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The White Dove (1960) Josef Kilian (1965)
Second Run DVD present a unique double bill of two early works
now regarded as two of the main precursors of the Czechoslovak New Wave. |
(aka "Holubice" )
directed by Frantisek Vlacil
Czechoslovakia 1960
On its way from Belgium to Poland, a carrier pigeon is lost in a storm and winds up in Czechoslovakia (Prague to be exact) instead. It first catches the eye of artist Martin (Vjaceslav Irmanov) who lives in the top floor of an apartment building only to be shot with an air pistol by Michal (Karel Smyczek), a wheelchair bound boy living in an apartment below. Martin retrieves the dying animal from the elevator shaft and presents it to Michal in order for him to grasp the enormity of his deed; but the bird isn't quite dead and Michal prevents Martin from putting it out of is misery. Michal, in a wheelchair since he fell from a high fence retrieving a parachuted toy soldier, attempts to nurse the bird back to health on his balcony. His stubbornness pays off, but will he be able to let it fly free when it is ready. Unbeknownst to Michal, on a Baltic island, Susanna (Katerina Irmanovova) forsakes all else (including her health) as she waits for her bird's return. |
Posters
Theatrical Release: 4 November 1960 (Czechoslovakia)
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Review: Second Run DVD - Region 0 - PAL
Big thanks to Eric Cotenas for the Review!
DVD Box Cover |
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Distribution |
Second Run DVD Region 0 - PAL |
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Runtime | 1:06:50 (4% PAL speedup) | |
Video |
1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Audio | Czech/German/French Dolby Digital 2.0 mono | |
Subtitles | English, none | |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Second Run DVD Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 8 |
Comments |
Second Run's
dual-layer DVD features a new digital transfer of THE WHITE
DOVE that is undoubtedly superior to Facet's domestic 2004
disc (especially given Facet's standards). The image
unfortunately sports some unattractive edge enhancement that is
presumably baked into the master given Second Run's fine
treatment of other Czech titles (including the additional
digital cleanup they have performed on the masters provided).
The Dolby Digital 2.0 mono track vividly renders the icy
harpsichord notes of Zdenek Liska's score. The optional English
subtitle translation are free of errors. |
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(aka "Postava k podpirani" or "Joseph Kilian")
directed by Pavel Juracek, Jan Schmidt
Czechoslovakia 1965
The short JOSEF KILIAN by Pavel Juracek (writer of Vera Chytilova's DAISIES and adapter of IKARIE XB 1) and Jan Schmidt (SETTLEMENT OF CROWS) takes a mild-mannered citizen into a Kafka-esque bureaucratic hell when he comes upon a "cat rental agency" and decides to rent one. When he goes to return the cat, he finds that the store no longer exists and no one seems to have heard of it. With late fees mounting - at least in the protagonist's mind since we see know indication that he is being billed by this apparently non-existent agency - he appeals to authorities and finds himself constantly misdirected to other officials or blamed for causing the problem by renting the cat in the first place (he cannot even explain why he wanted one in the first place). Slight yet funny, JOSEF KILIAN inciting incident may be absurd, but contemporary viewers may actually find the protagonist's ensuing frustrations very relatable. |
Theatrical Release: 7 May 1965 (Finland)
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Review: Second Run DVD - Region 0 - PAL
Big thanks to Eric Cotenas for the Review!
Distribution |
Second Run DVD Region 0 - PAL |
Runtime | 37:02 (4% PAL speedup) |
Video |
1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
|
Bitrate |
|
Audio | Czech Dolby Digital 2.0 mono |
Subtitles | English, none |
Features |
Release
Information: Studio: Second Run DVD Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 4 |
Comments |
The
transfer of JOSEF KILIAN is much better-looking,
which is fortunate for the film itself even though the
photography isn't as ravishing as that of THE WHITE DOVE
(although both were shot by Jan Curik, who also
masterfully lensed VALERIE AND HER WEEK OF WONDERS). No
complaints about the Dolby Digital 2.0 mono or the
optional English subtitles. |
DVD Menus
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Screen Captures
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DVD Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from: |
Distribution |
Second Run DVD Region 0 - PAL |
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