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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(aka "Autumn Sonata" or "Herbstsonate" or "Sonate d'automne" or "Höstsonaten")
A stunning union of two of Sweden’s national treasures, Autumn Sonata pairs Ingmar Bergman with Ingrid Bergman for their only joint effort. Ingrid plays a mother who, after forsaking her family for a music career, attempts a reconciliation with her oldest daughter (Liv Ullmann) through a night of painful revelation. Sven Nykvist contributes glorious Eastmancolor cinematography to this quietly beautiful story of forgiveness. *****
Ingrid Bergman was a juror at Cannes in 1973, when Ingmar Bergman's "Cries and
Whispers" won a Technical Award. Ingrid coyly slips a piece of paper in Ingmar's
pocket reminding him he had promised to do a film with her. Four years later
that was to come to fruition with the brutally honest, emotionally powerful
production, Autumn Sonata. |
Posters
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Theatrical Release: October - 1978
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Continental Home Video - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Criterion (2018- Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Big thanks to Andrey Diment for the Region 0 - PAL DVD screen captures!
Box Covers |
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Distribution |
Criterion Collection - Spine # 60 Region 0 - NTSC |
Continental Home Video Region 0 - NTSC |
Criterion Collection - Spine #60 Region 'A' -Blu-ray |
Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:32:36 | 1:32:24 | 1:34:05.848 | 1:33:17.383 |
Video |
1.66:1 Original Aspect Ratio |
1.66:1 Original Aspect Ratio |
1.66:1 - 1080P
Dual-layered
Blu-ray
Disc Size: 48,389,502,515 bytes Feature: 19,828,672,512 bytes Video Bitrate: 23.99 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
1.66:1 - 1080P
Dual-layered
Blu-ray
Disc Size: 50,001,155,718 bytesFeature: 22,664,730,624 bytesVideo Bitrate: 28.11 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate:
Criterion
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Bitrate:
Continental
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Bitrate
Original Criterion
Blu-ray
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"Ingmar Bergman's Cinema" Criterion Blu-ray
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Audio | Swedish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), English (Dubbed) (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) |
Swedish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) |
LPCM Audio Swedish 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz /
1152 kbps / 24-bit DUB: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps |
LPCM Audio Swedish 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz /
1152 kbps / 24-bit DUB: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps |
Subtitles | English, and none | English, Spanish, Portuguese and none | English, and none | English, and none |
Features |
Release Information:
Chapters 23
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Release Information: Studio: Continental Home Video Aspect Ratio: Edition Details:
• Main feature - 1.32.26
• Original trailer - 0.02.22
• Biographies
DVD
Release Date: ? Chapters 12 |
Release Information:
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 - 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 48,389,502,515 bytes Feature: 19,828,672,512 bytes Video Bitrate: 23.99 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Blu-ray
Release Date: September 17th, 2013 Chapters 18 |
Release Information: Studio: Criterion 1.66:1 - 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 50,001,155,718 bytesFeature: 22,664,730,624 bytesVideo Bitrate: 28.11 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details:
• Introduction by director Ingmar Bergman from 2003
(6:21)
Custom Blu-ray Case Chapters 18 |
Comments: |
NOTE: These Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.
The new Criterion Blu-ray of Autumn Sonata is part of their Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema 100th Anniversary 30 Blu-ray Boxset (reviewed, as a work in-progress, HERE). It appears to be from a different source than the original 2013 Blu-ray by Criterion. It starts with this:
Which states it is from the original 35mm negative. It is cited as a "New 2K digital film restoration". As I commented below, I had always assumed the film to have earthy, autumnal, tones and beside this new, more technically robust, 1080P transfer the 2013 Blu-ray looks boosted. The vibrant colors of the original HD transfer are unnaturally bright and although they can look very appealing, I think this newer rendering exports a more authentic video presentation in representing the original. The old hi-def transfer looks horizontally stretched and has less detail in most scenes. "Darker is almost always more correct" was told to me by a very reliable source, years ago. I'm not trying to defend one visual preference over the other. I have no idea what the film looked like theatrically. I can state that the new, darker, occasionally green, image presentation gives a different expression to this film - and I would say it is even more impacting. Your opinion, after seeing it, may differ. The audio and extras are the same as the original Criterion Blu-ray, but the new transfer is on a Region FREE Blu-ray disc. NOTE: I have not been able to find out why the 2013 Blu-ray running time is almost 50 seconds longer although it does start with different logos that are displayed for a longer time before the film title appears. If we investigate further and find anything - we will post it here.
NOTE:
Yes, as has been leaked, we can now confirm that
this
Blu-ray
set is Region FREE! ***
ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
(August 2013): Firstly, while I remember, the original Criterion
non-anamorphic DVD, had the English title card where this Blu-ray
has the Swedish. The DVDs had a very earthy tone which I presumed
was correct - but the new 1080P shows blue-leaning with greens and
reds becoming vibrant while flesh tones cool. The DVDs look horribly
faded beside the Blu-ray
which tightens incredibly showcasing impressive detail in the many
close-ups. Texture is also evident and is even and consistent. It is
such a different look that it was like viewing the film, one of my
favorite (in my Top 10 for many years), for the first time. I was
seeing things that I never had before in SD. This is from a new 2K
digital film restoration and Autumn Sonata desperately comes
to life in your home theater!
The original Swedish audio (some English) gets the lossless treatment
with a monaural linear PCM track. Dialogue remains perfectly clear.
Criterion include the same Dolby English DUB as found on their 2000
DVD. I've never listened to it. There are optional subtitles on the
region 'A'-locked Blu-ray
disc.
Criterion's extras are some of the most abundant for any package this year. The film is about 1.5 hours and the extras total almost 4.5 hours not even including the excellent audio commentary featuring Bergman expert Peter Cowie (author of Ingmar Bergman: A Critical Biography). For starters Criterion have included an introduction by director Ingmar Bergman excerpted from the summer of 2003 interview conducted by reporter Marie Nyrerod for SVT Svensk Television - it runs 6.5 minutes. We get The Making of “Autumn Sonata,” a three-and-a-half-hour program examining every aspect of the production. It charts the process of bringing the film to the screen, from the extensive rehearsals with cast and crew to the actual shooting of the film. It runs almost 3.5 hours and is informal - great footage here for Bergman fans! It takes up more disc space than the feature! There is a new 20-minute interview with actor Liv Ullmann shot in 2013 by Criterion in New York - she discusses working with Bergman. Included is a 1981 conversation between actor Ingrid Bergman and critic John Russell Taylor at the National Film Theatre in London. It is interesting and runs 40-minutes. A trailer is added as well as a liner notes booklet featuring an essay by critic Farran Smith Nehme.
I couldn't wait to watch and review this as it is such a favorite film. Ullmann may give one of the great performances in all of film. It shatters me. Our highest, and strongest, recommendation for this Blu-ray! *** ON THE DVDs: Neither are anamorphic, but the colors in the Continental seem faded and washed out. Colors in this film are a keynote to the tone. This is a very easy decision. Criterion offers an English dub as well as the Swedish original track and a commentary. Criterion all the way.
NOTE: From Luiz Felipe do Vale Tavares:
This company from
Brazil, Continental, makes all their DVDs from imported ones, like
Criterion, Image, Kino etc. So, all Continental's DVDs are
bootlegs. They use, for example, a Criterion DVD, record all
content on an analog Beta tape and send this tape for authoring. The
authoring company receives the analog Beta tape and, believing it to
be an authorized copy, makes the DVD.
Continental can't just
extract the VOB files from the original DVD because the authoring
companies won't accept it, because it's a clear illegal act. But now
almost everyone knows what Continental is doing and it's facing a lot
of lawsuits here in Brazil. It won't last too long. Maybe it will go
into bankruptcy by the end of the year.
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Menus
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0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Continental Home Video - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)
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Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
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Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920 X 1080 RESOLUTION
Blu-ray Subtitle Samples
1) Criterion (original 2013) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Criterion (original 2013) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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Screen Captures
1) Criterion- Region 0 - NTSC - TOP2) Continental Home Video - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND 3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - THIRD 4) Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Criterion- Region 0 - NTSC - TOP2) Continental Home Video - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND 3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - THIRD 4) Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Criterion- Region 0 - NTSC - TOP2) Continental Home Video - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND 3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - THIRD 4) Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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More Blu-ray Captures
1) Criterion (original 2013) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Criterion (original 2013) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Criterion (original 2013) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Criterion (original 2013) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Criterion (original 2013) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Criterion (original 2013) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Criterion (original 2013) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Criterion (original 2013) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Criterion (original 2013) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Criterion (original 2013) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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Box Covers |
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Distribution |
Criterion Collection - Spine # 60 Region 0 - NTSC |
Continental Home Video Region 0 - NTSC |
Criterion Collection - Spine #60 Region 'A' -Blu-ray |
Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) - Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Report Card:
Image: |
Criterion (Ingmar Bergman's Cinema) Blu-ray |
Sound: |
Criterion Blu-rays |
Extras: | Criterion Blu-rays |