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Gypo66
13-01-2002, 16:17
Any one know if this exists or is coming out on DVD? Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Hendrik
13-01-2002, 19:14
...yup, DVDIt has it: 4:3 full-screen, DD 2.0 mono, Italian and Bergamasque dialect, no subtitles...

. . . :o . . .
Hendrik
14-01-2002, 02:29
...ahh... C O R R E C T I O N... according to this site
( http://cinema.supereva.it/canali/dvd/artI2900.html )
...there is a new, two-DVD release a-comin' that will feature a (too 'wide' IMO) anamorphic transfer, a dubbed Italian dts soundtrack in addition to the original mono Bergamasque soundtrack, plus optional English subtitles...

Enjoy!

. . . :clap: . . .
Gypo66
14-01-2002, 11:08
FYI, just found out from Bensonsworld that there is also a UK DVD that Nouveau will be releasing next month. When it rains, it pours, as they say.
Hendrik
14-01-2002, 13:35
...yeah... but will the Nouveau release be on two DVDs, and will it include the extras of the Italian edition?...

. . . :confused: . . .
Gypo66
14-01-2002, 13:49
All indications are that the Nouveau DVD is a single-disc edition with no real extras to speak of. On the other hand, there's no indication that any of the extras on the Italian 2-DVD edition are even subtitled, so (at least for us non-Italian speakers) doesn't it really come to which version of the film itself actually looks better (assuming they're all roughly the same price, that is)? I'm not familiar with Nouveau, so any thoughts on probable quality on any of these various versions?
Hendrik
14-01-2002, 14:23
...well... fwiw Nouveau previously released DVDs of such classics as Suspiria and In The Realm Of The Senses - none of them featuring anamorphic transfers, by the way...

http://www.bensonsworld.co.uk/productsearch.asp?search=NOUVEAU+ENTERTAINMENT+LTD&option=source&filter=dvd

...ahh... decisions, decisions...

. . . :confused: . . .
bhomatude
14-01-2002, 19:59
Well I guess I'll be the guinea pig because I bought the Italian version 2 weeks ago from dvdland.it and expect it soon (usa).
Gypo66
14-01-2002, 20:41
Be great if you could post back here once you get a look at the Italian 2-DVD set, bhomatude. I'm particularly curious if any of those interviews or other extras might possiblly have English subtitles. The disc is supposed to be out Jan 16th.
Gary Couzens
14-01-2002, 21:31
Since <i>The Tree of Wooden Clogs</i> was shot in 16mm, I wouldn't expect a reference-quality DVD transfer!

I was sent a review copy of Nouveau's VHS release, which was pretty grainy.
bhomatude
26-02-2002, 21:58
I received my 2 disc copy from dvdland.it today and threw it in for a quick look. It is PAL Region 0 in 1.33 (OAR) with English subtitles, Italian 5.1 dts, and Bergamasco mono. Other subtitles: Italian, French, Spanish. The menu automatically defaulted in my player to English with English subtitles. There is an interview with Olmi, photo gallery, and trailer.

It's a fairly good transfer - a bit of gate jitter here and there, and some print dirt (not excessive) to be expected on the age of the source elements I imagine. There is a lot of film grain (after all it's a film!) but that is also to be expected as I believe it was shot in 16mm with fast film stock and natural light when possible. It does have a nice tonal range from black to white.

I listened to the Bergamasco Mono track only - Was that the original language of the film? I can't remember. It was clean and perfectly suited to the nature of the film.

update: I quickly listened to the Italian 5.1 dts track in a couple of scenes. It is an unnecessary addition and could quickly tell that the Bergamasco track is the correct one. Olmi refers to the 5.1 expanded track diplomatically in his intro to the film... a "needle in the vinyl groove" man nodding to current cinema goers tastes.