Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

The Inland Sea Blu-ray Movie Review

An absorbing documentary reflecting on the beauty of Japan

Donald Richie wrote an intimate and beloved account of his travels to Japan with the 1971 publication of The Inland Sea. Inspired and profoundly moved by the writing on Richie, filmmaker Lucille Carra (The Last Wright, Dvorak and America) approached the acclaimed writer about adapting his writing into a documentary twenty years later. Produced in 1991 by Brian Cotnoir and Lucille Carra, The Inland Sea is an intimate portrait of the culture, the landscape, and the people of Japan.

Featuring narration by Donald Richie (who adapted his narration from his book of the same name), The Inland Sea is an award-winning documentary which should be considered essential viewing for those invested in and fascinated by Japanese culture. Richie is an exceptional tour guide for the film and makes the experience feel greatly enriching and deeply satisfying. There are many personal insights from Richie's writings which bring viewers a personal perspective on the country that is intimate and rewarding. The abundant love of Japan by Richie is apparent and the filmmaking reflects that passion.

One of the things which can make or break a documentary is the way in which the cinematography is handled alongside the direction. If the filmmakers can capably produce a beautiful and intimate film, the results are often far more rewarding. The Inland Sea is no exception to this key idea and the film features stunning cinematography by Hiro Narita (The Rocketeer, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country). This is a filmed work of art which completely transported me to Japan and showcased the country's enormous beauty.

Peace. Tranquility. Wonder.

There are so many striking images to behold: the ebb and flow of the sea, the looming mountains, the radiance of sunlight passing through clouds, the beautiful temples, and other natural environments in Japan. I was simply blown away by how stunning the country is and how wonderfully composed the shots were. So many frames looked radiant and like they would make great framed pieces of artwork.

One of the most haunting and evocative aspects of The Inland Sea is the score composed by the legendary Toru Takemitsu (Ran, Harakiri, Woman in the Dunes). What a beautiful, tranquil, and mesmerizing score to experience and coming from a master composer: to hear this music is to also reflect on the beauty of art. Takemitsu's compositions are a perfect accompaniment to the journey taken.

This film is far more than just a series of beautiful images of sea and land (though it features an abundance of striking images of Japan). The film features a number of fascinating glimpses into Japanese culture with the filmmakers exploring the world of a Buddhist Priest (Keijo Hasegawa), a calligraphy writer (Akira Hamada), a young fisherman (Tatsuya Hatanaka), and a newspaper delivery lady (Fujie Ozawa).

The Inland Sea is more personal than a typical travelogue. As the documentary unfolds, the Kan'on Ji Temple named Shodoshima, The Sanagimigima Grammar School, and The Hiroshima Fisheries are all given a moment of exploration. The film even showcases prayer as the filmmakers experience intimate moments in the lives of Japanese people. By the time the end credits arrived, I felt a deep sense of awe. It's films like these that remind us of what we love about the cinema: we get to experience a reflection of our love for people, our world, and the beauty of humankind.

The Inland Sea Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Inland Sea is presented on Blu-ray from the Criterion Collection with a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation. The transfer comes from a brand new 4K scan. The digital transfer was supervised by cinematographer Hiro Narita. The transfer on this release was approved by director Lucille Carra. The film is presented in the original 1.66:1 widescreen theatrical aspect ratio.

The release includes a note from the Criterion Collection on the restoration: "This new digital transfer was created in 4K resolution on a Lasergraphics Director film scanner from the 16mm A/B negative at Metropolis Post in New York. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches, splices, and warps were manually removed using MTI Film's DRS, while Digital Vision's Phoenix was used for jitter, flicker, and small dirt."

The exceptional 4K restoration completed by Criterion on this release speaks volumes of the company's dedication to film preservation and restorative efforts. This is a stunning presentation that is clean, clear, and altogether stunning. The one and only downside to this release is some inherent softness to the image and a somewhat muted color palette. These aspects are unsurprising given the 16mm source footage. However, Criterion preserved the feature beautifully and I was completely transported to Japan for the entirety of this documentary. The Inland Sea has received an exceptional transfer.

The Inland Sea Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Matching the exceptional transfer on this release is the uncompressed lossless PCM 2.0 stereo audio presentation. This is an absorbing and impressive lossless audio track that capably reproduces dialogue throughout the documentary. Even small details in the sound design are well reproduced: the sounds of boats at sea, birds flying through the sky, and buses traveling down the road. Sound recordist Tom Hartig did an exceptional job. Detail is exceptional and the clarity of the audio track does not disappoint. The melodic music is also beautifully reproduced. It's clear that there was great care and attention to detail given to restoring the audio. The documentary is presented in English and Japanese with English subtitles.

The Criterion Collection includes a note on the audio restoration: "The original stereo soundtrack was remastered from a 35mm magnetic DME track. Clicks, thumps, hiss, hum, and crackle were manually removed using Pro Tools HD and iZotope RX." Optional English SDH subtitles (for the deaf and hard of hearing) are also provided.

The Inland Sea Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

A printed essay written by author Arturo Silva is included inside of the case.

On disc supplemental features include the following:

Lucille Carra (HD, 17 min. 07 sec.) is a brand new interview recorded for the Criterion Collection in 2019. This insightful interview with the filmmaker of The Inland Sea showcases the gifted director discussing her approach to the project and the source of her inspiration. Carra explores how she was influenced by and motivated to make the film based upon reading the original source novel written by Donald Richie. Richie's love for Japan moved her greatly and she delves into how she approached him about adapting his writing into a feature. This is a informative and insightful interview which should be considered a must-see for fans of The Inland Sea.

Paul Schrader and Ian Buruma (HD, 14 min. 44 sec.) is a new conversational interview conducted for the Criterion Collection in 2019. The subject of the interview is "Remembering Donald Richie" and the featurette delves into the man behind the reflective account and travelogue of a visit to Japan which led to the film's production. With filmmaker Paul Schrader and critic Ian Buruma both involved for this new interview, the pair delves into their personal thoughts, feelings, and views on their close friend and his significant contributions as an artist.

Donald Richie (HD, 10 min. 31 sec.) is a vintage interview shot on film from The Inland Sea director Lucille Carra in 1991 (at the time of the film's production). This is an essential view for anyone who was moved by the documentary feature. As the author discuses his work in this superb interview he delves into the culture of Japan, the beauty of the country's natural environments, and inspiration behind telling his story with The Inland Sea. Richie, regarded as an important cultural figure for his written account of his visit to Japan, brings both his great pathos and intelligence to the table with this essential interview.

The Inland Sea Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I have always wanted to visit and explore the great country of Japan. Someday, I hope to make that personal dream of mine become a reality. Until that time arrives, I am eternally grateful that there are filmmakers as talented as Lucille Carra and writers as insightful as Donald Richie who have helped to document the many wonders of Japan for the world to behold. There is something magical about the culture, the people, and the tranquil environment of Japan.

The Inland Sea is far more than a travelogue: this is art which brings viewers to Japan and explores the country on a multifaceted level. The Criterion Collection has done an exceptional job with this release and have provided the film with a high-quality 4K restoration from the negative, an exceptional audio-track, and some highly engaging and informative supplemental features which help round out the release and make it essential. This Blu-ray release deserves my highest recommendation.