http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ Akira Kurosawa Forums » Tag: dersu-uzala - Recent Posts en Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:55:14 +0000 http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/dersu-uzala-kurosawas-poem-of-despair#post-2214 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:42:42 +0000 cocoskyavitch 2214@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>I am pleased to know that the beards were real. Thank you for that information. And, I agree that choosing to live with dignity on your own terms is both heroic and for those who care about the well-being of a person, it can be heartbreaking. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/dersu-uzala-kurosawas-poem-of-despair#post-2181 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:11:25 +0000 axave 2181@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <blockquote><p>And who on earth was responsible for those fake beards?</p></blockquote> <p>the beards were real. I know this from director's assistant, Vasiliev </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/dersu-uzala-kurosawas-poem-of-despair#post-1873 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:44:17 +0000 lluvia 1873@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>it is also a matter of dignity when he choses to live by himself </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/dersu-uzala-kurosawas-poem-of-despair#post-1525 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:16:58 +0000 Vili Maunula 1525@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Thanks for the wonderful analysis, Coco!</p> <p>I am hoping to catch up with everything sometime soon (I still haven't even got around to watching Dersu this month). Work and travel keep interfering, though. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/dersu-uzala-kurosawas-poem-of-despair#post-1524 Sun, 29 Mar 2009 10:53:38 +0000 Ugetsu 1524@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Thats a great analysis coco.</p> <p>I must admit I'm just catching up on my watching now (I'm behind on my reading, I've read little of the literature on this film). I just watched it last night.</p> <p>My first feelings are quite mixed - I was deeply impressed by the subtlety of the story - the fact that Dersu was not portrayed as some sort of noble mountain man, but a man whose love of nature is balanced out by his terror of it. Someone who is made to be alone, but also suffers deep loneliness. It was really a terrific performance. And I agree with Coco that AK was well ahead of his time in depicting the complexity of humankinds relationship with nature, almost all other films of this type that I can think of fall into the trap of a sort of dippy romanticisation of nature. </p> <p>I also agree totally with Coco that this is yet another film that directly contradicts the simplistic notion of AK as a 'western' style film maker. It really is a notion that should have been put to bed long ago, I find myself wincing every time I see it written (which is nearly every time I read something about AK).</p> <p>My negative feeling about the film is about something I keep intending to do a post about - the acting! Not the major parts, but for me, some of the actors in the minor parts reminded me of the extras in an amateur night stage performance of a Gilbert &#38; Sullivan musical. And who on earth was responsible for those fake beards? Hard to think this is from the same director that forced Mifune to wear a beard for two years for making Red Beard!</p> <blockquote><p>Both films have a coda presenting a mood that is resigned to loss. It seems to be that Kurosawa is urging us to believe that it is memory that keeps life from being utterly bleak and nihilistic. </p></blockquote> <p>This is a lovely insight, coco. I think the same idea can be applied to the ending of Madadayo, a film that Dersu kept reminding me of. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/dersu-uzala-kurosawas-poem-of-despair#post-1523 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:37:07 +0000 cocoskyavitch 1523@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>In 1976, after a screening at the New York Film Festival, the NY Times film critic Richard Eder wrote: "Essentially, "Dersu Uzala" is a Tolstoian parable about the encounter of the blind and deaf power of civilization with the perceiving and magical helplessness of nature."</p> <p>I find the characterization of nature as "magical" supported by the hushed reverence and awe one feels for the fierce beauty of the Siberian wilderness while viewing the film. Kurosawa films breathtaking scenes of the expansive majesty of Siberia, and through the men's harrowing, transformative encounters with nature's power, we, the audience, gain a reverence and sense of awe for the land and respect and love for Dersu, who lives in harmony with it. Dersu, played by Maxim Munzuk, is a character at one with the terrifyingly beautiful and murderous forces of nature-(emphasis on the murderous). So, the words of Richard Eder in his characterization of nature as "helpless" is fascinating.</p> <p>Is nature helpless? Nature can kill, and it is the rule of nature that one lives and dies. Nature, though, is "helpless" in the face of civilization's advancing technology machine of power that devours the land and its resources. In the course of the development of civilization we have gone from seeing nature as a duality (life-giving and life-taking) to viewing it as a banquet to be consumed. The "Goldi" or "Nanai" tribal people live in harmony with animistic forces they respect- an attitude that is replicated in many tribal cultures across the globe, whereas "civilization:" and its advanced technological capabilities allow man to alter the face of nature and to see nature as man's servant.</p> <p>(Now, some thirty plus years after the making of this film, we look back at the filthy mess we have made of the environment, and wistfully think of the purity of what once was...)</p> <p>The initial difference between Arseniev, the topographical explorer and captain of a surveying team and Dersu Uzala is the difference between a mind that maps, measures and controls nature compared to a mind that respects nature as an equal. </p> <p>The laws of nature always trump the constructs of civilization. Although civilization can delay or mask the truth of one's own mortality (a condition of nature: both life-giving and life-taking- a Shiva dance of birth, growth, decay and death) the underlying reality of death is there...once the muffling carpet of civilization is removed, one can see the abyss. Arseniev, in the wilderness, learns that he must, without the buffer of civilization, respect and attend to the abyss. He begins to see the abyss, and twice nearly falls to his death-but is rescued twice by Dersu Uzala. </p> <p>The comfort of a warm fire in a stove, a soft bed, the shelter of four walls and roof, books...these pleasures of civilization for Arseniev are a dystopian paradise that is a prison for Dersu.</p> <p>What is the mood of the film <em><strong>Dersu Uzala</strong></em>? It is one of discovery of the hard realities of nature within the powerful beauty of her pristine face, and a reminder of how much we lose when we lose sight of her. It is a lesson in the awesome and the sublime, and it, conversely teaches us the limits of civilization, and the losses we incur when we trade the awesome and sublime for the comfortable. </p> <p>The Romantic movement in literature and painting have had a profound effect of the writings of the actual Arseniev, and, later, on the odd figure of Akira Kurosawa. I have puzzled over why Kurosawa was considered "western", and am convinced it is to some degree due to his inheritance and active adoption of the impoverished traditions of Romanticism that make him look to some "western" more than "Japanese". I also think that it is his "Japanese-ness" that problematizes his version of Romanticism and makes it more interesting.</p> <p>Not unlike <em><strong>Seven Samurai</strong></em> , the film <em><strong>Dersu Uzala </strong></em>is also a tale of loss. Both stories reflect on a class that is on its way out of the culture. Interestingly, it is a gun that kills our heroes in both films. </p> <p><em><strong>Dersu </strong></em>seems more "modern" to me in some ways than <em><strong>Seven Samurai</strong></em>-relevant to our current concerns over global warming, conservatorship of the environment, and tribal identity in a time of globalization and change</p> <p>Both films have a coda presenting a mood that is resigned to loss. It seems to be that Kurosawa is urging us to believe that it is memory that keeps life from being utterly bleak and nihilistic. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/dersu-uzala-038-dodeska-den-laserdiscs#post-197 Mon, 11 Jun 2007 16:59:53 +0000 Vili Maunula 197@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Thanks for the info, MT! It really puzzles me why Dodeskaden is not available on DVD (with English, that is). </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/dersu-uzala-038-dodeska-den-laserdiscs#post-196 Sat, 09 Jun 2007 08:40:42 +0000 Master Thief 196@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>I posted this against another topic, but it doesn't appear to be listed in the replies.</p> <p>The Criterion Dersu Uzala and Dodes'ka-den laserdiscs I bought have arrived. I only have had time to quickly scan them in the player. I haven't hooked up audio to the laserdisc player yet, so I am making an initial judgment just on the picture &#38; sub-titles.</p> <p>The Dersu is probably as good as the Kino (they say it is "under license from Kino International Corp") and better than the Artificial Eye and other releases based on the Ruscico version. The sub-titles are in a different colour to the Kino though. I haven't compared the translation. The cover states:</p> <p>"Dersu Uzala was transferred from a 35mm anamorphic color reversal internegative in the Cinemascope aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Both the English and Russian soundtracks were created from separate 35mm optical soundtrack negatives. The intermittent film scratch on the left side of the screen is inherent in the source materials, which were the best available elements. The new English subtitles were created from an updated Russian-to-English translation"</p> <p>The Dodes'ka-den is a big improvement in colour richness &#38; sub-titles. It is also in the original aspect ratio of 1.66:1. Both the Mei Ah and French versions I have are 4:3. I don't know why they haven't released this on DVD. On the cover it says:</p> <p>"Dodes'ka-den is presented in the aspect ration of 1.66:1. This new digital film-to-tape transfer was created from a new 35mm composite print."</p> <p>It is copywrited 1995 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyager_Company">The Voyager Company</a>.</p> <p>When I find the time I will transfer both to DVD and then post some screen shots. I have a Canopus capture box and I can connect the laserdisc player direct to this via an s-video cable. It might be some time though as life is always too busy to just do the things you want. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-195 Wed, 06 Jun 2007 12:11:39 +0000 Master Thief 195@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>I just got back from a trip to find both the Criterion Dersu Uzala and Dodeska-den Laserdiscs I bought had arrived. As it is late and I am tired, I only had time to quickly scan them in the player. I haven't hooked up audio to the laserdisc player yet, so I am making an intitial judgment just on the picture &#38; sub-titles. </p> <p>The Dersu is probably as good as the Kino and better than the Artificial Eye and other releases based on the Ruscico version. The cover states: </p> <p>"Dersu Uzala was transferred from a 35mm anamorphic color reversal internegative in the Cinemascope aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Both the English and Russian soundtracks were created from separate 35mm optical soundtrack negatives. The intermittent film scratch on the left side of the screen is inherent in the source materials, which were the best available elements. The new English subtitles were created from an updated Russian-to-English translation"</p> <p>The Dodes'ka-den is a big improvement in colour richness &#38; sub-titles. It is also 1.66:1 ratio. Both the Mei Ah and French versions I have are 4:3. I don't know why they haven't released this on DVD. On the cover it says:</p> <p>"Dodes'ka-den is presented in the aspect ration of 1.66:1. This new digital film-to-tape transfer was created from a new 35mm composite print."</p> <p>It is copywrited 1995 The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyager_Company">Voyager Company</a>. </p> <p>When I find the time I will transfer both to DVD and then post some screen shots. It might be some time though. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-194 Tue, 22 May 2007 06:52:43 +0000 Vili Maunula 194@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>I am meanwhile trying to get hold of a Finnish DVD copy of Dersu. It was released as part of a "Russian Classics" collection of some sorts. I don't expect it to be any better than the other releases, though. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-193 Mon, 21 May 2007 12:07:03 +0000 Master Thief 193@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>I just bought a Pioneer Laserdisc Player CLD-2950 for NZ$65 (about US$47.50). It has S-Video and optical digital outputs so I should be able to transfer the Kurosawa laserdiscs I have to DVD. I am hoping the Dodeskaden is a significant improvement on the MeiAh version. At least the subs should be better.</p> <p>I don't hold great hopes that either of the Dersu Uzala laserdiscs will be any better than what is circulating on DVD, but at least it will add to our knowledge for the project.</p> <p>I'll report further when the player and all the discs arrive. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-188 Wed, 16 May 2007 12:56:54 +0000 Master Thief 188@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Well my anxiety got the better of me and I bought both Dodeskaden &#38; Dersu Uzala. Now I really need to find a player to check these 2 out along with the others I recently acquired. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-187 Wed, 16 May 2007 12:29:04 +0000 Master Thief 187@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Yes here is the complete list from Wiki:</p> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Criterion_Laserdisc_releases" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Criterion_Laserdisc_releases</a></p> <p>The Kurosawa films were:</p> <p>Rashomon<br /> Hidden Fortress<br /> Ikiru<br /> Seven Samurai<br /> Yojimbo<br /> Throne of Blood<br /> Red Beard<br /> Dodeskaden<br /> Dersu Uzala</p> <p>I only have the Seven Samurai and am searching for the 2 colour films of course. There was a copy of the Dersu Uzala on <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/DERSU-UZALA-CRITERION-LASERDISC-LD-RARE-KUROSAWA_W0QQitemZ140110104730QQihZ004QQcategoryZ381QQcmdZViewItem">eBay</a> USA recently but I couldn't bid as it was restricted to US bidders. The person who bought it now has it for sale for <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Dersu-Uzala-Laserdisc-Criterion-256-Kurosawa-75_W0QQitemZ170112582766QQihZ007QQcategoryZ381QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem">US$49.99</a>.</p> <p>There are copies of <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&#38;item=9108690358&#38;ssPageName=MERC_VI_RSII_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT&#38;refitem=280092787105&#38;itemcount=4&#38;refwidgetloc=active_view_item&#38;usedrule1=ItemToItem&#38;usedrule2=StoreCatToStoreCat&#38;refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget">Ikiru</a> and <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&#38;item=280092787105&#38;ssPageName=MERCOSI_VI_ROSI_PR4_PCN_BIX&#38;refitem=140110104730&#38;itemcount=4&#38;refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&#38;refwidgettype=osi_widget">Throne of Blood</a> currently open for bidding.</p> <p>. . and quite a few including <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/DODESKA-DEN-Kurosawa-RARE-Criterion-WS-2LD-Not-on-DVD_W0QQitemZ280114244486QQihZ018QQcategoryZ381QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem">Dodeskaden</a> if you do a search. This person also has <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&#38;item=280102367513&#38;ssPageName=MERC_VI_RSII_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT&#38;refitem=280114244486&#38;itemcount=4&#38;refwidgetloc=active_view_item&#38;usedrule1=ItemToItem&#38;refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget">The Bad Sleep Well</a> which doesn't appear on the Wiki list </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-183 Wed, 16 May 2007 07:53:40 +0000 Vili Maunula 183@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Criterion used to do LDs, right? </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-180 Tue, 15 May 2007 23:31:29 +0000 Jeremy 180@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Laserdisc had its moment here in the US for a short time, although I dont know much, I was in elementary school around its arrival. My only experience with them was from the boring learning programs the school would use them for.<br /> The only one who bought them where the limited A/V gurus that had to have to newest stuff and schools, the general public never got into it and it died off quickly.<br /> I bought one long after the Laserdisc was replaced by the DVD, only to view some releases that at the time where only VHS and LD. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-176 Tue, 15 May 2007 06:44:25 +0000 Vili Maunula 176@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Did the Laserdisc ever actually really take off anywhere else than Japan? At least in (Northern?) Europe it never really even arrived.</p> <p>A bit like Minidisc, which was supposed to be the next thing, but turned out to be the "no-thing". </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-173 Tue, 15 May 2007 04:24:02 +0000 Master Thief 173@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Thanks Jeremy. The shipping to NZ would be expensive and it might get damaged on the way as well. I should be able to pick one up locally eventually or find somebody who has one. There is a Pioneer DVL-919e on our local auction site so I might bid on that. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-171 Tue, 15 May 2007 00:29:07 +0000 Jeremy 171@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>The pioneer CLD-D703, is among the best, they are hard to find here in the States so I wouldnt think you'll have better luck, but its your best bet to give a good comparison between its DVD versions.</p> <p>I have a handful of LDs but have never seen any ones you have bought.</p> <p>I have a Pioneer CLD-D705 that I will pull from the closet to see if it still works, LD player tend to only last 10 years and die when not used. I wouldnt mind giving it to you, I have no use for it, just shipping to NZ would be pricey- that thing is heavy. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-170 Sun, 13 May 2007 23:40:21 +0000 Master Thief 170@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>I found a 1983 Laserdisc of Dersu Uzala on eBay and bought it. It is a Japanese pressing from Herald Enterprise and is spread over 3 sides. I am not sure if there is anything on the 4th side.</p> <p>As part of the same eBay purchase I also picked up 3 Toho Laserdiscs – Sanshiro Sugata I &#38; II and Kagemusha along with the Criterion Seven Samurai Laserdisc. </p> <p>Now my only problem is I don’t have a Laserdisc player and they never real caught on in New Zealand so second hand ones are rare. I am making some enquiries to see if I can find somebody who has one so I can see if the Dersu Uzala and the Sanshiro Sugatas are any better than any of the DVDs I have. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-145 Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:47:47 +0000 Master Thief 145@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>I tried to bid on this Criterion laserdisc but the seller had not opened it up for New Zealand bidders despite me contacting him. I don't have a laserdisc player, but I thought I should get this to check the quality. Anybody know what it is like?</p> <p><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&#38;item=140110104730&#38;ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:US:12">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&#38;item=140110104730&#38;ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:US:12</a> </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-144 Sun, 22 Apr 2007 08:25:06 +0000 Master Thief 144@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>It uses the same cover picture as the <a href="http://amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000LE0TVA/languagnewsfo-21">Artificial Eye</a> release, just a bit cropped. I also recently got a Spanish release by <a href="http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=3080132&#38;title=Dersu+Uzala%3A+El+Cazador%3A+Movie+(Pal%2FRC-0)">Divisa Home Video</a> which like the Artificial Eye is a repackaging of the 2001 <a href="http://www.ruscico.com/detail.php?lang=en&#38;film=36">Ruscico</a> release. The picture quality is the same but the choice of dubbed languages and sub-titles is different on all of them. I suspect this new one is the same.</p> <p>I am still waiting for the <a href="http://amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000GW8NMO/ref=nosim/languagnews02-21">French</a> &#38; <a href="http://www.asiandb.com/store/detail.pfm?num=1359">Spectrum</a> releases to arrive but am not hopeful that they will be any better.</p> <p>Anyway I feel that I need to check out everything that is available before we embark on our "Saving Dersu" project. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/saving-dersu-uzala#post-143 Sat, 21 Apr 2007 19:34:19 +0000 Vili Maunula 143@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>I have now sent mailing list invitations to the interested parties (i.e. those who have posted in this thread).</p> <p><strong>If you would like to join us in our discussion of how to save Dersu Uzala, please indicate it in this thread, and I will invite you to our private mailing list.</strong> </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-142 Sat, 21 Apr 2007 12:12:08 +0000 Vili Maunula 142@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Does anyone know anything about <a href="http://play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/608221/Dersu_Uzala/Product.html">this Dersu Uzala release</a>? I don't think I've seen the cover before, and it says "Due for release". The page just doesn't mention by which company.</p> <p>Could of course be one of those online store ghosts that sometimes pop up for now particularly good reason other than to confuse us fans. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/saving-dersu-uzala#post-122 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 12:10:17 +0000 Vili Maunula 122@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>I'll react to this within a week. I am still without an Internet connection at home, so arranging things online is a bit complicated at the moment. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/saving-dersu-uzala#post-116 Fri, 06 Apr 2007 04:37:21 +0000 Master Thief 116@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Probably the easiest thing at the moment is for Vili just to send a group email to those who have expressed an interest in the project and we can then starting communicating directly with each other. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/saving-dersu-uzala#post-115 Fri, 06 Apr 2007 01:16:48 +0000 Jeremy 115@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>In slightly related news...<br /> I dont have any specific details but Martin Scorsese will announce the creation of the World Cinema Foundation for preserving and restoring classic films, in the upcoming Cannes Film Festival. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/saving-dersu-uzala#post-109 Thu, 05 Apr 2007 06:10:24 +0000 Vili Maunula 109@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Great to see that there is so much enthusiasm for this! I'll get more involved once my Internet connection arrives.</p> <p>Regarding the issue with a public forum, I can also create private forums here, with access only for registered users (and possibly, I think, even for a subset of registered users, although I will have to double check on that one). Do you think that would work, or would a mailing list still be a better option? </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/saving-dersu-uzala#post-103 Tue, 03 Apr 2007 18:13:11 +0000 Jeremy 103@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>I have made contact to the A.K. Foundation, regarding a unrelated issue. The good news is between the emails pass, I slipped in a generic questions regarding contacting Hisao Kurosawa(son of AK) which is CEO of the foundation. The person mentioned that attempts to contact him are first filtered by his assistant but emails she reports as important although rare, he does read, and is capable of passing down the information to board directors Scorsese, Lucas, Spielberg, Saji, and Hamano. In the short time the emails have gone from formal inquires to informal and relaxed questions. A small step but I at least have some small relationship with one of the foundation assistants, that can in return possible provide contact to the assitant to Hisao, this may be helpful latter on.</p> <p>The emails I sent where to find information about the opening of the Kurosawa Museum planned this year. I will be going to Japan, some time in November. I am waiting for word about some other infomation regarding that.</p> <p>I would not be the best spokesperson about this project, but if I have my facts in order. If no one else will be going to Japan. I will make attempts to personally talk to Hisao. I am fairly crafty at getting what I want, and dont have much trouble arranging informal meetings with people otherwise very hard to get a hold of. </p> <p>Most of what I mention is hopeful thinking and in reality will require much effort but I got nothing to lose, and there lots of time to gather more information before my planned trip. I cant promise anything, other then I will be at the Foundation HQ. The chances are slim, but a shot of getting some interest generated is worth the effort. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/saving-dersu-uzala#post-97 Tue, 03 Apr 2007 07:36:55 +0000 Master Thief 97@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>I just realised that the Artificial Eye release is only a re-packaging of the <a href="http://www.russiandvd.com/store/product.asp?sku=30317&#38;genreid=&#38;genresubid=">Ruscico release</a> from 2001. I had been thinking that it was more recent. So maybe nobody has approached <a href="http://www.aha.ru/~filmfond/indexe.htm">Gosfilmofond</a> about it for a few years. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/saving-dersu-uzala#post-96 Tue, 03 Apr 2007 04:36:12 +0000 Master Thief 96@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>I have also just ordered the Korean <a href="http://www.asiandb.com/store/detail.pfm?num=1359">Spectrum</a> version and a Spanish one by <a href="http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=3080132&#38;title=Dersu+Uzala%3A+El+Cazador%3A+Movie+(Pal%2FRC-0)">Divisa Home video</a> in probably a forlorn hope that something better exists. </p> <p>I don't think this is going to be a simple project. If <a href="http://www.ruscico.com/main.php?lang=en">Ruscico</a> couldn't get the 70mm intenegative from <a href="http://www.aha.ru/~filmfond/indexe.htm">Gosfilmofond</a> then it will take some persuading for others to get hold of it. Anyway that's no reason to give up without trying. Let Watanabe be our inspiration to beat down the doors! </p>