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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(aka "Nijushi no hitomi" or "Twenty-Four Eyes")
directed by
Keisuke Kinoshita
Japan 1954
Keisuke
Kinoshita’s Twenty-Four Eyes (Nijushi no hitomi) is an elegant, emotional
chronicle of a teacher’s unwavering commitment to her students, her profession,
and her sense of morality. Set in a remote, rural island community and spanning
decades of Japanese history, from 1928 through World War II and beyond,
Kinoshita’s film takes a simultaneously sober and sentimental look at the epic
themes of aging, war, and death, all from the lovingly intimate perspective of
Hisako Oshi (Hideko Takamine), as she watches her pupils grow and deal with
life’s harsh realities. Though little known in the United States, Twenty-Four
Eyes is one of Japan’s most popular and enduring classics. *** "A marvelous film chronicling twenty years in the life of a young schoolteacher and her pupils on a remote Japanese island beginning in 1928. The "24 eyes" are her twelve 6-year-old pupils living in a quiet and peaceful Inland Sea village whose harmony is shattered by the war. The schoolteacher is forced to resign when books she believes are good for the children are rejected as "Red" literature. War sees most of the boys going off to fight and the girls living in poverty. Not a dry eye in the house. Presented in a very simple and touching style, Kinoshita goes all out to show how war affects those that are left behind. The long timeframe in which the film plays out adds to the cumulative power of the story. Although little known to foreign audiences and critics, the back of the DVD box argues that Kinoshita was more well known and successful in Japan than Kurosawa or Mizoguchi." |
Theatrical Release: September 14th, 1954 - Japan
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Comparison:
Panorama Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Eureka (Masters of Cinema) - Region 2 - NTSC |
1) Panorama Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT2) Criterion - Region 1- NTSC - MIDDLE 3) Eureka (Masters of Cinema ) - Region 2 - NTSC RIGHT
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DVD Box Cover |
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Distribution | Panorama (HK) Region 0 - NTSC | Criterion Collection Spine # 442 - Region 1 - NTSC | Eureka (Masters of Cinema) Spine # 18 - Region 1 - NTSC |
Runtime | 2:35:17 | 2:35:55 | 2:36:00 |
Video | 1.33:1.00
Original Aspect Ratio NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
1.33:1.00 Original Aspect Ratio Bitrate: 5.28 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
1.33:1.00
Original Aspect Ratio NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
Audio | Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) | Japanese (Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono) | Japanese (Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono) |
Subtitles | English, Chinese, None | English, None | English, None |
Features |
Edition Details:
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Edition Details:
- Video interview with Japanese cinema historian and critic Tadao Sato
about the film and its director
Release Date: August 19th, 2008
Transparent Keep Case
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Edition Details:
Release Date: February 20th, 2006
Transparent Keep Case
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Comments: |
ADDITION: The Criterion is
pictureboxed transferred
(see
our full description of 'pictureboxing' in our
Kind Hearts and Coronets review) with a black border
circumventing the framed image. It looks to have been digitally
cleaned and the manipulation of contrast appears to have removed
some detail from the image. So the Masters of Cinema shows more
scratches/dirt/blemishes but also looks sharper to me. I believe I
like the appearance better - this is a personal choice and others
may disagree. I don't think too many can deny the Criterion looks
softer.
Criterion have included a new video interview with Japanese cinema historian and critic Tadao Sato about the film and its director. It's an insightful 20 minutes and it gives Criterion the edge in supplements. Both offer good liner notes booklets. Although listening to the mono Japanese audio on both UK and US editions didn't produce any different results to my ear - scrutinizing the subtitles did. Now I didn't compare the entire film's translation, but in my observation the Criterion subtitles seem a bit more detailed (see sample below). I know the film fairly well, so I don't know how different this would make to a first time viewer but I will state there is some, often slight, variation in the translations. I love this film... more each time I see it. It brings me to tears and no matter which edition you desire most - we strongly encourage viewing this film. Now.
ON THE Masters of Cinema: Not much of a comparison - the Eureka/MoC image is far superior in every area. The film is damaged and Panorama's contrast boosting has only made that more visible. I suspect Eureka may have slightly boosted the blacks to hide the same scratches (which unfortunately still exist). The Japanese are notorious for their poor storage of films and I image this is the best this hidden masterpiece will look. The Eureka Production Stills Gallery shows some breathtaking quality images and the booklet is another wonderful appointed keepsake. A big thanks to MoC boys for bringing us this exceptional film in a state-of-the-art digital presentation. NOTE: This film has a great little cameo by Ozu regular CHISHU RYU! |
Recommended Reading for Japanese Film Fans (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
The Japan Journals : 1947-2004, by Donald Richie |
The Midnight Eye Guide to New Japanese Film by Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp |
Kon Ichikawa (Cinematheque Ontario Monographs) by James Quandt, Cinematheque Ontario |
Shohei Imamura (Cinematheque
Ontario Monographs, No. 1) by James Quandt |
Eros Plus Massacre: An
Introduction to the Japanese New Wave Cinema
(Midland Book, Mb 469) by David Desser |
The Films of Akira Kurosawa by Donald Ritchie |
Ozu by Donald Richie |
A Hundred Years of Japanese Film by Donald Richie |
Check out more in "The Library"
DVD Menus
Criterion
(Panorama Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT vs. Eureka (Masters of Cinema ) - Region 2 - NTSC RIGHT)
Subtitle Sample
1) Criterion - Region 1- NTSC - TOP2) Eureka (Masters of Cinema ) - Region 2 - NTSC BOTTOM
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Screen Captures
1) Panorama Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC TOP2) Criterion - Region 1- NTSC - MIDDLE 3) Eureka (Masters of Cinema ) - Region 2 - NTSC BOTTOM
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1) Panorama Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC TOP2) Criterion - Region 1- NTSC - MIDDLE 3) Eureka (Masters of Cinema ) - Region 2 - NTSC BOTTOM
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1) Panorama Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC TOP2) Criterion - Region 1- NTSC - MIDDLE 3) Eureka (Masters of Cinema ) - Region 2 - NTSC BOTTOM
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1) Panorama Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC TOP2) Criterion - Region 1- NTSC - MIDDLE 3) Eureka (Masters of Cinema ) - Region 2 - NTSC BOTTOM
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1) Panorama Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC TOP2) Criterion - Region 1- NTSC - MIDDLE 3) Eureka (Masters of Cinema ) - Region 2 - NTSC BOTTOM
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Report Card:
Image: |
Eureka |
Sound: |
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Extras: | Criterion |
Menu: | Eureka / Criterion |
DVD Box Cover |
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|
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Distribution | Panorama (HK) Region 0 - NTSC | Criterion Collection Spine # 442 - Region 1 - NTSC | Eureka (Masters of Cinema) Spine # 18 - Region 1 - NTSC |
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