Maborosi - Koreeda

( aka "Maboroshi no hikari" or "Maborosi" )

directed by Hirokazu Koreeda
Japan 1995

Winner of the 1995 Golden Osella award (for best director) at Venice Film Festival, Hirokazu Koreeda's feature-length directorial debut "Maborosi" is a hauntingly beautiful film about a young woman who faces an inexplicable death of her husband. Reminiscent of Yasujiro Ozu's style, Koreeda weaves the story with a minimalist grace. Former model Makiko Esumi's reserved performance as the heroine is quite effective, and leaves a lasting impression.

Posters

Theatrical Release: September 12th, 1995 - Toronto Film Festival

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

DVD Comparison:

Spectrum - Region 0 - NTSC vs. New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Bandai - Region 2 - NTSC

Big thanks to Trond Trondsen of Masters of Cinema.org for all the Screen Caps!

(Spectrum - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT vs. New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Bandai - Region 2 - NTSC - RIGHT)

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Distribution	Spectrum Region 0 - NTSC	New Yorker Films Region 1 - NTSC	Bandai Region 2 - NTSC
Runtime	1:49:08	1:49:04	1:49:24
Video	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 7.29 NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate:?4.91 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.79:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 7.29 NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes
Bitrate: Spectrum .
Bitrate: New Yorker .
Bitrate: Bandai
Audio	Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0)	Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0)	Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles	English, Korean, Japanese and none	English (non-removable)	English, Japanese and none
Features	Release Information: Studio: Spectrum DVD (Korea) Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Trailer • Text screen in Korean . DVD Release Date: May 11th, 2005 Keep Case Chapters 18	Release Information: Studio: New Yorker Films Aspect Ratio: Widescreen - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Trailers for the New Yorker films After Life, Guantanamera, Unmade Beds, and Bitter Sugar • A Kore-eda profile and filmography • American and Japanese trailers • comments on the making of Maborosi DVD Release Date: November 21st, 2000 Keep Case Chapters 11	Release Information: Studio: Bandai Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.79:1 Edition Details: • Mini replica of the rare poster used for the original release of the film • Theatrical trailer • "Making of" Featurette - Esumi san walking around without make-up checking out the locations. DVD Release Date: April 25th, 2003 Keep Case Chapters 17

Comments:

ADDITION: Spectrum - Region 0 - October 2005 - I strongly suspect the Korean DVD as being a direct port of the Bandai with Korean subtitles added. Even the menus are very similar. The Bandai looks slightly more detailed and brighter and the Spectrum has a wide black border around the edge prohibiting full horizontal resolution. Unlike the Bandai the Spectrum does not contain the featurette or the poster but it is about 2/3 the cost. A strong film that we give a high recommendation to!

***

The Bandai DVD easily shows the flaws in the New Yorker which has contrast boosting and the burned in subs are a negative. I also see some slight cropping on the New Yorker release. It is pretty hard to compete with these R2-Japan discs as they are so well done (mostly)... but of course they are more money as well... This is a film that is worthy of the expenditure though and the Extras are kind of neat although they are only in Japanese. Open up your pocketbooks and buy the Bandai release.

- Gary W. Tooze

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

Spectrum - Region 0 - NTSC

(New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Bandai - Region 2 - NTSC - RIGHT)

Subtitle sample