NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes

Criterion

BFI

BFI (2008) Blu-ray

NO BITRATE FOR 2008 BFI BLU-RAY YET

Criterion Collection - Spine # 17 
Region 'A' Blu-ray

BFI (2019) 
Region 'B' Blu-ray

ADDITION: BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - September 2019': BFI are re-issuing their Blu-ray of Pier Paolo Pasolini’s Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom with a new (2019) transfer and a 2-disc set. The feature starts with the MGM logo. This is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate and a second dual-layered disc with supplements. It compares better to the 2011 Criterion 1080P than BFI's own imperfect 2008 Blu-ray package where the visuals were fraught with digitization issues and a green overcast. The BFI transfer is minutely superior to the Criterion HD with a much high bitrate and colors look tighter in-motion - warmer skin tones - with a smooth, seamless, appearance. BFI have added a new commentary to the feature disc. There is also a trailer on the first BD and all the other extras are on the second Blu-ray.

NOTE: The 2019 BFI Blu-ray includes short 25-second sequence during the first wedding ceremony (around 42-minutes), where one of the masters quotes a poem by Gottfried Benn. It is missing from the Criterion and Gaumont discs.

BFI include both Italian-language and English-language versions in DTS-HD Master 1.0 channel mono tracks (both 24-bit) and this may be seen as another minor advancement over the Criterion, although the original Italian is equally robust, Criterion transferred the DUB in a lossy track. The BFI is Region 'B'-locked. All Blu-rays have optional English subtitles.

For supplements, Kat Ellinger gives another 'must-listen' commentary initially describing Salo as a 'wonderfully profane delight' discussing how it is one of the most misunderstood films of its era, the intentionally formless characters, the unassuming opening music, how it was shot in Technicolor - although Pasolini wanted black and white, the circles Dante's Inferno, De Sade, Nazispolitation, is Salo really a horror film? and much more. It is, again, at her high level of analysis - as stated the feature Blu-ray also offers a trailer.

The second Blu-ray has many of the older supplements as seen previously on various packages. From 2008 is the 41-minute The End of Salò where actors Antinisca Nemour and Paolo Bonacelli, screenwriter Pupi Avati, production designer Dante Ferretti, assistant director Fiorella Infascelli, assistant editor Ugo Maria De Rossi and others, discuss the film's production history and Pasolini's legacy and tragic death. OSTIA (The Death of Pasolini) runs 7-minutes is by Coil - the band's 1986 track with video accompaniment from 2008. Open Your Eyes! is also from 2008 and shows Pasolini and his actors at work on the set of Salò for over 20-minutes. Walking with Pasolini is a 2008 documentary featuring Neil Bartlett, David Forgacs, Noam Chomsky and Craig Lapper giving input for 22-minutes. Whoever Says the Truth Shall Die is a classic 1981 documentary on the life and death of Pasolini by Philo Bregstein - it has Pier Paolo Pasolini, writer Alberto Moravia, Laura Betti, Bernardo Bertolucci and runs just over 1-hour in Italian and some French with English subtitles. Fade to Black is a 2001 documentary by Nigel Algar exploring the ongoing relevance and power of Pasolini's masterpiece narrated by Mark Kermode. It runs short of 25-minutes. Ostia (1987) is a short, 26-minute film, by Julian Cole about Pasolini starring Derek Jarman with an optional director's commentary. It runs 27-minutes. Enfants de Salò has four French filmmakers including Gasper Noé, Claire Denis, Catherine Breillat and Bertrand Bonello deconstruct Salò. It runs 20-minutes and is from 2009. The package, for first pressing purchasers, has a booklet with introduction by Sam Rohdie, reviews, BBFC correspondence exploring the film's troubled history, stills and on-set photographs.

Nice to see BFI, 'correct' and vastly improve upon their initial Blu-ray release. As it stands this 2019 double-disc Blu-ray BFI set is the definitive. I wouldn't be, at all, surprised to see it go out-of-print relatively quickly. The Kat Ellinger commentary alone would be worth the upgrade but the most robust video transfer, the addition of the lossless DUB, and couple of new extras beyond the previous BFI Blu-ray, the limited edition booklet etc. - make this essential for cinephiles. This is the one to own...    

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ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - September 2011: This comparison need not be as confusing as we have made it. We have relied on our initial reference review(s) from well over a decade ago. As opposed to redoing the captures to match our current standards - I ended up selling my original Criterion DVD for some un-Godly amount of money many years ago - so it was not possible. To quote a ginormous understatement - the film always left a sour taste in my mouth <pun intended) and I only revisit to perpetuate this comparison page. I'll make some quick comments - and perhaps we can move on:

1) Yes, the Criterion Blu-ray shows edge-enhancement (just like the BFI - although less prominent). It was probably on the reissue DVD but the 1080 resolution makes it easier to identify. I suspect that it is on D1 master - no fault of the disc transfers.

2) the dual-layered Criterion image seems to me to have more balanced colors. The BFI varies from overly pale to occasionally reddish.

3) There is movement in the frame but I think the BFI shows more information in the right and bottom edges.

4) The BFI frequently looks green - but have no idea of how authentic this is to theatrical.

5) Audio seems a wash with both having the PCM - exporting mono, but I honestly didn't do any testing. Ditto for both of the English DUBs.

6) The Criterion Blu-ray is still without the 25-second sequence at roughly 42-minutes into the film during the first wedding ceremony, where one of the masters quotes a poem by Gottfried Benn.  

Both Blu-ray editions have extensive supplements - both have 'The End of Salo' documentary and other, different extras. The BFI have most on a second disc PAL DVD where Criterion house the same ones as found on the Reissue DVD but now all on the lone dual-layered Blu-ray disc - in HD.

With both editions being region-locked, I suspect the number of fans capable of 'choosing' for their home theater presentation is at the low end. Making a more black-and-white judgment than usual - I'd take the Criterion Blu-ray for image, the BFI for the extras - and for those in need of the missing 25-seconds - the BFI is there for your option.

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BFI RELEASE IS DEFINITELY REGION 'B" ONLY! BFI - Blu-ray - Region NOTE: I HAVE RECEIVED A CHECKDISC Blu-ray SCREENER FROM BFI - IT IS DEFINITELY REGION FREE ALTHOUGH WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE FINAL Blu-ray RELEASE WILL BE REGION 'B' ONLY. THIS IS CONTRARY TO OUR INITIAL INFORMATION BUT I BELIEVE IT WILL BE CODED FOR THAT Blu-ray REGION ONLY! (Africa, Southwest Asia, Europe - except Russia and Kazakhstan - Oceania and their dependencies.)

I was only sent the first disc - hence, this is all I can review at this point. The full listing of disc two is above. Detail on the single-layered BFI  Blu-ray is as good as we expected. It towers above the new Criterion in that regard. It looks quite stunning although I did detect some edge enhancement (see below) in certain outdoor scenes. There is still some noise but I also see grain. The big difference is in the color scheme. Directly beside the Criterion - that edition look to have been boosted with the BFI showing a much softer palette. I prefer this more subdued look, which I suspect is more accurate, but I'd like to do some further analysis this weekend perhaps simultaneous viewings toggling back and forth between the 2 transfers. I'm sure I'll get abundant advice on which is more 'true' in email.

The BFI Blu-ray has the missing scene (see capture #6 - 25-second sequence during the first wedding ceremony, where one of the masters quotes a poem by Gottfried Benn) and the UK Blu-ray has an immediate option for the English credit sequence (as well as that DUB).

Extras include the 6:54 Death of Pasolini featurette that some may find as bewildering as the man himself. This is presented in HD - 1080P resolution. There is also an Italian trailer in HD (4:09).

I will post more as soon as I have some of that rare commodity; time.