The ’81 film is going to see both a special edition and limited edition release, the latter of which features sundry bonus features that die-hard fans will go nuts for.
Here are the specs for this limited edition (neither release has a street date yet, by the way).
MONDO VISION presents the first ever North American Blu-ray release of Andrzej Zulawski’s POSSESSION (1981) in an all new 2K digital transfer supervised and approved by the director. UNCUT & Fully Uncensored, this edition also marks the first ever release of the film in North America in its original Director’s Cut.*
The film is presented in the original aspect ratio of 1.66:1 along with an uncompressed mono audio soundtrack. This Dual Layer disc has been transferred and encoded using a high-frequency process which preserves as much of the detail and texture from the original film as is possible on the Blu-ray format. * See notes above regarding audio track.
DISC 1: THE FEATURE FILM
- Digitally Restored 1080p HD Transfer Approved by Director Andrzej Zulawski [124min]
EXTRAS: [4 Hr. 8 Mins.] [All extras except commentary come with Optional English Subtitles in White or Yellow]
- The Other Side of The Wall: The Making of POSSESSION [52min]
- Audio Commentary with Director Andrzej Zulawski [124min]
- Video Interview with Director Andrzej Zulawski [36min]
- Video Interview with Translator Eric Veaux [22min]
- Theatrical Trailer [3min]
- More from Mondo Vision [11min] [collection of 4 trailers from Andrzej Zulawski films – La Femme Publique, L’important C’est Da’imer, La’mour Braque, Szamanka
Note Regarding Omitted Extra Feature:During 1980s, the North American distributors removed 40 minutes from the film, and re-scored, re-arranged and visually altered the remaining 80, apparently to satisfy a commercial objective. The result stands as a textbook example of the power of re-editing in distorting a filmmaker’s vision. Sadly, this was the version seen by audiences during POSSESSION’s North American debut. MONDO VISION transferred and restored this 80min version from a 35mm release print in order to give audiences a rare chance to examine the damage done by a reckless pair of scissors. However, to avoid conflict with those responsible, a last minute decision was made not to include this version as part of the extras. For anyone interested to witness this travesty, we are considering to make it available online free of charge. Stay tuned for more details.
Disc 2: SOUNDTRACK CD [Digitally Remastered]
- This complete 32 track CD consists of all the music composed for the film, plus additional outtakes that did not make the final cut. Track 32 is a Bonus Track and exclusive to this MONDO VISION edition.
PLUS:
- 84pg Commemorative Booklet – Content rich including 4 Exclusive Essays + Rare and Insightful Archival Essays & Interviews (retranslated and published for the first time ever in English) + Rare Photos and Artwork.
Exclusive
- POSSESSION: A Brief Review By Tom Huddleston, TIME OUT (2012)
- God Figured as a Public Whore Gone Crazy: Notes on Andrzej Zulawski’s POSSESSION (1981), An Essay By Daniel Bird (2009)
- POSSESSION: An Essay By Jeremiah Kipp (2011)
- Pink Socks and Monsters: Excess in Andrzej Zulawski’s POSSESSION: An Essay By Todd Garbarini (2010)
Archival:
- “Cinema Superactivity”: Extracts From An Interview With Andrzej Zulawski — By Daniel Bird & Stephen Thrower (Spring 1998)
- Double Apocalypse in Berlin: POSSESSION: By Max Tessier (1981)
- Doubles Working in Concert (POSSESSION): By Hubert Niogret (1981)
- POSSESSION by Andrzej Zulawski: By Max Tessier (1981)
- POSSESSION, Andrzej Zulawski: By Carine Varène (1981)
- The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters: By Stephen Thrower (1998)
- 8 [ 5×7 ] U.S. Lobby Card Reproductions Inside Custom Envelope
- 5 [ 4×6 ] Exclusive Art Cards [ Original Paintings Courtesy of French Artist Jean-Philippe Guigou ]
- 1 Japanese Movie Flyer Reproduction
- Individually Numbered Certificate Of Authenticity With Unique Serial # [ Only 2000 Individually Numbered Sets Produced ]
PACKAGING:
This edition of POSSESSION features a fully illustrated matte laminated Hardcover Box with magnetic enclosure + a separate Hardcover Slipcase with die-cut window. The slipcase is fully wrapped with import European blue velvet. The die-cut window reveals the original poster art from the magnetic box once the slipcase is on. Silver hot stamping is used throughout the packaging to highlight the title and the credits. Inside of the magnetic box features a foldout matte laminated 6-panel digipak, shiny black trays to hold the Discs + a Hardcover magnetic pocket to store the 84pg booklet and the remaining contents. The silver hot stamping theme is carried throughout the inside. This is our biggest Limited Edition yet, with a shipping weight of 2 pounds (0.91kg) and the following dimensions:
In Inches: 7.7″ (H) x 6.1″ (W) x 1.67″ (D)
In Millimeters: 195 (H) x 155 (W) x 42 (D)
The special edition breaks down like this:
DISC 1: THE FEATURE FILM
- Digitally Restored 1080p HD Transfer Approved by Director Andrzej Zulawski [124min]
EXTRAS: [4 Hr. 8 Mins.][All extras except commentary come with Optional English Subtitles in White or Yellow]
- The Other Side of The Wall: The Making of POSSESSION [52min]
- Audio Commentary with Director Andrzej Zulawski [124min]
- Video Interview with Director Andrzej Zulawski [36min]
- Video Interview with Translator Eric Veaux [22min]
- Theatrical Trailer [3min]More from Mondo Vision [11min] [collection of 4 trailers from Andrzej Zulawski films]La Femme Publique, L’important C’est Da’imer, La’mour BraqueSzamanka
PLUS:
- 24-page Booklet Featuring an Essay by Daniel Bird
