Eureka Entertainment has announced its June batch of Blu-ray releases. They are:Heart of Stone (1950), Hong Kong 1941 (1984), and Exact Revenge: The Eunuch & The Deadly Knives (1971-1972).
In 1950, DEFA – the state-owned film studio of East Germany or the GDR – embarked on what would prove to be a long tradition of producing films based on folktales by the likes of Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm. German author Wilhelm Hauff provided the source for the studio's first folktale: The Cold Heart, which became Das kalte Herz or Heart of Stone. The first East German production to be shot in colour, it remained one of the most successful films the GDR ever produced until DEFA's dissolution in 1992.
Peter Munk (Lutz Moik) lives in the Black Forest with his mother (Lotte Loebinger) and makes a modest living selling charcoal in the nearest town. He is deeply in love with the beautiful Lisbeth (Hanna Rucker) and equally as jealous of the arrogant Ezechiel (Paul Esser), a wealthy merchant who frequents the local tavern. Desperate to improve his social standing, Peter appeals to a mischievous forest spirit – the Glass Imp (Paul Bildt) – for help. The Imp grants Peter two wishes, but only with strict conditions attached that leave him wanting more. He then turns to the infamous Dutch Michael (Erwin Geschonneck), a reclusive warlock who can give Peter anything his heart desires – but only if he's willing to exchange his heart for one made of stone.
By turns whimsical, weird and darkly macabre, Heart of Stone is an arrestingly beautiful work of fantasy that established a template for DEFA's future folktales – including a penchant for scenes likely to induce nightmares in children – and was swiftly followed by the likes of The Devil from Mill Mountain, The Singing Ringing Tree and Rumpelstiltskin. The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present Heart of Stone on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK from an astonishing 2K restoration by the DEFA Foundation.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW 2K RESTORATION of the original 35mm camera negative by the DEFA Foundation
Optional English subtitles on the main feature and accompanying shorts, newly revised for this release
New audio commentary by DEFA historian Seán Allan, author of Screening Art: Modernist Aesthetics and the Socialist Imaginary in East German Cinema
Once Upon a Time in the East – new interview with Soviet cinema expert Claire Knight on Heart of Stone and children's media in the Eastern Bloc
Tales from the Black Forest – new video essay on Heart of Stone, folktales and gothic horror by film and literature scholar Mary Going
The Bremen Town Musicians (Bruno J. Böttge, 1954) – silhouette folktale short produced by the DEFA Studio for Animation Film
The Magic Ring ( Bruno J. Böttge, 1957) – silhouette folktale short produced by the DEFA Studio for Animation Film
Thumbelina's Adventures (Christl Wiemer, 1958) – animated folktale short produced by the DEFA Studio for Animation Film
Original theatrical trailer
Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Carly-AF [2000 copies]
Limited edition collector's booklet featuring new writing on Heart of Stone by Qinna Shen, author of The Politics of Magic: DEFA Fairy-Tale Films [2000 copies]
A versatile British-Chinese filmmaker whose career has spanned nearly fifty years, Po-Chih Leong has worked in a variety of genres, from action in Foxbat to horror in The Island, comedy in Ping Pong and the gangster movie in Shanghai 1920, which was nominated for Best Feature at the Chicago International Film Festival. His masterpiece, though, is Hong Kong 1941 – an affecting war drama starring Cecilia Yip (Nomad), Alex Man (Rich and Famous) and Chow Yun-fat (The Killer) in his breakout role.
Produced by Sammo Hung, Hong Kong 1941 follows three Hongkongers forced to negotiate life under occupation as their homeland falls to the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. Ha Yuk-nam (Yip) is a young woman locked in a love triangle with her close friends Yip Kim-fei (Chow) and Wong Hak-keung (Man). As they dream of escape, their complicated personal relationships play out against the background of oppression and brutality that was brought to Hong Kong by Japanese rule between 1941 and 1945.
A story of loyalty and love, Leong's film deals with one of the darkest periods in Hong Kong's history and was nominated for no less than eight awards at the 1985 Hong Kong Film Awards – winning for its breathtaking cinematography by Brian Lai (The Postman Strikes Back). It also launched Chow Yun-fat to stardom two years before his first collaboration with John Woo in A Better Tomorrow. The Masters of Cinema series is honoured to present the film on Blu-ray for the first time outside of Asia.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM
Original Cantonese mono audio track
Optional English dub
Optional English subtitles, newly translated for this release
New audio commentary by East Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
Hong Kong 1984 – new video essay by Tony Rayns on the contemporary impact of Hong Kong 1941
Archival interview with Chow Yun-fat
Archival interview with Cecilia Yip
Original theatrical trailer
Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Time Tomorrow
Limited edition collector's booklet featuring new writing on Hong Kong 1941 and Po-Chih Leong by Gary Bettinson, editor of Asian Cinema journal
Revenge is and has always been one of the most popular and prolific themes in Hong Kong cinema, from classic wuxia epics to kung fu movies and heroic bloodshed films. During the 1970s, Shaw Brothers Studio was the largest production company operating in Hong Kong and the king of the vengeance tale. Presented here are two of the studio's most interesting and underrated takes on the revenge story: The Eunuch and The Deadly Knives (or Fists of Vengeance).
A wuxia pian written by the legendary Lo Wei (Fist of Fury) and directed by Teddy Yip (The Black Tavern), The Eunuch begins as the eponymous eunuch Gui De-hai (Pai Ying, The Valiant Ones) survives an attempt on his life ordered by the Emperor (Lo Wei himself). After killing the Emperor and his family in cold blood, Gui notices that the Prince is missing – and sets out to complete his revenge mission. Then, Ching Li (Four Riders) and Ling Yun (Killer Clans) star in the kung fu film The Deadly Knives as young lovers Guan Yue-hua and Yan Zi-fei, whose relationship is tested when Yan's family comes under threat by Japanese thugs led by Ogawa (Ching Miao, The Shadow Boxer). He becomes determined to avenge their honour – even if that means taking on Guan's corrupt father.
The Eunuch and The Deadly Knives were made just as the wuxia film was giving way to the kung fu movie in the wake of Bruce Lee's international success, and provide a fascinating insight into how the theme of revenge was retooled as one genre superseded another. Eureka Classics presents both films on Blu-ray for the first time anywhere in the world.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
High-definition presentations of both films
Original Mandarin audio tracks
Optional English dub for The Deadly Knives
Optional English subtitles, newly revised for this release
New audio commentary on The Eunuch by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
New audio commentary on The Deadly Knives by Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Grégory Sacré (Gokaiju)
Limited edition collector's booklet featuring new writing on both films in this set by writer and film critic James Oliver