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

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (January 2020): Criterion have transferred David Hiroshi Teshigahara's Antonio Gaudí to 1080P Blu-ray. It appears to be from the same master as the original Criterion DVD, although now it is in the higher, 1080P, resolution not limited as the picture-boxing of the SD transfer was. Colors gain some richness , there is depth and superior contrast - it short it looks magnificent. The HD upgrade will be highly noticeable depending on your system.

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original Japanese language. It is another advancement in the film's audio and by score usage by iconic Tôru Takemitsu (Teshigahara's Pitfall and Woman in the Dunes, Masahiro Shinoda's Pale Flower, Masaki Kobayashi's Kwaidan plus Rikyu, Shohei Imamura's Black Rain, Kurosawa's Dodes'ka-den, RAN, etc. etc.) with Shinji Hori and Kurôdo Môri. It sounds subtle but supportive, clear and tight augmenting the pristine presentation. Criterion offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' / 'B' Blu-ray, dependant on the geographic location the disc is sold.

The Criterion Blu-ray has the same extras as their DVD from 2008. Repeated description from below; 'Gaudí, Catalunya, 1959, is 20 minutes of silent 16mm footage from director Hiroshi Teshigahara's first trip to Spain with his father in 1959. Included are a visit to Salvador Dali's home in Port Lligat. There is a 13 minute 2006 recorded video interview with architect Arata Isozaki - best known for his design of the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art (he also collaborated with Teshigahara on The Face of Another). From the BBC program Visions of Space: Antonio Gaudí is a one-hour documentary on the architect's life and work entitled 'God's Architect'. It is excellent. 'Monitor' is a 16 minute segment by Ken Russell focusing on Gaudí's architecture. Sculptures by Sofu—Vita, is a 17:18 film by Teshigahara on the sculpture of his father, Sofu Teshigahara made in 1963. Finally included in the package is a 38-page liner booklet featuring a new essay by art historian Dore Ashton, a reminiscence by Hiroshi Teshigahara, and Hiroshi and Sofu discussing their trip to the West.'

On my honeymoon, my young bride and I travelled to Barcelona and were mesmerized by the Gaudi architecture.  Antonio Gaudí has Hiroshi Teshigahara's understated expression but the impact is overwhelming. It's a film I will covet on Blu-ray. You needn't be keen on architecture or art to get an incredible amount out of this unique documentary. Our highest recommendation!

Gary Tooze

ON THE DVDs - ADDITION: Criterion - Region 1- NTSC - March 08': Although both feature discs are single-layered the difference in the transfers are the greatest quality gap I have seen in a long while. At the writing of this review there are still 5 people selling the incredibly weak Image Entertainment DVD on Amazon Marketplace for $99 and higher. As we initially reported (below) the Image disc from 1999 is hazy, interlaced (see evident combing), extensive chroma and has burned-in subtitles. We can now tack onto those glaring faults that the image is sporadically cropped.

The Criterion is pictureboxed (on all 4 sides - see our full description of 'pictureboxing' in our Kind Hearts and Coronets review). From my own personal experiences (and honeymoon photographs) I can assure you the Criterion colors are far more accurate for Gaudi's architecture including many pictures I have of the Sagrada Familia.

On disc one, along with the feature is the original theatrical trailer. There is a second disc of supplements. First off Gaudí, Catalunya, 1959, is 20 minutes of silent 16mm footage from director Hiroshi Teshigahara's first trip to Spain with his father in 1959. Included are a visit to Salvador Dali's home in Port Lligat. There is a 13 minute 2006 recorded video interview with architect Arata Isozaki - best known for his design of the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art (he also collaborated with Teshigahara on The Face of Another). From the BBC program Visions of Space: Antonio Gaudí is a one-hour documentary on the architect's life and work entitled 'God's Architect'. It is excellent. 'Monitor' is a 16 minute segment by Ken Russell focusing on Gaudí's architecture. Sculptures by Sofu—Vita, is a 17:18 film by Teshigahara on the sculpture of his father, Sofu Teshigahara made in 1963. Finally included in the package is a 38-page liner booklet featuring a new essay by art historian Dore Ashton, a reminiscence by Hiroshi Teshigahara, and Hiroshi and Sofu discussing their trip to the West.

For anyone even remotely interested in architecture this Criterion DVD represents an essential purchase. I know fans of Teshigahara will be grateful for this Criterion release as the previous Image Entertainment DVD was such a disgrace. We whole-heartedly recommend this bountiful Criterion package!      

Gary W. Tooze

ON THE IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT DVD: Well, as you can see there are lots of things wrong with this transfer. Hazy, burned-in subtitles, chroma, interlaced... but although I am disappointed, I'm so glad I have this DVD in my collection. I don't know of another DVD of this film out by anyone. Hopefully someone will tell me. I can hope for a far superior DVD one day, but there is no indication that it is coming soon. I revisited this in preparing for the upcoming Eureka Teshingahara films on DVD - The Face of Another + Pitfall. For this Image Entertainment disc I give out of . 

Gary W. Tooze