"A Scene at the Sea" Image Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Panorama - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Chinese Bootleg Region 2

(aka "Ano natsu, ichiban shizukana umi" or "A Scene at the Sea")

directed by Takeshi Kitano
Japan 1991

After having made two films for Shochiku Fuji, Kitano left and made his own production company. Having a limited budget, Kitano created a minimalist tale, sparse in locations and dialogue, about a deaf mute boy who wants to surf. As the limited budget also meant little post production, Kitano turned this into an advantage, using the long takes to study compositions in space (long shots vs. close ups) and time, thus reducing the editing process.

A notable element is that Kitano isn’t present in the film. The problem was that the general audience wouldn’t accept him as serious actor - he is Beat Takeshi, the comedian – and began to laugh whenever he appeared on screen. While he joked about maybe playing a yakuza beach bum, he remained off screen. The public point of view still affects him to this date. He is, and will always be, his greatest critic.

It was also the first film where Kitano worked with minimalist composer extraordinaire Jô Hisaishi, who went on to win an Japanese Academy Award for best score; The film got nominated for best film, screenplay, editing and direction, but Kitano was ignored. But where the Academy chose to ignore him, others didn’t: At the 13th Yokohama Film Festival, Kitano won best directorial award. out of

Henrik Sylow

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Theatrical Release: October 19th, 1991 - Japan

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DVD Comparison:

Image Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Panorama - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Chinese Bootleg Region 2 - NTSC

Big thanks to the Fred Patton for the Panoram and Bootleg Screen Captures!

(Image Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Panorama - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Chinese Bootleg - Region 2- NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
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Distribution	Image Entertainment Region 1 - NTSC	Panorama Entertainment Region 0 - NTSC	Chinese Bootleg Region 2 - NTSC
Runtime	1:40:30	1:40:18	1:40:33
Video	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.87 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.43 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.65 NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s
Bitrate: Image NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Panorama
Bitrate: Chinese Bootleg
Audio	Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0)	Japanese (Dolby Digital 5.1) Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0)	Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles	English, and none	English, Chinese and none	English, Chinese and None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Image Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Widescreen - 1.85:1 Edition Details: None DVD Release Date: December 12, 2000 Keep Case Chapters 15	Release Information: Studio: Panorama (HK) Aspect Ratio: Widescreen - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Filmography DVD Release Date: September 17th, 2002 Keep Case Chapters 12	Release Information: Bootlegged from: Chinese Bootleg Visuals Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Edition Details: • None DVD Release Date: May 25th, 1999 Plastic sleeves inside Boxset Chapters 10 This release of Scene is part of a 10-disc Kitano Box for sale in China, so Chinese and English subtitles have been added. You would need to find it from a Chinese etailer. My copy was brought back from China rather than purchased online, so I'll have to look for an etailer and post the link.
Comments:	NOTE: The Bandai labeled DVD is a Chinese Bootleg. The anamorphic Chinese Bootleg image quality is easily the best of the three - with both the Image and Panorama showing signs of saturation. Actually they look to be from the same print (similar bitrate peaks and valleys) - with slightly off-kilter framing. The Panorama has a choice of original sound or bumped to 5.1 . None of the edition have any Extra Features aside from a Filmography on the Panorama. I personally prefer the subtitles on the Chinese Bootleg and this is the edition we are recommending. - *Gary W. Tooze* Bandai has only made one boxset of Kitano's film. It was a 9 DVD set called "Kitano Takeshi Kantoku Zenshu" (Complete works of Kitano Takeshi), released January 25 2001, as "Brother" was released theatricly in Japan. The set consists of Kitano's 8 film (Violent Cop to Kikujiro), a special 9th DVD called "Brother Special" with interviews and trailers, and a booklet about all films. All the 9 DVDs are in 16:9 OAR (1,85:1) and has both Japanese and English subtitles. *Henrik Sylow of http://www.kitanotakeshi.com/*

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(Image Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Panorama - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Chinese Bootleg - Region 2- NTSC - RIGHT)