Second Run DVD brings you Illumination by Krzysztof Zanussi and other releases.
Second Run DVD, the fine UK-based label which is specialized in obscure (but magnificent) releases from East-Europa has some very nice things for us in the future.
First there is Illumination by Krzysztof Zanussi.
Unanimous winner of all three main prizes at the 1973 Locarno International Film Festival, Zanussi's landmark film is a dazzling kaleidoscope of ideas and images. Illumination explores the life of a self-absorbed young physicist trying to understand his place in the universe. He thinks science will provide the answers, but ultimately learns far more about himself through experiencing love, betrayal, loss, and facing his own mortality.
As much a philosophical essay as a narrative feature Illumination is a cinematic mosaic combining art and science, intellect and emotion. Innovatively structured, this unflinching examination of one man's life became an iconic cultural marker for a whole generation.
The DVD is presented from a superb new high-definition restoration of the film, approved by the director and contains the short A Trace (Ślad) - Marcin Latałło's acclaimed 1996 film about his late father, the lead actor in Illumination, Stanisław Latałło plus a new interview with Zanussi and a booklet featuring a new essay by film critic and author Michał Oleszczyk.
Also out is Ikarie XB 1
Jindřich Polák's pioneering and much-imitated feature Ikarie XB 1 is one of the cornerstones of contemporary sci-fi cinema. It predates Star Trek and Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey and was clearly an influence on both, as well as on almost every other science-fiction work that followed.
Adapted from Stanisław Lem's 1955 novel The Magellanic Cloud, the film is set in 2163 and follows a mission deep into space in search of alien life. During their perilous journey the crew confront the effects of a malignant dark star, the destructive legacy of the 20th century and, ultimately, the limits of their own sanity. With outstanding design and cinematography, Ikarie XB 1 is imbued with a seriousness, intelligence and attention to detail rarely seen in science-fiction cinema of the period. Second Run are delighted to present this seminal work of fantasy cinema for the first time ever in the UK.
The DVD is presented in a new anamorphic transfer with restored picture and sound and features a new filmed appreciation by author and critic Kim Newman and a new essay by writer and film historian Michael Brooke.
Another release is One.Two.One by Mania Akbari.
Mania Akbari, star of Abbas Kiarostami's Ten, is one of Iran's most distinctive filmmakers and One. Two. One is her most confrontational work, whose banning finally led to her exile from Iran.
Composed of rhythmically structured and meticulously planned long takes, the film presents a series of conversational pieces connected to a beautiful woman named Ava whose face has been disfigured in an acid attack. Truths emerge in close-up and a narrative of love, loss and renewal unfolds.
Transgressive and deeply critical of a society where women are considered inferior to men, Akbari also questions the concept of beauty and the weight placed upon it by her society. Her protagonist Ava also functions as a metaphor for the scars her country bears, making this deceptively modest film inherently rich in courage and ideas.
"This disarmingly, deceptively simple film,which takes the form of a series of dialogues, brilliantly played by a sizable cast and directed with a magnificent sense of rhythm, light and movement" Chris Fujiwara
On their third long player, Rabia Sorda lash out with a refreshingly raw fusion of Electro, Industrial, Punk and Wave. Hotel Suicide is released as a deluxe 2CD and breaks loose from the speakers like a thunderstorm!
Rabia Sorda is anger set to music. On his newest outing Hotel Suicide, Hocico-front man Erk Aicrag has mastered the nigh impossible feat of capturing the brute force and sincerity of his live shows on record. The songs go right for the emotional center like a fist in your face and then rumble through your body like a runaway freight train, while effectively mingling the dark heavy atmosphere of Post Punk with the direct and aggressive approach of Hardcore and Punk on a cocktail of electronics, harsh drums, wild buzz-saw guitars and straightforwardly catchy melodies. “Hotel Suicide” is 100% gut feeling that is unleashed in form of the most explosive sonic bastard of Industrial, Post Punk and Electroclash this year! As a special bonus, the first pressing of the album will contain the exclusive bonus disc “Room 13” which contains two more unreleased songs, remixes by OST+FRONT, Forgotten Sunrise and many more, plus six energetic live tracks, recorded in Leipzig at the end of 2012. Songs like salvos from an automatic gun: welcome to Hotel Suicide! Viva la Revolución!
Hotel Suicide
1. Indestructible
2. Turbulence
3. Deaf
4. Abwesend
5. Hotel Suicide
6. Dibujando El Veneno
7. Eye M The Blacksheep
8. Somewhere Along The Road
9. Marionette
10. Abuse Me
11. Killing Words
12. Noviembre Arde
Room 13 (Bonus CD)
1. Morbid Circus
2. Two Bullets
3. Hotel Suicide (Aesthetic Perfection remix)
4. Indestructible (Ost+Front remix)
5. Turbulence (Forgotten Sunrise remix)
6. Somewhere Along The Road (Formalin remix)
7. Deaf (Terrolokaust remix)
Live in Leipzig 10.11.2012:
8. Out Of Control
9. Radio Paranoia
10. Money Talks (and rots)
11. Save me from my Curse
12. Eye M The Blacksheep
13. Walking on Nails
After extensive European Tours with Deathstars, Tiamat and Wednesday 13, the dark Swiss export band returns to celebrate their 10th anniversary with a new concept.
The powerful fourth release (working title: GOLDMARIE) will be the first entirely written in Greman and is produced by the renowned Berlin producer “Steve van Velvet”.
Bittersweet melodies meet brutal force in an unknown quality, as if STONEMAN want to prove to play in the upper class of headline bands. They will erect a monument for themselves by their upcoming work.
Founding member Mikki (vox) and Rico H (drums) have picked the best musicians from the Highland Country and present a new lineup completed by Jadro (guitar) and Dee (bass).
Here they are Italian's finest....and who knows even world's finest band in the universe. Peek-A-Boo proudly presents their newest video which is simply stunning......
Covenant are announcing a next limited edition single of their current album release “Leaving Babylon”, which – despite popular competition - still ranks nr. 1 in the German Alternative Charts (DAC) this week.
The single track will be Ignorance & Bliss, one of the strongest tracks of the record yet. Apart from the usual A-side mix by Covenant, some very high profile remixers are working on the track as we speak. Phase two of the rocket launch commences in March 2014.
