The Yellow Handkerchief Blu-ray

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

(aka 'The Yellow Handkerchief' or 'Shiawase no kiiroi hankachi')

directed by Yôji Yamada
Japan 1977

Another slice of reality from the masterful creator of the Tora-san series, Yôji Yamada (My Sons, Home From the Sea). A sublime comedic melodrama reaching tear-jerker proportions. Three unrelated (and unknown to each other) characters share an eventful road-trip with one slowly releasing information in sporadic flashbacks of his recent past. References to the Tony Orlando and Dawn song "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree" will abound, but Yamada consistently shows his talented story-telling techniques especially in the area of the affectionate human spirit dramas. A near masterpiece! out of

Gary W. Tooze

Poster

Theatrical Release: October 1st, 1977 - Tokyo

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Comparison:

Panorama - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Twilight Time - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

1) Panorama - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT

2) Twilight Time - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT

Box Covers

CLICK to order from:

Also on Blu-ray in Japan (NOT English-friendly):

Only available in the 5-disc Yamada Yoji Collection which includes - A Distant Cry from Spring, Home from the Sea, The Village, Final Take and The Yellow Handkerchief..

Available in the 5-disc Yamada Boxset:

Distribution

Panorama Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC

Twilight Time
Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Runtime

1:48:08

1:48:43.558

Video

1.81:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.6 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

2.38:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 27,583,705,662 bytes

Feature: 27,543,429,120 bytes

Video Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0), Japanese (Dolby Digital 5.1)

DTS-HD Master Audio Japanese 2049 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2049 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)

Subtitles

English, Chinese, None

English, None

Features

Release Information:
Studio: Panorama Entertainment

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 1.81:1

Edition Details:

• Directors Biography (text screens)
• Director's filmography (text screens)

• Collectable handbill with production notes (in English and Chinese)

DVD Release Date: November 15th, 2002
Keep Case
Chapters: 12

Release Information:
Studio: Twilight Time

Aspect Ratio:

2.38:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 27,583,705,662 bytes

Feature: 27,543,429,120 bytes

Video Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Edition Details:

• Julie Kirgo liner notes

• Limited Edition of 3,000 Units

Blu-ray Release Date: November, 2017
Transparent Blu-ray case

Chapters 24

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Twilight Time - Region 'A' Blu-ray November 2017': Twilight Time's new Blu-ray is, about, 2.38:1, where the DVD was 1.81:1 and severely cropped on the side edges. Colors are richer and deeper, better balanced, with warmer skin tones. Basically a huge upgrade - superior contrast, detail and every facet of the visuals. The high bitrate produces a fine presentation in-motion. The grain is a bit clunky but overall this is such a welcome improvement.

NOTE: This, Twilight Time Blu-ray is, uncharacteristically, Region 'A'-locked.

Twilight Time use a DTS-HD Master mono track in original Japanese 2049 kbps (24-bit). There are few effects and the dialogue is authentically flat. The score is by Masaru Satô (Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster, Throne of Blood, The Lower Depths, Hidden Fortress, I Live in Fear etc.) and pulls heart-string emotionally gaining some richness in the lossless. The Twilight Time has optional English subtitles and the Blu-ray disc is Region 'A'-locked.

The Twilight Time has no digital extras but the package has liner notes with an essay by Julie Kirgo. It is limited to 3,000 units.

I LOVE Yoji Yamada films and this is probably in my TOP 3! A beautiful, fun, heart-warming piece of brilliant storytelling. The Blu-ray is so advanced beyond the DVD it was like seeing the film anew. Strongly recommended!

***

ON THE DVD (2002): Speaking a little more frankly than my above film review - I loved this to bits, and I could tell it was going to appeal to me in the first 15 minutes.

The DVD is nothing to rave about though - non-progressive (lots of bad combing) and non-anamorphic in the incorrect aspect ratio. Best suited for tube viewing to simply see the film if you have no other outlet. I saw a wee bit of strobing in spots and the subtitles are generally acceptable but display an unusual character for the apostrophe (?). The optional 5.1 audio is totally unnecessary and the recommendation is all for the film - another warm Yamada human expression. Wonderful cinema - let's hope for a superior release soon!

Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

Twilight Time - Region 'A' - Blu-ray