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

From BFI: 'After the release of our Dual Format Edition of Yasujiro Ozu’s An Autumn Afternoon we became aware that the Blu-ray Disc was encoded at a lower bit-rate than we would normally insist upon. In response to this, we have re-authored and re-pressed the project, and replacement discs are now available. If you are dissatisfied with the quality of the original Blu-ray Disc and would like a replacement, please contact Ben.Stoddart@bfi.org.uk giving details of your name and address and a new disc will be sent to you.'

Everything else about the package is the same - the audio, extras etc. The original Blu-ray was, as we described 'not be the most robust' it has more noise than the replacement which transfers at almost double the bitrate. This is more evident in the expanded captures and for those with more advanced systems. We applaud BFI as one of the few distributors who would correct such inconsistencies by offering a replacement - going to such lengths to satisfy the consumer.

***

ADDITION: BFI Dual-format package - May 2011: The BFI has been doing a solid job on their Ozu Blu-ray transfers - see Late Spring + The Only Son, Tokyo Story, Early Summer, Good Morning and There Was a Father and coming out now we have An Autumn Afternoon and Late Autumn. While this particular transfer may not be the most robust of the above group - it still exemplifies significant film qualities over the SD counterparts (including the pictureboxed Criterion) with rich textured grain and tighter lines. The file size on the single-layered disc is, like the bitrate, modest but the image produced in 1080P is still thick and pleasing.

The audio is via a linear PCM track that supports the dialogue-driven film well enough, I sometimes noted a disconnect in voice-sync but I had to focus pretty hard to identify it. It didn't affect my presentation to the negative. There are optional English subtitles on the region 'B'-locked disc.

There are no extras on the Blu-ray disc itself but the package includes a DVD of An Autumn Afternoon and a Ozu's A Hen in the Wind is also available in SD. Many should find value in the 22-page illustrated booklet featuring essays and film notes by Kyoko Hirano and Jonathan Rosenbaum. Ozu fans shouldn't think twice - an easy recommendation to those with discerning home theater tastes.

***

ADDITION: Criterion - September 08': Technically the disc is progressive and dual-layered (where the Panorama is single) and the Criterion is again pictureboxed transferred (see our full description of 'pictureboxing' in our Kind Hearts and Coronets review) with a black border circumventing the framed image. The Criterion is coded for Region 1 in the NTSC standard.

Criterion occasionally get complaints from some who are convinced that they attempt to 'correct' the greenish tinge of many older Asian films. We can again see the Panorama as having that green bias where it does not show on the U.S. release. Not surprisingly the Criterion transfer appears to have boosted the black levels a small degree and detail is brought up a notch. Contrast also leans to the Criterion with more pure and brighter whites. The Criterion may have a smidgeon less information in the frame (side and more on the top edges) but the bigger issues will be that the Madman is from an unconverted NTSC source (on a PAL disc) and the subtitles on the Panorama are ineffectual. NOTE: The Criterion subtitle translation seems slightly different than the Madman one - in many spots.

As a supplements Criterion offer a validating commentary by David Bordwell who is a pleasure to listen to plus there is an interesting 15-minute excerpt from "Yasujiro Ozu and The Taste of Sake," a 1978 French television program looking back on Ozu's career, featuring critics Michel Ciment and Georges Perec. With the commentary this extras perhaps equal or exceed the Madman's 2 hour 'I Lived But..." documentary which also appears on the second disc of the Criterion Tokyo Story. Criterion have some trailers and a 30-page liner notes booklet featuring new essays by film critic Geoff Andrew and film scholar Donald Richie.

So, the Criterion is the one to own for fans of the director. An easy and predictable choice.    

Gary W. Tooze

ADDITION- Madman Region 4- PAL (May 2006): The video on the Madman release is an interlaced NTSC to PAL conversion. However, unlike the extremely poor subtitles on the Panorama disc, the Madman release features the official translation from Shochiku. These proper subtitles alone are reason enough for me to highly recommend the Madman release over the Panorama. (The subtitle sample below doesn't do the Madman justice)

NOTE: Another huge bonus is the 2 hour documentary 'I Lived But...' from 1983. It discusses the life and career of Yasujiro Ozu.

 - Geert Jan

***

Though still signs of being non-progressive (combing in horizontal pans) this DVD image is quite strong. Relative sharpness, great skin-tones and vibrant colors. On the typical bad side for Panorama the subtitles are quite poor - lots of absentee gaps and extremely poor grammatical choices. At times the image quality is quite breathtaking for a probable analog sourced transfer. Decent contrast and black levels with no recognizable digital manipulations. Extras are the same as always (text screen bios and filmography) This is a good stop-gap until someone (Criterion?) releases it in a keeper edition.  

Gary W. Tooze