ADDITION: Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray (August 2010): Beyond the screen captures I can add a some important points in regards to the image quality. It seems apparent that Criterion have done some form of their digital restoration with both removal of the scratches and boosting of contrast and black levels. While the contrast appears somewhat duller on the MoC Blu-ray (a different HD source) - it advances handily in terms of detail/depth because of the resolution - and keep in mind Criterion actually limited theirs purposely with their picturboxing. The 1080P dual-layered rendering produces some depth and the light surface scratches make me feel it is far more like 'film' than the waxy video look of the Criterion. This is more apparent in motion and, in this case, the screen grabs are not telling the entire story as the Criterion had some notable flickering that wasn't anywhere near as prominent in the UK transfer.

From the enclosed liner notes it states: "For this Blu-ray release of Biruma no tategoto, we have digitally removed a handful of momentary instances of heavy damage in otherwise very good source materials supplied by the film’s Japanese owner, Nikkatsu.

Nikkatsu’s HD master was made from the Japanese theatrical release version and contains Japanese subtitles only when Burmese is spoken (the Japanese subtitles are displayed vertically down the right-hand-side of the screen). We deliberated about releasing this master or tracking down the international release print (which did not contain any ingrained Japanese subtitles) and decided to go with the domestic Japanese release for three reasons: i.) There are relatively few occurrences of Burmese speech in the film; ii.) the Japanese subtitles act as a helpful signifier of when Burmese is being spoken, something which may pass by most Western viewers; and finally, iii.) Their vertical display avoided clashing with our optional English subtitles.

This is the first time the original Japanese print, as seen by domestic audiences, has been released on home video outside of Japan.

It has been widely reported that original screenings of Biruma no tategoto as shown in Japan were presented in two parts with a running time noticeably longer than the version we know today. Unfortunately, Nikkatsu’s archives indicate that prints of this longer two-part version, including its original negative, no longer exist.".

So there you have it about the appearance. Fans concerned with the integrity of the film will definitely lean to the Masters of Cinema. I, personally, don't mind these, mostly frame-specific, scratches - the significantly higher resolution is the lynchpin to the cinema-like feel of the MoC over the flatter, glossier, Criterion.

The UK Blu-ray has a lossless 2.0 channel audio track that is wonderful for the film's powerfully emotional music/singing scenes. The subtitles are excellent and the brief Japanese vertical ones are addressed above.

There is an excellent 20-minute piece, in HD, with scholar and filmmaker Tony Rayns discussing points of the film, an original Japanese theatrical trailer (3:40 in HD!) and another of the UK distributor's booklets - a 40-page one with an essay by Keiko I. McDonald and some rare archival stills. 

A must-own for all film fans - a bona-fide masterpiece in the glory of Blu-ray. It really was stupendous to see this in the higher res. - I recommend even for those who own the Criterion. It was almost like seeing the film all over again. 

Gary W. Tooze

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