Am I the only cinefile crazy-mad about Kieslowski? Double Life is the sole film in the collection! It’s a fair-to-good transfer, but more greenish-yellow than the intended golden hues. But forget about that; his undisputed masterpiece is his Polish TV collection Dekalog. The available edition (Facets) is VHS quality and it needs to get the “Criterion Treatment.” Even better, on Blu-Ray! The same thing goes for his “Colors Trilogy” which already look ok but need a Blu-Ray treatment. Even his early documentaries could be included on some of these releases. His “lesser” films such as Camera Buff, Blind Chance, A Short Film about Loveand others need at least an SD release.
Is there a copyright issue for these films that didn’t exist for Double Life? Double Life is fantastic, but not his signature work. It’s like releasing Welles without Kane. I get that Warner still owns Kane, but who would own all but one of K’s films? Double L is at least a rather capricious “choice” to represent Kieslowski in the Criterion Collection!
All true, though I’d argue Dekalog is at best barely available (difficult to find, very low-quality, and extraordinarily expensive).
Yes I do agree with you, but it’s not like Criterion has released NO K. film; once they released Double Life (in, what, 2006?) they appeared to be beginning their"typical" method of slowly adding others of that director’s films until they have at least the major works in the collection. I’m aware we’re still seeing Ozu’s, Kurasawa’s, Bergman’s, and other major directors’ significant work trickling in, but there’s been complete silence on this particular director. [ I even emailed the company (very politely) but received no response at all.]
Here’s an idea: Dekalog is sometimes considered a TV product, not an actual work of cinema. We’ve already seen two fairly recent releases of such works: Fanny and Alexander and Berlin Alexanderplatz, both given lavish treatment. Continue a trend of “TV masterpieces” with Dekalog. And given that Dekalog (really all of Kieslowski’s work) is thematically and visually enmeshed with the
emergence of Polish independence, the film’s “extras” would be absolutely fascinating.
You really think Dekalog would “rake in the dough” JP? I assumed one of the reasons it hasn’t been done is low market value (cf.Armageddon).
I do consider Dekalog a film. Interestingly, however, Fanny and Alexander exists in at least two versions, the theatrical release and the significantly longer Swedish TV version. Both are on a Criterion release lavishly packaged— one of their best I think.
Point taken, however. We should be thankful for the ones we have, regardless of their
flaws.
Blu-Ray Transition over 3 years ago
Why is this title oup? At least reprint in standard edition it not blu-ray!
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Expanding the Criterion Collection over 3 years ago
Am I the only cinefile crazy-mad about Kieslowski? Double Life is the sole film in the collection! It’s a fair-to-good transfer, but more greenish-yellow than the intended golden hues. But forget about that; his undisputed masterpiece is his Polish TV collection Dekalog. The available edition (Facets) is VHS quality and it needs to get the “Criterion Treatment.” Even better, on Blu-Ray! The same thing goes for his “Colors Trilogy” which already look ok but need a Blu-Ray treatment. Even his early documentaries could be included on some of these releases. His “lesser” films such as Camera Buff, Blind Chance, A Short Film about Loveand others need at least an SD release.
Is there a copyright issue for these films that didn’t exist for Double Life? Double Life is fantastic, but not his signature work. It’s like releasing Welles without Kane. I get that Warner still owns Kane, but who would own all but one of K’s films? Double L is at least a rather capricious “choice” to represent Kieslowski in the Criterion Collection!
Any ideas anyone?
Go to Comment
Expanding the Criterion Collection over 3 years ago
All true, though I’d argue Dekalog is at best barely available (difficult to find, very low-quality, and extraordinarily expensive).
Yes I do agree with you, but it’s not like Criterion has released NO K. film; once they released Double Life (in, what, 2006?) they appeared to be beginning their"typical" method of slowly adding others of that director’s films until they have at least the major works in the collection. I’m aware we’re still seeing Ozu’s, Kurasawa’s, Bergman’s, and other major directors’ significant work trickling in, but there’s been complete silence on this particular director. [ I even emailed the company (very politely) but received no response at all.]
Here’s an idea: Dekalog is sometimes considered a TV product, not an actual work of cinema. We’ve already seen two fairly recent releases of such works: Fanny and Alexander and Berlin Alexanderplatz, both given lavish treatment. Continue a trend of “TV masterpieces” with Dekalog. And given that Dekalog (really all of Kieslowski’s work) is thematically and visually enmeshed with the
emergence of Polish independence, the film’s “extras” would be absolutely fascinating.
Go to Comment
Expanding the Criterion Collection over 3 years ago
You really think Dekalog would “rake in the dough” JP? I assumed one of the reasons it hasn’t been done is low market value (cf.Armageddon).
I do consider Dekalog a film. Interestingly, however, Fanny and Alexander exists in at least two versions, the theatrical release and the significantly longer Swedish TV version. Both are on a Criterion release lavishly packaged— one of their best I think.
Point taken, however. We should be thankful for the ones we have, regardless of their
flaws.
Go to Comment