ADDITION: Mr. Bongo - Region FREE Blu-ray - August 2015 - There is an old Polish saying - quite relevant to The Saragossa Manuscript; I may be misinterpreting but it goes something like "Embrace the girl with the bongos, but beware the man named 'Bongo".

There are some features with this release that raise questions:

1) It is the exact same running time as the Zebra Blu-ray release - down the the 1/1000th of a second. (NOTE: This, alone, is a real telltale as we've seen on the few Spanish Blu-ray bootlegs we've reviewed in the past 3 years.)

2) Audio transfer is the exact same as the Zebra Blu-ray release - DTS-HD Master - 1846 kbps 5.1 - 16 bit.

3) The bitrate and bitrate graph are exactly the same.

4) Subtitle font is exact same style and size as the Zebra Blu-ray release.

5) The screener disc is labeled "The Hourglass Santorum" but the film was clearly The Saragossa Manuscript. And this was vice-versa for the other Blu-ray screener disc.

6) The screener disc states it is region 'B'. It is definitely region FREE (same with "The Hourglass Santorum").

Video/Audio quality is the same on both Blu-rays, slightly less technically robust on the visuals but my eye (and ears) and software can't distinguish significant differences. There are optional English subtitles but no extras at all.

I can only assume, that this is a legal, or illegal, port of the Polish release. It's a very worthy disc to own for any Cinephile Blu-ray library.

***

ADDITION: Zebra - Region FREE Blu-ray - March 2014 - This is very exciting to see this wonderful film on Blu-ray. There is continued debate about the production and projection aspect ratio of The Saragossa Manuscript. I've heard 1.85:1, 2:1, 2.39:1. I don't know which is correct but I do think this composition looks impressive in 2.39 excepting I also see what looks like some 'Cinemascope Mumps' where faces are stretched horizontally (abnormally fat faces). Comparatively the Image Entertainment DVD looks squished vertically (elongated faces). Generally the 1080P Blu-ray shows more information in the frame - mostly noticeable on all 4 edges. While it looks significantly better than SD - it is not perfect. I think the saturation is probably a correct appearance but I am more suspicious of the heavy gloss and slight smearing. But as the visuals are so much sharper with piercing black levels (approaching moiring) and more layered contrast - it is hard to complain about any digitization imperfections - although they do exist. The image is very smooth and depth is present. I'd like to see more grain as well, but it did provide an interesting, and relatively pleasing, presentation.

Audio may have minor sync issues at times but it didn't bother my viewing extensively. The 2 sound options are both lossless - a 5.1 DTS-HD and LPCM 2.0 channel (Descriptive Audio in Polish). There are some separations in varying degrees. The score is by Polish composer and conductor Krzysztof Penderecki - whose highly notable music you would have heard in Kubrick's The Shining, in The Exorcist, Fearless and Children of Men - to name a few. This is another brilliant score evoking memorable symphonic and operatic resonance. When heard it has great appeal.   

The cover, booklet and extras are in all Polish only but this Blu-ray is both region FREE and has optional English subtitles. It will appeal to many as it is such a dynamic video presentation beyond the 2002 DVD. I love The Sargossa Manuscript. Everything here has two interpretations: the mystical, magical philosophers constantly clashing with humanistic realities. This brilliant adaptation of one of the greatest works of world literature honored with awards and prizes in Edinburgh, San Sebastian and more.

I'm keen to review more from this distributor - there are plenty of Wajda films on these Blu-rays and we looks forward to comparing where possible! Stay tuned for more!

***

ON THE DVD: Great film, but kind of a sloppy DVD. It is labeled the 'restored widescreen' edition and 'director's cut'. There is a large black border (pictureboxed) around the image detracting from the horizontal resolution. The film is quite contrasted so the use of the ultra-bright yellow subtitles, although an unfortunate decision, works for normal viewing purposes. I found only a few instances of combing and suspect that the transfer is not progressive. Perhaps I am being to picky - we thank Image Entertainment for bringing this film to light for many. The liner notes are very good and the isolated score is a decent touch. I highly doubt we will ever see this in any better form, so we still recommend the DVD, more so on the strength of the film than the technical qualities of the disc.

Gary W. Tooze

NOTE: Gordon says: I must point out that the Image DVD of "The Saragossa Manuscript" is actually cropped at 2.35:1 Dyaliscope to, as you accurately list, 1.92:1. Quite disappointing, really. Francis Ford Coppola was involved in the restoration and as he (and cinematographer Vittorio Storaro) seem to favor the 2:1 ratio, the prints may have been made at that ratio; either that, or Coppola supervised the transfer. Strangely, the film - it any other Has films - are available in Poland and no other DVDs of Has' films are available, which is very frustrating. (Thanks Gordon!)