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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Dogura magura" or "ドグラ・マグラ" or "Dogra Magra")

 

Directed by Toshio Matsumoto
Japan 1988

 

A man wakes in an asylum with no memory. Dr. Wakabayashi helps him to recall his past in which he killed his bride on their wedding day. Part of his memory becomes linked to another doctor, Dr. Masaki, and a manuscript, Dogra Magra. As the two doctors treat him, reality and fantasy become blurred and the patient becomes unsure of his identity or his doctors’ experiments. The final feature film by Toshio Matsumoto (Funeral Parade of Roses) is an adaptation of the celebrated novel by Kyusaku Yumeno, a period set gothic tale with a sense of dreamy dread that recalls Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Cure and the locked room mystery of Shutter Island. A stunningly shot phantasmagoria by Tatsuo Suzuki (Pastoral: To Die in the Country), Dogra Magra is presented on Blu-ray for the first time outside of Japan.

***

A young man kills his bride on the day of his marriage and goes insane. He wakes up in an asylum with no memory, left in the hands of two mysterious doctors who relate his condition with his biological identity.

Posters

Theatrical Release: February 20th, 1988 (Berlin International Film Festival)

Reviews                              More Reviews                    DVD Reviews

 

Review: Radiance - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover

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Bonus Captures:

Distribution Radiance - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:49:09.709         
Video

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 39,467,249,654 bytes

Feature: 32,017,014,336 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.75 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

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

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

LPCM Audio Japanese 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio Japanese 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -30dB

Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Radiance

 

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 39,467,249,654 bytes

Feature: 32,017,014,336 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.75 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

Audio commentary by director Toshio Matsumoto (2003)
Interview with Toshio Matsumoto (2003, 21:23)
Dogra Magra Through the Eyes of Tatsuo Suzuki - A visual essay by programmer and curator Julian Ross (2024 - 13:26)
Instructions on Ahodara Sutra (a popular Japanese chant delivered by Dr. Masaki in the film) by legendary street performer Hiroshi Sakano (16:19)
Trailer (2:03)
Gallery of rare sketches by production designer Takeo Kimura, newly scanned from the originals for this release
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow
Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by Hirofumi Sakamoto, president of the Postwar Japan Moving Image Archive and author Jasper Sharp on screenwriter Atsushi Yamatoya plus an interview with producer Shuji Shibata and Matsumoto’s director’s statement


Blu-ray Release Date: October 28th, 2024

Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 12

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Radiance Blu-ray (October 2024): Radiance have transferred Toshio Matsumoto's Dogra Magra to Blu-ray. The film looks quite impressive in 1080P with a high level of detail complimented by the fine film grain. There are some imaginative sequences where color and contrast are well-supported. This look great on my system with a very few speckles noted.

NOTE: We have added 52 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Radiance use a linear PCM 2.0 channel track (24-bit) in the original Japanese language. Dogra Magra has a few aggressive moments although depth is modest. The film's music was by pianist prodigy Haruna Miyake who attended Juilliard (this was her only film credit.) She combines Japanese and Western influences occasionally using traditional Japanese instruments for a nice mix suiting the film. The audio is as clean as the video and was consistent in the lossless transfer. Radiance offer optional English subtitles (for the film and commentary) on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Radiance Blu-ray include, what is now, a 21-year old commentary by the director Toshio Matsumoto. It is in Japanese with optional English subtitles. He talks about the source novel by imaginative author Yumeno Kyūsaku who was known for his avant-garde and surrealistic leanings. It was published in 1935. Toshio states his interpretations as well as production-level details. There is a lot there for those keen to indulge. There is also an archival interview, also from 2003, with director Matsumoto reflecting on the making of Dogra Magra. Radiance include a new visual essay by curator and scholar Julian Ross who looks at Dogra Magra and the importance of its cinematographer, Tatsuo Suzuki. It runs shy of 1/4 hour and is entitled Dogra Magra Through the Eyes of Tatsuo Suzuki. There is also 16-minutes of behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage with legendary street performer Hiroshi Sakano giving the producers of Dogra Magra and director Toshio Matsumoto a demonstration on how to authentically perform Ahodara Sutra, the popular Japanese chant performed in the film by Dr. Masaki. Scanned exclusively for this release are sketches by production designer Takeo Kimura (Zigeunerweisen) showing five key sets and how they would be utilized in the film. Lastly is a trailer for Dogra Magra. The package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow and a limited edition booklet featuring new writing by Hirofumi Sakamoto (The Relationship of Art and Tecnology), president of the 'Postwar Japan Moving Image Archive' and Jasper Sharp (author of the Historical Dictionary of Japanese Cinema and Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema) on screenwriter Atsushi Yamatoya (Branded to Kill, Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter) plus an interview with producer Shuji Shibata and Matsumoto’s director’s statement. 

Toshio Matsumoto's Dogra Magra is... complex and fairly dense dealing with an amnesiac's lost identity, mysterious secrets, philosophy - infused with elements of horror - hallucinations and dark dreams. It was reflective of the time period in Japan when it was penned with sweeping cultural changes taking hold. Like the source novel it is in an avant-garde style surrounding complex themes, so Dogra Magra is challenging and not suitable to all tastes. I couldn't help but think of the director's style in Funeral Parade of Roses. I appreciated the supplements on the Radiance Blu-ray and seeing the film that may require repeat viewings. Odd and fascinating cinema. To each their own.

Gary Tooze

 


Menus / Extras

 


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Japanese Commentary subtitle sample

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


Examples of NSFW (Not Safe For Work) Blu-ray - (Mouse Over - click to enlarge)

 


 

More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE

 

 

 
Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

  

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Radiance - Region FREE - Blu-ray


 


 

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