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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka 'A Distant Cry from Spring' or 'Haruka naru yama no yobigoe')

directed by Yôji Yamada
Japan 19
80

Yoji Yamada, famous in his native Japan and all but unknown in the west, creates another memorable and touching drama with reminiscences to "Shane". A mysterious stranger seeks meager employment from a farm widow and her son. The attractive motherf (played by Yamada regular Chieko Baisho, see The Village) is a hark worker and respects that her handsome new employee (Ken Takakura also seen in Yamada's The Yellow Handkerchief) is of the same mold. As time progresses both unveil details of their past while at the same time bonding with each other as the quiet drifter fills in as a father figure for the young son. Another near masterpiece!  out of    

Gary W. Tooze

Theatrical Release: September 9th, 1980 - Toronto Film Festival

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DVD Review: Panorama - Region 3 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover

   

The DVD only appears to be available in the boxset now - listed below, but is also available on 2 VCDs (not recommended)

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

 

Only available in the 5-disc Yamada Yoji Collection which includes - A Distant Cry from Spring, Home from the Sea, The Village, Final Take and The Yellow Handkerchief..

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

Available in the 5-disc Yamada Boxset:

   

Distribution Panorama Entertainment - Region 3 - NTSC
Runtime 2:03:20 
Video 1.81:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 4.68 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s 

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

Bitrate:

Audio Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles English, Chinese, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Panorama Entertainment

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 1.29:1

Edition Details:

• Directors Biography (text screens)
• Director's filmography (text screens)

• Collectable handbill with production notes (in English and Chinese)

DVD Release Date: March 28th, 2005
(Boxset)
Keep Case
Chapters: 12

 

 

 

Comments:

I suspect the DVD has been cropped from a widescreen ratio, but I have nothing to compare it to (IMdb says 2.35!). Non-progressive (lots of bad combing) and non-anamorphic. Best suited for tube viewing, but it is really a shame as this is another strong melodramatic, and award winning, effort from Yamada. . The subtitles are generally acceptable and superior than many of the others that I have seen from Panorama. The aspect ratio may be unforgivable to some but, as I keep stating, I would otherwise not have been able to see this film at all. 

Gary W. Tooze

 





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Subtitle Sample

 

 


 

Screen Captures

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 

DVD Box Cover

   

The DVD only appears to be available in the boxset now - listed below, but is also available on 2 VCDs (not recommended)

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

 

Only available in the 5-disc Yamada Yoji Collection which includes - A Distant Cry from Spring, Home from the Sea, The Village, Final Take and The Yellow Handkerchief..

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

Available in the 5-disc Yamada Boxset:

   

Distribution Panorama Entertainment - Region 3 - NTSC




 

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