Second Run's high-bitrate DVD is derived from a brand new 4K restoration of the film (available in the Czech Republic on Blu-ray but not English-friendly and sporting SD-PAL extras). The image is matted to 1.37:1 exactly and detail is vastly superior to the earlier release. The colors are also exquisite (the color scheme is mostly naturalistic but the sequence in which the drunk men watch the sunrise and the shadows it casts on a tree sports vivid yellows, oranges, and reds) and all scratches have been meticulously cleaned up. The Dolby Digital 2.0 mono audio track is in good condition as well.

The sole video extra is a short film by the director that was also banned and prompted self-exile from the country to seek work as a writer and director in other European countries and eventually America. The liner notes booklet discusses the film as well as his earlier works while only touching upon his post-COUNTRYMEN career.

Gary on the Facets release: The film was banned in communist Czechoslovakia and the only print thought to be in existence was in the Czech National Archive. It was, unfortunately, damaged with a severe scratch throughout the entire film. Sometime later a German edition of the film surfaced and this Facets DVD is the amalgamation of the best qualities of those two available prints.

Technically this FACETS disc is dual-layered but appears to be from an unconverted PAL source (with a European edition I've seen reviewed - with no Eng. subs - listed at 1:54:54). Either that or this edition of All My Good Countrymen is interlaced transferred... or it simply could be both. The result is that 'combing' is prevalent (see last large capture) but I don't recall ever viewing a Facets DVD that didn't have this phenomenon so I was expectantly prepared to see this digital weakness.

Aside from those prevalent artifacts the image is reasonably acceptable with heavy black levels (look to have been boosted) and moderate detail. Colors are not vibrant but support adequate differentiation. It looks as though these may have had some digital enhancement but it is not extensively done so as to appear to be an obvious manipulation. There are some speckles and light scratches here and there. I guess the bottom line is that it is flawed but a notch above what I have seen from Facets in the past. It is watchable although not in pristine form - both the transfer and the source have some weaknesses. It looks like a high-end VHS port to digital.

Audio is 2.0 channel in Czech and has the same limitations as the video. Dialogue is audible and hiss and other inconsistencies are fairly minimal. The subtitles are burned-in (sample below) - making another unfortunate black-mark. On my system they seemed to stay on screen a shade longer than was necessary.

Extras consist of a very nice 24-minute interview with director Vojtech Jasny in anamorphic widescreen (but also interlaced). His gentle demeanor is easily discernable and his words carry much weight. I don't know when this was shot but he must be over 90 years-old now. He talks of the banning, production length etc and his English is 'good enough' but his accent may give some trouble and subtitles would have been appreciated. Regardless, this is an excellent addition to the DVD. There is also about 1.5 minutes on the restoration with some split-screen comparisons - before and after. Perhaps the best attribute though is the 24-page liner notes booklet (Facets Cine-Notes) with an introduction reprinted from Novy Film - a 60's Czech journal, and two enlightening essays by Susan Doll. There are also some black and white photos interspersed in the text.

Perhaps the greatest virtue of this DVD is that I believe it is the only English-friendly edition of this film available... anywhere. It is essential cinema for anyone with even remote interest in the Czech New Wave and although I critique the Facets transfer - it is still wonderful to have and own this film on the versatile disc format. All My Good Countrymen has been rarely seen over the years and it truly deserves to be exposed - hopefully this format will expand the audience although Facets price is at the high end - but surely this film experience is worth every penny in this reviewers opinion.