Arrow Video have been releasing many Japanese film to North American audiences for a little while now! The latest is Survivor Ballads a collection of three films by film maker Shohei Imamura.
Our Rating System:
**** Don't Miss It!
*** Worth A Look!
** An OK Way to Spend an Evening
* You Haven't missed anything!
Ballad of Narayama (1983) In a poor 19th century rural Japanese village, everyone who reaches the age of 70 has to climb a nearby mountain to die. An old woman is getting close to the cut-off age, and we follow her last days with her family. **
Zegen (1987) A Japanese immigrant in 1901 Hong Kong wishes to become a simple shopkeeper. Fate soon intervenes, allowing him to mix adventure and fervent patriotism with greed. **
Black Rain (1989) This film follows the effects of the bombing of Hiroshima on the lives of those who lived through it! The film was based on the novel by Masuji Ibuse. ***
These three films have been restored in 2K. Every film looks and stunning. The picture is sharp bringing high quality detail to the images on the screen.Than there is the lossless audio track which boasts of a well-balanced mix. But as with all Arrow Video releases they load up there releases with plenty of amazing bonus features. Let's take a look at what is included.
Bonus Materials
- Optional English subtitles
- Brand new audio commentaries on all three films by Japanese cinema expert Jasper Sharp
- Brand new, in-depth appreciations of all three films by Japanese cinema expert Tony Rayns
- Alternate color ending to Black Rain, shot by Imamura but removed from the film shortly before its release
- Archival interviews on Black Rain with actress Yoshiko Tanaka and assistant director Takashi Miike
- Multiple trailers and image galleries
- Original Japanese press kits for The Ballad of Narayama and Black Rain (BD-ROM content)
- Limited edition 60-page booklet containing new writing by Tom Mes
- Limited edition packaging featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella
The films of Shohei Imamura are Japanese exploitation
films, no doubt about it. This release is going to be for a very niche audience.
There is a lot of sexual content, nudity and violence throughout the these three. So these are not for everybody. And to be honest they are not for this reviewer here. But they will find their audience and that audience will love this set.
It is a shame that these are exploitation, because I think the films could have been really good films with a wider audience.
So if you are a fan of Japanese cinema or exploitation films, you will want to add the Survivor Ballads Blu-ray to your collection. Head over to Amazon.com and get your copy!
Out of 4 film reels (4 being the best) Arrow Video's Survivor Ballads Blu-ray receives....
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2 Comments
"The films of Shohei Imamura are Japanese exploitation films, no doubt about it."
ReplyDeleteShohei Imamura made compassionate, literate and artful films and documentaries about people (especially women) surviving on the fringes of Japanese society. One of the films in this set, The Ballad of Narayama, won the Palm d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. These are in no way exploitation films.
Thanks for your comment.
DeleteI appreciate you sharing your thoughts.