ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray August 15': I had not seen Blind Chance in years - what an absolute masterpiece. Seeing the new Criterion, uncensored, Blu-ray (described as a new, restored 4K digital transfer of the original uncensored film, approved by cinematographer Krzysztof Pakulski and the 1981 version with censored segments restored) was like seeing the film for the first time - especially when compared with the old Kino DVD. The 1080P is dramatically super to the SD - which, notably beside the HD, appearing out-of ratio, cropped and dull as well as being a PAL-to-NTSC conversion and is also the shorter censored version. The Blu-ray is darker with significantly richer and deeper colors and some sporadic depth. It has some wonderful grain texture.

NOTE: There is one segment around 1:01:30 where the Criterion Blu-ray versions has a brief (10 second) text screen that states that 'This is the only censored fragment that could not be restored'). We do hear the audio.

For the audio Criterion use a linear PCM 2.0 channel track at 2304 kbps (24-bit). The uncompressed transfer sounds excellent when compared to the SD - notable in the score by Wojciech Kilar (Bram Stoker's Dracula, Andrzej Wajda's The Promised Land, Polanski's The Pianist, Campion's The Portrait of a Lady.) There are optional English subtitles and the Blu-ray disc is region 'A'-locked.

Criterion include some extras. There is a revealing new, 18-minute, interview with Polish film critic Tadeusz Sobolewski who considers the political context of Kieslowski's Blind Chance, the film's censorship, and its significance within the director's body of work. We get the 5-minute, 2003 interview with filmmaker Agnieszka Holland as found on the Kino DVD. Highly interesting are the nine sections from the film originally censored in Poland. They are prefaced with these text screens:

The package has a liner notes booklet with an essay by film critic Dennis Lim and a 1993 interview about the film with director Krzysztof Kieślowski.

This Blu-ray is very easy to endorse and has our highest recommendation! Buy with confidence. Thank you, Criterion!

***

ON THE DVDS: Firstly, this film is a true masterpiece and strongly recommended. As with many other offerings from Kino this DVD transfer is non-progressive and exhibits combing in horizontal pans, but frankly this is the only real black mark. Other than that I was very impressed - anamorphic, in and around the correct aspect ratio (1.66), sharp, a little film grain and decent colors, good removable subtitles, original audio and some fabulous extra features including interviews with Strzakowska, Holland and Insdorf. The short "Workshop Exercises" by Marcel Lozinski is another fine addition.