and it is REGION FREE!
has English subs along with many other sub choices.
DTS-MA MONO track.
theatrical cut: runtime 3 hours 9 minutes.
very filmlike appearance; somewhat soft appearance overall;
closeups retain good detail; color and contrast good.
overall an awesome import Blu of one of the greatest films ever made.

That's great news! :) But I'd rather have the 5 hour and 8 minute version. Hopefully Criterion will release it as they did with the DVD version, 1.66:1, 24fps from the negative or an interpositive.

Btw, what is the aspect ratio on the swedish release?

1.78:1 ;)

(nice to see someone actually posted in my thread; it's a real shame more people aren't interested in the truly great cinematic achievements)

and the transformers threads are filled with posts :D

Where did you order this from? One of my all time favorites. Always pine for this when Christmas time comes around. This and "The Dead," John Houston's adaptation of Joyce's short story from Dubliners.

Fran

An excellent film!
I still remember seeing it in the theater many years ago.
I'll wait for a U.S. release rather than importing it however.

Since I havnt seen the movie, can I ask, whats so good about it?

Since I havnt seen the movie, can I ask, whats so good about it?

Well, for one it was directed and written by Ingmar Bergman who is one of the all time great directors in the world. Many people consider this one of this best films.

Well, for one it was directed and written by Ingmar Bergman who is one of the all time great directors in the world. Many people consider this one of this best films.

But besides that its directed by Bergman(Im not his biggest fan), what makes the movie good?

Since I havnt seen the movie, can I ask, whats so good about it?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083922/usercomments

I remember reading an article about F&A in an issue of American Cinematographer, way back when. It was a fascinating read on everything that went into its making. Never seen the film, though now I'm more than interested, being in HD.

Where did you order this from? One of my all time favorites. Always pine for this when Christmas time comes around. This and "The Dead," John Houston's adaptation of Joyce's short story from Dubliners.

Fran


I actually arranged a trade with a member in Sweden for some HD DVDs :)
It is available through http://english.megastore.se though.
might show out of stock, but keep checking. ;)

Great to see that one of the greatest movie ever made has filtered through the mass media junkyard to BD. There is hope after all. :)

http://english.megastore.se/template/next%2CProduct.vm?itemid=2039314
Price: Euro 30.89

The New York Times January 21, 2009 By BROOKS BARNES

Seeking Bergman Film Rights? Try Aspen

LOS ANGELES -- As plot twists go, this one is a doozy: after an eight-year legal battle over the lease of a movie theater, the former owners of a multiplex in Aspen, Colo., now own the rights to Ingmar Bergman's entire film library.

Or do they?

In late December an amateurish-looking Web site popped up offering for sale on DVD dozens of classic Swedish films, including those of Bergman, the film legend responsible for classics like "The Seventh Seal" and "Cries and Whispers." The site, SwedishClassicFilms.com, also offered to sell exhibition rights.

.... Full article at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/21/movies/21bergman.html

and it is REGION FREE!
has English subs along with many other sub choices.
DTS-MA MONO track.
theatrical cut: runtime 3 hours 9 minutes.
very filmlike appearance; somewhat soft appearance overall;
closeups retain good detail; color and contrast good.
overall an awesome import Blu of one of the greatest films ever made.

Why mono??

What an absolutely bizarre tale R Johnson points us to.

As long as the Americans do not have any of the original source material this will probably come to very little, other than maybe reissuing some sundry Criterions at low prices.

It's true that Bergman was one of the world's most highly esteemed directors, but he's pretty heavy going for most people, even die-hard film fans. I gobbled his output up during the seventies but find myself not really drawn towards them today (though I did go see Sarabande a few years back).

why MONO?
well I'm assuming this was what was offered on the original theatrical presentation although I'm not 100& sure.

why MONO?
well I'm assuming this was what was offered on the original theatrical presentation although I'm not 100& sure.

The mono mix is likely because of the project's origins as a television miniseries from the early eighties.

What an absolutely bizarre tale R Johnson points us to.

As long as the Americans do not have any of the original source material this will probably come to very little, other than maybe reissuing some sundry Criterions at low prices.

It's true that Bergman was one of the world's most highly esteemed directors, but he's pretty heavy going for most people, even die-hard film fans. I gobbled his output up during the seventies but find myself not really drawn towards them today (though I did go see Sarabande a few years back).

Sure would be good to see those reds in Cries and Whispers on hi-def, though.

yeah that too. :p;)

why MONO?
well I'm assuming this was what was offered on the original theatrical presentation although I'm not 100& sure.

Yes it was (source:imdb) mixed in mono.

I guess it was common practice over here 82, since the films are very low budget comparing to US movies.

What an absolutely bizarre tale R Johnson points us to.
As long as the Americans do not have any of the original source material this will probably come to very little, other than maybe reissuing some sundry Criterions at low prices.
Apart from whatever Isis releases, I suspect this may prevent 'legitimate' new releases (including Blu-ray) in the USA of any titles owned by Svensk Filmindustri.

I suspect this may prevent 'legitimate' new releases (including Blu-ray) in the USA of any titles owned by Svensk Filmindustri

Probably true. Therefore probably time to fill in the gaps in your Bergman collection before they disappear- particularly the really early ones, as Blu-Ray high definition will not add a whole lot to them.

I guess the overseas market may be the only way for Blu-Ray.

Is the 5 hour cut out somewhere in HD? It calls to be seen in HD. Damn beautiful movie!

no, the miniseries has not been released on bd anywhere as of yet.
on another note, I remained stunned that over 2 years after I made this thread Svensk Filmindustri has issued 0 other Bergman films on blu-ray.
I mean WTF??? are they waiting on? :mad::mad::(
I really wish someone in Sweden would try and get to the bottom of this.

no, the miniseries has not been released on bd anywhere as of yet.

It came out in Japan in November (http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%83%8B%E3%83%BC%E3%81%A8%E3%82%A2%E3%83 %AC%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B5%E3%83%B3%E3%83%87%E3%83%AB-%E3%82%AA%E3%83%AA%E3%82%B8%E3%83%8A%E3%83%AB%E7%89%88-HD%E3%83%9E%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC-Blu-ray-%E3%82%A4%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B0%E3%83%9E%E3%83%BC%E3%83%AB%E3%83 %BB%E3%83%99%E3%83%AB%E3%82%A4%E3%83%9E%E3%83%B3/dp/B003ZUX5UE), actually. The distributor's website (http://www.ivc-tokyo.co.jp/collection/title/1002B.html) confirms that this is the miniseries version. Japanese subs only -- disappointing but no great surprise.

I have the Japanese long edition on BD. I watched it during the new year holidays with external English subs (from the internet). The video is in 1080i60 but looks very good, pretty similar in terms of PQ to the Swedish theatrical version BD which I also have. Very much enjoyed both versions but especially the long one. The Japanese subs on the long version are optional so they can be turned off, works well that way for Swedish speakers too but this release is quite expensive.

Some more info of it here with case pics and BD info:
http://forums.highdefdigest.com/blu-ray-imports-subforum/107613-fanny-alexander-jp.html

Interesting. The language is not a problem. Thanks for the info

Shame that it is so expensive. I wouldn't mind getting this but I'd rather pester SF into releasing the longer cut than paying that kind of money for it.

wow, I didn't realize that. :o
maybe a Criterion release will occur this year then. :)