(aka 'My Way Home)

Directed by Miklós Jancsó
Hungary 1965

 

In the final days of World War II, a young Hungarian is making his way home, through countryside full of the debris of war, when he is captured and imprisoned by Russians. Left in the custody of a young Russian soldier, the two youths form a friendship in spite of not speaking each other’s language. The Hungarian’s attempts to continue his journey homeward provide the framework for this powerful film, considered Miklós Jancsó’s first masterpiece.

Theatrical Release: January 14th, 1965

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DVD Review: Second Run - Region 0 - PAL

DVD Box Cover

   

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Distribution Second Run DVD - Region 0 - PAL

The Second Run DVD is also available in: A 3-disc set comprising three haunting epics from the Hungarian cinema's most renowned filmmaker, a profound influence on filmmakers from Sergio Leone to Béla Tarr. Tarr proclaimed "People need to see Jancsó s really beautiful three or four first movies". Set includes:

My Way Home (1964) Poetic, evocative and deeply personal - My Way Home is considered Jancsó's first masterpiece. A young Hungarian is captured by Russian soldier, but forms an unlikely friendship with his captor.

The Red & The White (1967): Set in 1919, during the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, this is a war film unlike any other.

The Round-Up (1969): Set in a detention camp in Hungary 1869, Jancsó uses his formidable technique to create a remarkable and terrifying picture of war and the abuse of power that still resonates today.

Runtime 1:37:18 
Video 1.75:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 6.46 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

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

Bitrate:

Audio Hungarian (Dolby Digital 1.0) 
Subtitles English, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Second Run DVD

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.75:1

Edition Details:

• The second film in Miklós Jancsó’s renowned but rarely-seen documentary series Message of Stones (50:38)
• Booklet featuring a reprint of Penelope Houston’s seminal 1969 Sight & Sound article on Miklós Jancsó.

DVD Release Date: October 1st, 2007

Transparent Keep Case
Chapters: 10

 

Comments:

Although I didn't find this as encompassing a film - I was reminded a lot of Jancso's The Red and the White with the camera shooting from behind characters - following them around. As well as the scattered and often unexpected violence and I enjoyed the contrast of the landscapes (reminding me somewhat of Antonioni). This is interesting and thought-provoking cinema. 

Quality of the Second Run DVD is actually excellent - anamorphic, dual-layered and progressive. Detail is far superior to Second Run's other film by Jancso; The Red and the White. This is a very good transfer probably akin to the French version found in THIS boxset. Both have this as widescreen although IMdb states it as being 1.33 (which is probably incorrect). There is very little intrusive digital noise.

The flat audio is fairly consistent although does have some weaknesses due to being monaural and the limited manner in which it was shot. There are excellent optional English subtitles supporting the Hungarian audio. Supplements include Jancsó’s renowned, but rarely-seen, 50 minute documentary Message of Stones (A kövek üzenete) from that the series of the same name. There is also a very good 16-page liner notes booklet, with many black and white photos, featuring a reprint of Penelope Houston’s Sight & Sound article on Miklós Jancsó from 1969.

This is a historical film with a heavy emphasis on the character conflicts, moral introspections and inner most personal impressions. If you get the opportunity to see it - it will probably remain quite memorable for you and on that note we highly recommend this Second Run DVD!

Gary W. Tooze

 



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DVD Box Cover

   

CLICK to order from:

 

Distribution Second Run DVD - Region 0 - PAL

The Second Run DVD is also available in: A 3-disc set comprising three haunting epics from the Hungarian cinema's most renowned filmmaker, a profound influence on filmmakers from Sergio Leone to Béla Tarr. Tarr proclaimed "People need to see Jancsó s really beautiful three or four first movies". Set includes:

My Way Home (1964) Poetic, evocative and deeply personal - My Way Home is considered Jancsó's first masterpiece. A young Hungarian is captured by Russian soldier, but forms an unlikely friendship with his captor.

The Red & The White (1967): Set in 1919, during the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, this is a war film unlike any other.

The Round-Up (1969): Set in a detention camp in Hungary 1869, Jancsó uses his formidable technique to create a remarkable and terrifying picture of war and the abuse of power that still resonates today.




 

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Gary Tooze

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