WE NEED YOUR HELP!

We have started a Patreon page with the hopes that some of our followers would be willing to donate to keep DVDBeaver alive. We are a small niche, so your generosity is vital to our existence.

To those that are unfamiliar, Patreon is a secure/verified third-party service where users can agree to a monthly donation via credit card or PayPal by clicking the button below.

 


 

Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka 'Higanbana' or 'Equinox Flower')

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/direct-chair/ozu.htm
Japan 1958

 

Yasujiro Ozu's first colour film, Equinox Flower is a deft comedy that takes an ironic glance at the decline of paternal authority. Shin Saburi plays Wataru Hirayama, an old-fashioned father whose outwardly liberal views on marriage are severely tested when his daughter tells him she wants a love-match. Outwitted and outflanked by his wily female relatives Hirayama stubbornly refuses to admit defeat. The director s playful use of colour, poetry and arch humour combine to make this tale of old versus new at once deeply moving and razor-sharp.

***

Another close examination of family life, Ozu's first, gorgeous colour film is presented from the viewpoint of the younger generation. Focusing on a modern young woman (Fujiko Yamamoto) who wishes to choose her husband over her father's objections, Ozu opens an age-old discussion on respect for the beliefs and values of elders and the tensions spawned by youthful rebellion. As the father is slowly won over, the entire family is subjected to Ozu's gentle irony and loving detail. The colour enhances the tone and mood of the film and showcases Yamamoto's famous beauty. The film begins and ends ironically on the railway - first with a warning sign 'strong winds expected', finally with a train gliding into a blissful autumn afternoon, all parties reconciled.

From http://www.ozuyasujiro.com/

Posters

Theatrical Release: September 7th, 1958

Reviews                                                                        More Reviews                                                          DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Panorama Entertainment - Region 3 - NTSC vs. Tartan (Ozu Volume 3) - Region 2 - PAL vs. BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

1) Panorama - Region 3 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Tartan - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE

3) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - RIGHT

 

DVD Box Cover

 

Thinking of buying from YesAsia? CLICK HERE and use THIS UPDATED BEAVER PAGE to source their very best...

Distribution Panorama Entertainment (HK) - Region 3 - NTSC

Tartan

Region 2 - PAL

BFI

Region 'B'  - Blu-ray

Runtime 1:57:24  1:53:05 (4% PAL speedup) 1:57:34.250
Video 1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 4.66 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 7.51 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 44,031,829,529 bytes

Feature: 25,260,834,816 bytes

Video Bitrate: 24.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

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

Bitrate: Panorama

Bitrate: Tartan

Bitrate: Blu-ray

Audio Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0)  2.0 Dolby Digital Japanese Mono LPCM Audio Japanese 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles English, Chinese, None English, None English, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Panorama (Hong Kong)

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:

• Director Filmography
• Director Bio (text screens)
• 8-page small liner notes with same above (dual langueages)

DVD Release Date: April 4th, 2005

Keep Case
Chapters: 12

Release Information:
Studio: Tartan

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Restoration featurette (3:43)
• Trailer (1:54)

• Liner notes by Doug Cummings

DVD Release Date: April 24, 2006
Slimcase

Chapters 16 

Release Information:
Studio: BFI.

 

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 44,031,829,529 bytes

Feature: 25,260,834,816 bytes

Video Bitrate: 24.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
 

Edition Details:

• Standard Definition and High Definition presentations of Equinox Flower and There Was a Father (DVD & Blu-ray)
• Fully illustrated booklet features newly commissioned sleevenote essays by Asian cinema expert Tony Rayns

 

Blu-ray Release Date: January 17th, 2011

Standard Blu-ray case

Chapters 12

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were obtained directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: BFI Region 'B' Blu-ray January 11'': The BFI Blu-ray transfer looks very good. It advances extensively over both DVDs. This was Ozu's first color film and this marks one of the major improvements. Skin tones tell a lot between the Tartan and the 1080P BFI rendering. The BFI has stronger blues and shows more information in the frame. Contrast is superior as well on the hi-def visuals. There is some very consistent grain visible and while not a perfect image - it is, by far, the best we have seen digitally. I was very impressed with the appearance as it was far beyond my expectations.

Audio is lossless and another improvement and the optional subtitle translations seem excellent. My Momitsu has identified it as being a region 'B'-locked.

The disc includes another Ozu masterpiece, There Was a Father , in 1080P (compared HERE) as well the package contains standard definition versions of both films on a separate DVD and a fully illustrated booklet featuring newly commissioned sleevenote essays by Asian cinema expert Tony Rayns.

I'm so very glad to own these Ozu films on Blu-ray. When we reviewed the Panorama DVD many years ago - who would have ever thought we would be able to see it so dramatically improved in comfort of our own home theater. Strongly recommended!

***

ON THE TARTAN: Comparing: The Tartan is far less green than the Panorama (which may not be a good thing) but it does look better - superior in both contrast and detail. The big bonus is that the subtitles are vastly better than the Panorama. The Tartan is the definitive version at present.

ON THE PANORAMA: This is the 'Ozu Yasujiro: 100th Anniversary Collection 8 - Equinox Flower'. Nothing particularly new from Panorama - I do think this may be one of the best image quality DVDs of the set so far. It's damn fine. Still the slight green filter, but very sharp and colors look grand. Same troubles over subtitles - either spelling, grammar or slightly awkward - but it is fairly infrequent. Same extras as in others - text Director Bio' and 'Filmography' screens. I hope the upcoming Tartan Boxset (Box # 3)release equals or eclipses the visual and I am sure they will better the subtitles. Audio was soft (almost faint) and had a few hiss', but otherwise acceptable. Great film value - here's hoping Criterion does it with all the trimmings.  Colleagues may think this rating is generous, but at least they were first released with English subs -  out of   

Gary W. Tooze


 Menus

 

1) Panorama - Region 3 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Tartan - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT


BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Subtitle Sample

 

1) Panorama - Region 3 - NTSC - TOP

2) Tartan - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE

3) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


1) Panorama - Region 3 - NTSC - TOP

2) Tartan - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE

3) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


1) Panorama - Region 3 - NTSC - TOP

2) Tartan - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE

3) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


More Blu-ray Captures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DVD Box Cover

 

Thinking of buying from YesAsia? CLICK HERE and use THIS UPDATED BEAVER PAGE to source their very best...

Distribution Panorama Entertainment (HK) - Region 3 - NTSC

Tartan

Region 2 - PAL

BFI

Region 'B'  - Blu-ray

 





 

Hit Counter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

Mail cheques, money orders, cash to:    or CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Thank You!