ADDITION: Second Sight 4K UHD (May 2023): Second Sight's have released Peter Weir's "Picnic at Hanging Rock" to 4K UHD in both a limited edition and standard packages. It is described as a "A new Second Sight Films 4K scan and restoration from the original camera negative supervised and approved by Director Peter Weir and Director of Photography Russell Boyd." Both packages include 2 4K UHD discs (Director's and Theatrical Cuts) with HDR (High Dynamic Range.)  The "Limited Edition" includes 2 Blu-rays (making it a 4-disc set), soft-cover book, original novel, art cards etc. A screen prior to both films indicates:

"The original camera negative of Picnic at Hanging Rock deposited at the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia was scanned at 4K resolution using an Arriscan XT by The Grainery, Australia.
It was restored in 4K by The Grainery, USA and Fixafilm, Poland.
It was graded in HDR by Gosia Grzyb with the supervision and approval of director of photography Russell Boyd and director Peter Weir."

The 2160P image has instances of digitization processing. Grain is not apparent and there is an unusual waxy softness (and flatness) to the visuals (see examples HERE and HERE.) On my system I wouldn't say these were easily discernable nor impinging on the presentation. Others, more sensitive to this, may not appreciate it. I didn't find the DNR was blanketed across the entire film. Both Director and Theatrical Cuts look similar (sample below.) Overall the image is mostly brighter, richer black levels and deeper colors. It has a glossiness less-present on the previous digital editions. We've compared some examples below. I had such a high levels of anticipation to see this in 4K UHD.

NOTE: We compared eight digital editions of the film (DVD and Blu-rays) HERE.

It is likely that the monitor you are seeing this review is not an HDR-compatible display (High Dynamic Range) or Dolby Vision, where each pixel can be assigned with a wider and notably granular range of color and light. Our capture software if simulating the HDR (in a uniform manner) for standard monitors. This should make it easier for us to review more 4K UHD titles in the future and give you a decent idea of its attributes on your system. So our captures may not support the exact same colors (coolness of skin tones, brighter or darker hues etc.) as the 4K system at your home. But the framing, detail, grain texture support etc. are, generally, not effected by this simulation representation.

NOTE: 16 more more full resolution (3840 X 2160) 4K UHD captures, in lossless PNG format, for Patrons are available HERE

We have reviewed the following 4K UHD packages to date: Two Orphan Vampires, The Shiver of the Vampires, Drowning By Number (software uniformly simulated HDR), Serpico (software uniformly simulated HDR), Cool Hand Luke (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Seventh Seal (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Maltese Falcon (software uniformly simulated HDR), Mildred Pierce (software uniformly simulated HDR), Tár (software uniformly simulated HDR), Marathon Man (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dazed and Confused (software uniformly simulated HDR), Three Colors: Blue (software uniformly simulated HDR), Invaders From Mars (software uniformly simulated HDR), Death Wish (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (no HDR), High Plains Drifter (software uniformly simulated HDR), Mystery Men (software uniformly simulated HDR), Silent Running (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dressed to Kill (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Power of the Dog  (software uniformly simulated HDR), Escape From Alcatraz (software uniformly simulated HDR), I, the Jury (no HDR), Casablanca (software uniformly simulated HDR), In the Mood For Love (NO HDR applied to disc), The Werewolf vs. the Vampire Woman  (software uniformly simulated HDR), Blow Out (software uniformly simulated HDR), Night of the Living Dead (NO HDR applied to disc), Lost Highway (software uniformly simulated HDR), Videodrome (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Last Picture Show (software uniformly simulated HDR), It Happened One Night (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Mummy (1932)(software uniformly simulated HDR), Creature From the Black Lagoon (software uniformly simulated HDR), Bride of Frankenstein (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Amityville Horror  (software uniformly simulated HDR), The War of the Worlds (1953) (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Incredible Melting Man  (software uniformly simulated HDR), Event Horizon (software uniformly simulated HDR), Get Carter (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Killing (software uniformly simulated HDR), Killer's Kiss (software uniformly simulated HDR.)  

On their 4K UHD, Second Sight use a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track (24-bit) for the Director's Cut and the choice of DTS-HD Master mono or stereo for the Theatrical Cut. I found the surround equally as robust as the 2014 Criterion Blu-ray lossless 5.1. There are a few subtle, but impactful, separations. Synonymous with Peter Weir's "Picnic at Hanging Rock" is the, much-discussed, haunting Gheorghe Zamfir's pan flute (beautiful and an unforgettable facet of the film). It many be the best marriage of visuals and music in film. It exports pleasing depth and richness augmented by the piano and various classical offerings from Mozart, Beethoven, Bach and Tchaikovsky. Second Sight include offers optional English (SDH) subtitles - and is, like all 4K UHD, region FREE, playable worldwide. I don't have the Blu-rays but presume they are Region 'B'-locked.

The Theatrical Cut 4K UHD has more extras. A Lovely Day for a Picnic is a new dozen-minute interview with actor Karen Robson (Irma in Picnic at Hanging Rock) sharing her thoughts and recollections. Finding the Light is a new 10-minute interview with Director of Photography Russell Boyd (A Soldier's Story, The Last Wave.) Crashing Through Boundaries is a new 7-minute interview with Camera Operator John Seale. Something Beyond Explanation: Thomas Caldwell on Picnic at Hanging Rock runs 23-minutes discussing one of Australia's most distinctive startling, unusual, and perfect films approaching its 50th anniversary. There is a 1/4 hour archival interview with source-novel author Joan Lindsay - previously found on a Umbrella DVD and the behind-the-scenes documentary Recollection: Hanging Rock 1900 from 1975 produced and presented by Patricia Lovell which includes interviews with author Joan Lindsay, director Peter Weir, and key cast members including Rachel Roberts. It runs shy of 1/2 hour. There are curious Outtakes for over 12-minutes and the original long (5-minute) trailer.

The limited edition package has a rigid slipcase with new artwork by Thinh Dinh, a soft cover book with new essays by Daniel Bird, Kat Ellinger and Justine Smith, archive essay by Rebecca Harkins-Cross, Costume Gallery, feature on the original marketing of the film and the new restoration. Second Sight include the original novel and 6 collectors' art cards.

Despite my reservations on the image transfer, Second Sight's 4K UHD release of Peter Weir's hypnotic "Picnic at Hanging Rock" is a remarkably extensive package. The film is pure brilliance in establishing a distinctive character of a unique geological formation created over 6 million years ago - a former volcano - in central Victoria, Australia. It imbues powerful spiritual connection forces that hauntingly transcend time. "Picnic at Hanging Rock" is a unsettling mystery, a hypnotic dream that eerily lulls the viewer into a suggestive state to embrace the ambiguous fiction of the story of what happened that Valentine's Day in 1900... at that 'exact right time and place'. Like a painting, 'En plein air', in front of our eyes. In communicating with the natural world - sometimes we are only provided with vague answers... or none at all. Mood embracing Romanian Gheorghe Zamfir's panflute, Bach's Prelude No. 1 in C from The Well-Tempered Clavier performed by Hungarian pianist Jenő Jandó, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven... with the camera exploring the stone outcropping edifice and its labyrinth of mysterious alcoves, recesses and trails - puts the viewer in such a calm mesmerized state that we fatalistically accept the unresolved picnic disappearances - wanting answers but subconsciously aware that we will get none. There isn't even other pure cinema that I can compare to "Picnic at Hanging Rock" and its impressionistic impact. It is wrapped in themes of mysticism, death, adolescent femininity, innocence, secrecy, scandal, privilege, the unknown, nature's retributive power, time... Second Sight's 4K UHD is jammed full of observations on this invaluable work of art - a singular example of the encompassing ability of cinema. How can we resist?

Gary Tooze