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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (May 2022): Kino have transferred two Miklós Jancsó features and 7 shorts by the director in a Blu-ray package entitled Two Films by Miklós Jancsó. These are The Round-Up (1966) and The Red and the White (1967) on separate dual-layered Blu-rays. Both features are cited as being "Restored in 4K from its original 35mm camera negative by National Film Institute Hungary – Film Archive". We've compared a few captures from Second Run's DVDs from 2008 and 2006, respectively. The 4K restoration is a monumental upgrade in image quality. The 2008 SD transfer of The Round-Up had visible edge-enhancement. This is no longer visible and the 1080P image is significantly tighter with more layered contrast if having a dampened appearance. It is much shaper if losing a small amount of information on the side edges while gaining some in The Red and the White (1967). Overall these HD presentations are a magnificent improvement. Fans of the director should be extremely pleased with these dramatic upgrades in video.   

NOTE: We have added 58 (26 for The Round-Up and 32 for The Red and the White) more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono tracks (24-bit) for both films in the original Hungarian language. Neither film has a credited score but there is plenty of violence - frequent, often surprising, gunfire. Miklós Jancsó used post-synchronized sound but the audio has seamless continuity. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentaries for each feature. On The Round-Up by film historian Michael Brooke who talks about the non-diegetic music in The Round-Up but Brooke does identify the opening music and Hungarian folk songs in the film (hummed in one scene etc.). He observes that everything in the film is choreographed and ritualized, the geometric shape of dead bodies that would show up in much of the director's future work and his constant exploration of man's power, and the abuse of power, over others. He informs us that Antonioni's La Notte made a big impact on Jancsó and discusses much about Miklós' career, collaborations with cinematographer Tamás Somló, the use of the widescreen frame and much more. It's impeccably researched. On The Red and the White we get a commentary by film historian Jonathan Owen. He analyzes the film very thoroughly elucidating the politics and conflicts in many scenes, the stripping and nudity, referencing the earlier film The Round-Up, it being a Soviet-Hungarian co-production, talking about the duality, the shifting camera etc. It is likewise very worthwhile to indulge in. Kino add seven short films by Miklós Jancsó. There are four on the first disc, with The Round-Up and three on the second Blu-ray that houses The Red and the White. These shorts range from 1953 to 1986. These run 1 3/4 hours in total. These include Jelenlét (Presence) was made in 1965, and runs just over 8-minitues and has János Kende as cinematographer focusing on a decaying synagogue. Második Jelenlét (Second Presence) is from 1978 and runs 10-minutes following a similar theme. Harmadik Jelenlét (Third Presence) is from 1986, and runs 14-minutes. It deals more with the resilience of the Jewish community showing a Rabbi, and others. Both Blu-ray discs have a 'Repertory Trailer' from Kino running 1.5 minutes.

Kino's Two Films by Miklós Jancsó has two masterpieces from the director. These are highly impacting historical film with a heavy emphasis on the character conflicts and moral introspections in the horrors and dehumanization of war. The Round-Up is very highly regarded - ex. “People need to see Jancsó’s really beautiful three or four first movies. The highest mountain is The Round-Up...” Béla Tarr and “No one has tried quite the same thing in the same way, and that is Jancsó’s most formidable legacy” - Derek Malcolm - 100 Greatest Movies. It was also selected as one of Sight & Sound’s ‘Best 365 Films of all Time’. I'm thrilled to own the Kino Blu-ray package which is immensely encouraging for their Miklós Jancsó Collection that includes both of these features and all the shorts plus The Confrontation, Winter Wind, Red Psalm, and Electra, My Love. We should rejoice that these are now available to us in 4K restored 1080P for home theatre viewing. When re-watching these films I am a frequently reminded of the quote; “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” - Voltaire. Both this, Two Films by Miklós Jancsó, and Kino's Miklós Jancsó Collection Blu-ray packages have our absolute highest recommendation!

Gary Tooze