and moved by Kurosawa’s masterpiece…
(I must quickly add that Dersu’s figure in the book was every bit as noble and special as the one portrayed in the film. Or maybe even more. My being so unimpressed by the text was a result of the fact that every word came from the rational and scientific mind of a military captain – not a writer. The difference between the impression given by book and the movie was like the one between the lexicon entry about Praxiteles’ Satyros – and a little but faithful-to-the-finest-details copy of the statue. Neither gives you the true experience of the magic encapsulated in the marble dream of the author, but… you get my point. Kurosawa offered a wonderful homage to Dersu, the real Goldi… And now I’m on a quest of finding and purchasing a copy of the book. The oh so simple words of the Russian surveyor, and the beautiful “flashes” from Kurosawa’s imagination. To use them as a reminder… of Dersu Uzala, the hunter.)
I saw it in late 70’s in 70mm and it’s never left my mind. One of the truly great, great films.
There’s been a call to restore this for a long time. I’ve read (on the net) that the neg is in Moscow, where they don’t appear to have restoration/remastering facilities – yet they refuse to release the neg to those that do, ie. outside Russia. The National Film Theatre in London screened (I believe) their archive print about 8 years ago and though it was high-quality – no scratches etc – various scenes felt thin and washed out. There’s a rumour the UK Artificial Eye release, which I have as a better-than-nothing reference, was ‘secretly’ remastered but it doesn’t look like it to me (and if they did why keep it secret?) The only justice is to restore the 65mm neg for BR release which would bring it the new and appreciative audience it so much deserves.
BTW: the book the film is based on is well worth reading; there are a number of incredible scenes which probably could not be filmed in the 70’s without CGI, plus you sort of imagine the scenes in the book not featured in the film described through Kurosawa’s viewfinder, as if you’re watching deleted scenes on the extras.
the neg is in Moscow, where they don’t appear to have restoration/remastering facilities – yet they refuse to release the neg to those that do
What a crime. It’s one of the greatest films ever.
One of his most beautiful films. The blizzard scene alone is a masterpiece of structure. I didn’t even know about the crappy Kino release. I’ll hold out for a proper transfer though.
Dersu Uzala is going to be shown on the big screen at my Ye Locale Independente Movie Theatre coming up here in a month or so. I’m pretty sure they’re going with a print. Should be a nice event, I really hope I get to attend.
—DiB
Lucky you, POLAR! I’ve only seen the Kino release, and that only on a crappy tv, or laptop. Your screening should be absolutely marvelous.
Graveyard Poet
Nearly all of Kurosawa’s oeuvre is now in the Criterion Collection except my personal favorite—Dersu Uzala. It’s the hidden gem of his career and arguably his greatest epic. It’s one of the greatest films concerning nature and it has a poetic sublimity which is rare and sets it apart from his other films.
Your thoughts?