Goto - Island of Love - Walerian Borowczyk

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Goto, l'ile d'Amour" )

directed by Walerian Borowczyk
France 1968

The island of Goto was separated from the mainland by a seaquake in 1887 and has remained isolated since. Goto III (Pierre Brasseur, EYES WITHOUT A FACE) rules the island and its inhabitants live and die at his whim. His wife Glossia (Ligia Branice of Borowczyk's BEHIND CONVENT WALLS) falls in love with handsome riding instructor Gono (Jean-Pierre Andréani, THE STORY OF O) and they plan to flee the island on a rowboat that has washed ashore (their hopes are dashed when Goto childishly shoves it back into the sea after he loses his balance trying to show off to his wife and falls into the water). Meanwhile, court fly killer Grozo (Guy Saint-Jean) has been killing his way up the social ladder (his coveting of Glossia is evident when he tries to get a look-alike prostitute to wear some of her gowns that he has pilfered) sees the opportunity to seize the throne when he discovers Glossia's and Gono's affair.

Eric Cotenas

Poster

Theatrical Release: 2 October 1969 (Sweden)

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DVD Comparison:

Nouveaux Pictures - Region 2 - PAL vs. Cult Epics - Region 0 - NTSC

Big thanks to Eric Cotenas for all the Screen Caps!

(Nouveaux Pictures - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs. Cult Epics - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	Nouveaux Pictures Region 2 - PAL	Cult Epics Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime	1:29:42 (4% PAL speedup)	1:29:39 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	1.67:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.4 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.70:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.24 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Nouveaux Pictures
Bitrate: Cult Epics
Audio	French Dolby Digital 2.0 mono	French Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
Subtitles	English (burnt-in)	English (burnt-in)
Features	Release Information: Studio: Nouveaux Pictures Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.67:1 Edition Details: • Audio Commentary by Daniel Bird • THE GHOST OF GOTO - conversation with Dominique Duvergé, Noel Véry, and Andre Heinrich (4:3; 21:16) • Still Gallery DVD Release Date: May 25th, 2009 Amaray Chapters 12	Release Information: Studio: Cult Epics Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.70:1 Edition Details: • THE ASTRONAUTS short film (4:3; 12:03) • GOTO theatrical trailer (16:9; 3:18) DVD Release Date: February 28, 2006 Amaray Chapters 12

Comments

Both DVDs sport single-layer, anamorphic transfers from the same master with the same burnt-in subtitles but Cult Epics' R1 is a standards conversion.

While the UK disc has the best extras (commentary and an interview with the film's camera operator, co-scenarist, and assistant director), the Cult Epics edition has the not-insubstantial extra of Borowczyk's short "The Astronauts" which I do not believe is included on any other Borowczyk DVDs. The film's trailer is also included on the Cult Epics disc.

- Eric Cotenas

DVD Menus
(Nouveaux Pictures - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs. Cult Epics - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)