Arrow Video have been releasing Director Yasuzo Masumura films on deluxe Blu-ray. We have reviews two of them here on Classic Cinema Plus, The double feature The Black Test Car and The Black Report and Blind Beast.
Well now it is time for another Yasuzo Massumura classic to get the deluxe treatment. This time it is the unflinching look at the horrors of war in 1966's Red Angel.
Sakura Nishi (Ayako Wakao) is a nurse working at a remote Japanese hospital, treating soldiers wounded in the second Sino-Japanese War. Sakura does the best she can to help comfort the severely wounded men in the under-staffed hospital. While treating the wounded she fall in love with one of the doctors, Okabe (Shinsuke Ashida). When Dr. Okabe decides to leave the hospital in order to treat soldiers still in battle, Sakura makes the decision to head to the frontlines with him.
Red Angel was adapted from the novel by Yorichika Arima. Considered by many to be the best of his collaborations with Ayako Wakao, it truly is a very unique film. The film has a very M*A*S*H* feel to it. It felt like it was trying to stay lite while in the midst of tragedy, but I felt like it didn't heit the same chords as M*A*S*H*.
Red Angel is not going to be for everyone. The film is very bleak and can be heavy to watch. I feel like you are going to have to be in the mood to watch this one and prepared for the harshness of war before you ever hit play. Many viewers may find it to bleak to even get through.
This film is presented in high definition 1080p in 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The soundtrack is in the original uncompressed Japanese mono audio complete with the option for English subtitles. The black and white image of this picture really pops in this HD transfer. It is clear clean and spectacular.
Now Arrow Video added some nice bonus features to this release but in comparison to other releases the bonuses are a bit lite. Take a look at what is included.
- Brand new audio commentary by Japanese cinema scholar David Desser
- Newly filmed introduction by Japanese cinema expert Tony Rayns
- Not All Angels Have Wings, a new visual essay by Jonathan Rosenbaum
- Original Trailer
- Image Gallery
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella
Watch The Trailer Below:
For Asian movie fans Red Angel is going to be one they will want to add this beautiful looking Blu-ray to their collection. But for the average film fans maybe not so much. If you are interested in this one head over to Amazon.com and get your copy today.
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