Polish Cinema on DVD

Discuss internationally-released DVDs and Blu-rays or other international DVD and Blu-ray-related topics.
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Aunt Peg
Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2012 5:30 am

Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#651 Post by Aunt Peg » Fri Sep 29, 2017 4:58 am

Agnieszka Holland's latest film, which also happens to be Poland's submission for the Foreign Language Film category at the Academy Awards, Pokot (English title: Spoor) is available in Poland on Blu Ray with England Subtitles.

I'd already seen it at the cinema and was impressed enough to buy a copy. Needles so say the Blu Ray quality is excellent.

Also out in Poland, only on DVD with English and Spanish subtitles, is what is one of the most disturbing films I have ever seen, Plac Zabaw (English titles: Playground). Directed by Bartosz M. Kowalski, who is best known for his documentary work, this is a real jaw dropper. Apparently people walked out on mass at the World Premiere at the San Sebastian film festival last year. I can understand why. Whilst the film is not graphic, it goes where most of us don't want to. I didn't know what it was about when I saw it. View at your own peril.

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MichaelB
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
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Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#652 Post by MichaelB » Fri Sep 29, 2017 5:22 am

Saw it a year ago in Poland, with only about four walkouts (all at the same point). San Sebastian audiences must be a right bunch of jessies.

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zedz
Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:24 pm

Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#653 Post by zedz » Thu Nov 09, 2017 7:02 pm

djvaso wrote:Production company Studio filmowe TOR is celebrating its 50th anniversary by launching 25 digitally restored movies on Blu-ray in keepcase and Steelbook on September 22. Here is the list:
Ucieczka z kina Wolność (Escape from the 'Liberty' Cinema) (1990),
Dzieje grzechu (Story of Sin) (1975),
Zmory (Nightmares) (1979),
Bez Końca (No End) (1985),
Życie Rodzinne (Family Life) (1971) ,
Rok Spokojnego Słońca (A Year of the Quiet Sun) (1984),
Zaklęte Rewiry (Hotel Pacific) (1975),
Krótki Film o Miłości (A Short Film About Love) (1988),
Krótki Film o Zabijaniu (A Short Film About Killing) (1988),
Dreszcze (Shivers) (1981),
Spirala (The Spiral) (1978),
Constans (The Constant Factor) (1980),
Świadectwo Urodzenia (Birth Certificate) (1961),
Rejs (Cruise) (1970),
Barwy Ochronne (Camouflage) (1977),
Medium (1985),
Blizna (The Scar) (1976),
Zazdrość i Medycyna (Jealousy and Medicine) (1973),
300 Mil do Nieba (300 Miles to Heaven) (1989),
Szpital Przemienienia (Hospital of the Transfiguration) (1979),
Iluminacja (The Illumination) (1973),
Przypadek (Blind Chance) (1987),
Lekcja Martwego Języka (Lesson of the Dead language) (1979),
Struktura Kryształu (The Structure of Crystal) (1969),
Ryś (The Lynx) (1982).

All Blu-rays have English subtitles and modest price tag.
I got a bunch of these recently and watched my first one last night, Zanussi's The Structure of Crystals. The discs are bare-bones, but completely English-friendly, and the restoration / transfer looked excellent, not too heavily processed. Great film, too, that looks like it's going to head into all sorts of predictable dramatic territory that it deftly avoids. If Second Run, or Arrow, or anybody else wants to put together a Zanussi BluRay box set, the material is all here (and I'd love to hear Zanussi talk - about anything - as extras).

djvaso
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Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#654 Post by djvaso » Fri Nov 10, 2017 5:15 pm


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GaryC
Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:56 pm
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Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#655 Post by GaryC » Sun Jan 21, 2018 1:45 am

This thread is as good as any to mention that Mubi (in the UK at least) have just started a six-feature Krzysztof Zanussi retrospective, all streamed for the usual thirty days each.

The Structure of Crystal went live on Thursday, and forthcoming are Family Life, Illumination, Camouflage, The Constant Factor and Life is a Fatal Sexually Transmitted Disease. The last-named is in SD, the others HD.

I've not seen the first two and the last-named, so I will be watching these, and quite possibly the other three if I get the time to.

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furbicide
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2011 4:52 am

Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#656 Post by furbicide » Sun Jan 21, 2018 6:33 am

The Structure of Crystal and Illumination are both beautiful films; highly recommend starting with the former. The Constant Factor didn't work quite as well for me. Haven't seen the other three, but Family Life looks interesting.

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MichaelB
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
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Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#657 Post by MichaelB » Sun Jan 21, 2018 11:21 am

All the HD titles mentioned above are available on English-friendly Blu-ray in Poland.

g053584398
Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2016 3:35 pm

Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#658 Post by g053584398 » Mon Jan 29, 2018 6:32 pm

Has anyone here ever ordered from www.gandalf.com.pl? I'm based in the UK and would love to hear about your experiences of ordering from that site or indeed any other Polish DVD and Blu-ray retail websites.

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TheDoug
Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:14 pm

Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#659 Post by TheDoug » Mon Jan 29, 2018 6:45 pm

g053584398 wrote:Has anyone here ever ordered from www.gandalf.com.pl? I'm based in the UK and would love to hear about your experiences of ordering from that site or indeed any other Polish DVD and Blu-ray retail websites.
I have used the following on-line Polish stores without any ordering issues: Bluedvdpl.com, Punkt44pl.com, dvdmax.pl.com, empik.com. I am not familiar with the site you mentioned.

g053584398
Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2016 3:35 pm

Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#660 Post by g053584398 » Mon Jan 29, 2018 10:10 pm

TheDoug wrote:
g053584398 wrote:Has anyone here ever ordered from www.gandalf.com.pl? I'm based in the UK and would love to hear about your experiences of ordering from that site or indeed any other Polish DVD and Blu-ray retail websites.
I have used the following on-line Polish stores without any ordering issues: Bluedvdpl.com, Punkt44pl.com, dvdmax.pl.com, empik.com. I am not familiar with the site you mentioned.
I really appreciate your feedback! Do you have a personal favourite in terms of the sites that you listed?

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TheDoug
Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:14 pm

Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#661 Post by TheDoug » Tue Jan 30, 2018 7:37 am

g053584398 wrote:
TheDoug wrote:
g053584398 wrote:Has anyone here ever ordered from www.gandalf.com.pl? I'm based in the UK and would love to hear about your experiences of ordering from that site or indeed any other Polish DVD and Blu-ray retail websites.
I have used the following on-line Polish stores without any ordering issues: Bluedvdpl.com, Punkt44pl.com, dvdmax.pl.com, empik.com. I am not familiar with the site you mentioned.
I really appreciate your feedback! Do you have a personal favourite in terms of the sites that you listed?
I'd say bluedvdpl.com is good for prices and shipping and Punk44pl.com. Most of these use Paypal.

djvaso
Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 6:00 am
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Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#662 Post by djvaso » Tue Jan 30, 2018 12:58 pm

I used these stores:
- bluedvd.pl (1 order, 6 days for delivery),
- e-bluray.com.pl (1 order, 6 days for delivery),
- sklep.tvp.pl (1 order, 8 days for delivery),
- Prpgnd.net (1 order, 10 days for delivery).
All shipments were track-able.

PillowRock
Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2008 8:54 pm

Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#663 Post by PillowRock » Mon Feb 19, 2018 11:59 pm

A few days ago I discovered something that may be of interest to some Americans.

I ordered 4 items through Amazon.com, all from DVDMAXUS as a third party seller. My past experience had been that ordering multiple items from the same Amazon third party seller at the same time yielded a shipping chargethat was the single item shipping charges totaled. This time, with DVDMAX, the 4 items (each listing shipping at $4.99) yielded a shipping total of $7.99. (And one of the 4 items was the Jerzy Hoffman Trilogy blu-ray box set, which was $25 cheaper from them than from the other third party on Amazon.)

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TMDaines
Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:01 pm
Location: Stretford, Manchester

Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#664 Post by TMDaines » Sun May 27, 2018 11:30 am

djvaso wrote:Production company Studio filmowe TOR is celebrating its 50th anniversary by launching 25 digitally restored movies on Blu-ray in keepcase and Steelbook on September 22. Here is the list:
Ucieczka z kina Wolność (Escape from the 'Liberty' Cinema) (1990),
Dzieje grzechu (Story of Sin) (1975),
Zmory (Nightmares) (1979),
Bez Końca (No End) (1985),
Życie Rodzinne (Family Life) (1971) ,
Rok Spokojnego Słońca (A Year of the Quiet Sun) (1984),
Zaklęte Rewiry (Hotel Pacific) (1975),
Krótki Film o Miłości (A Short Film About Love) (1988),
Krótki Film o Zabijaniu (A Short Film About Killing) (1988),
Dreszcze (Shivers) (1981),
Spirala (The Spiral) (1978),
Constans (The Constant Factor) (1980),
Świadectwo Urodzenia (Birth Certificate) (1961),
Rejs (Cruise) (1970),
Barwy Ochronne (Camouflage) (1977),
Medium (1985),
Blizna (The Scar) (1976),
Zazdrość i Medycyna (Jealousy and Medicine) (1973),
300 Mil do Nieba (300 Miles to Heaven) (1989),
Szpital Przemienienia (Hospital of the Transfiguration) (1979),
Iluminacja (The Illumination) (1973),
Przypadek (Blind Chance) (1987),
Lekcja Martwego Języka (Lesson of the Dead language) (1979),
Struktura Kryształu (The Structure of Crystal) (1969),
Ryś (The Lynx) (1982).

All Blu-rays have English subtitles and modest price tag.
Are these available anywhere in Wrocław? Couldn’t see any sign of them in Empik or Media Markt.

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perkizitore
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:29 pm
Location: OOP is the only answer

Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#665 Post by perkizitore » Sun May 27, 2018 2:28 pm

I would also like to know if they are available in-store, I will be in Warsaw and Krakow next month.

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MichaelB
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
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Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#666 Post by MichaelB » Sun May 27, 2018 4:45 pm

I’m in Kraków right now, and I’ll have a look when I get a moment.

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MichaelB
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Polish Cinema on DVD

#667 Post by MichaelB » Tue May 29, 2018 5:38 am

I’ve had a look in two branches, but have drawn a complete blank - and I had a similar lack of success in Gdynia last year, which is why I ended up ordering them online.

I seem to recall that they’re an online exclusive to DVDMax/Punkt44 (the same company), and it may well be the case that they’re a retail exclusive to them as well.

Pretty much the only thing I spotted that might be of interest round these parts is the big new Kieslowski DVD collection, but I’ve argued elsewhere that you can probably put together a superior (and largely Blu-ray) alternative yourself.

Calvin
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2011 11:12 am

Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#668 Post by Calvin » Fri Nov 01, 2019 5:48 pm

Can anybody comment on the quality of the Blu-Ray release of Stanisław Różewicz's Birth Certificate / Świadectwo urodzenia? It's included in the set discussed above as well as individually.

djvaso
Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 6:00 am
Location: Serbia&Montenegro

Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#669 Post by djvaso » Tue Nov 19, 2019 2:42 pm

Ten movies from Studio Filmowe Kadr will be released on barebones Blu-rays with English subtitles by Alterdystrybucja:
- Kanał (1957),
- Nie lubię poniedziałku (I Hate Mondays) (1971),
- Poszukiwany, Poszukiwana (Man - Woman Wanted) (1973),
- Nie ma róży bez ognia (A Jungle Book of Regulations / There is no Rose without Fire) (1974),
- Noce i dnie (Nights and Days) (1975),
- Brunet wieczorową porą (A Brunet Will Call) (1976),
- Co mi zrobisz jak mnie złapiesz? (What Can You Do to Me if You Catch Me) (1978),
- Vabank (1981),
- Seksmisja (1984) &
- Vabank II, czyli riposta (1985).

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L.A.
Joined: Thu May 28, 2009 7:33 am
Location: Helsinki, Finland

Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#670 Post by L.A. » Wed Nov 27, 2019 12:12 pm

The restored Bestia (1917) starring Pola Negri is available on Blu-ray and with multiple subtitle options. Halka (1929) forthcoming apparently.

djvaso
Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 6:00 am
Location: Serbia&Montenegro

Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#671 Post by djvaso » Thu Nov 28, 2019 10:05 am

L.A. wrote:
Wed Nov 27, 2019 12:12 pm
The restored Bestia (1917) starring Pola Negri is available on Blu-ray and with multiple subtitle options. Halka (1929) forthcoming apparently.
International customers have to wait for the English version of the shop.

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senseabove
Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2015 3:07 am

Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#672 Post by senseabove » Thu Jan 02, 2020 1:58 pm

Not sure where else to put this, as it's a 4k announcement from a French label about a Polish film, but Le Chat Qui Fume announced a 4K UHD release of Zulawski's Possession to start off the new year.

And posted a photo of the canister for the negative they're preparing to scan.

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MichaelB
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Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#673 Post by MichaelB » Thu Jan 02, 2020 4:26 pm

It's not a Polish film. But it's certainly made by a Polish director, so I imagine here's as good a place as any.

Even more handily, it's natively in English - or at least I assume they'll respect this.

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TMDaines
Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:01 pm
Location: Stretford, Manchester

Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#674 Post by TMDaines » Sat Jan 18, 2020 9:53 am

djvaso wrote:
Tue Nov 19, 2019 2:42 pm
Ten movies from Studio Filmowe Kadr will be released on barebones Blu-rays with English subtitles by Alterdystrybucja:
- Kanał (1957),
- Nie lubię poniedziałku (I Hate Mondays) (1971),
- Poszukiwany, Poszukiwana (Man - Woman Wanted) (1973),
- Nie ma róży bez ognia (A Jungle Book of Regulations / There is no Rose without Fire) (1974),
- Noce i dnie (Nights and Days) (1975),
- Brunet wieczorową porą (A Brunet Will Call) (1976),
- Co mi zrobisz jak mnie złapiesz? (What Can You Do to Me if You Catch Me) (1978),
- Vabank (1981),
- Seksmisja (1984) &
- Vabank II, czyli riposta (1985).
What do people think of the 70s comedies on this list? I actually own a couple of them from the DMMS DVD releases, but might buy a few on Blu.

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L.A.
Joined: Thu May 28, 2009 7:33 am
Location: Helsinki, Finland

Re: Polish Cinema on DVD

#675 Post by L.A. » Thu Jan 23, 2020 11:41 am

The Last Stage (Wanda Jakubowska, 1948) has been restored and will be shown at Berlinale. Fingers crossed it comes to Blu, I understand the previous DVDs are best avoided.

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