The Carpenter
⍟ Vinegar Syndrome ⍟
VS-492 SLIP
Gold Gems Canada | 1988 | 86 min | 1.85:1 | English DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo
Directed by David Wellington
Starring: Wings Hauser, Lynne Adams, Pierre Lenoir, Barbara Jones, Louise-Marie Mennier, Johnny Cuthbert
This special limited edition spot gloss slipcover (designed by JJ Harrison) is limited to 5,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Alice Jarett, recently released from a mental hospital, is taken by her husband Martin to their new and spacious home, located deep in the countryside, for which Martin has hired a group of builders to complete its renovation. In the middle of the night, something stirs Alice awake, and as she goes to investigate, she is shocked to discover a remaining carpenter hard at work in the wee hours. Besieged by loneliness, Alice strikes up a casual friendship with the mysterious man, inviting him to continue working at his leisure. But as prowlers and unwanted guests begin turning up at the home, sometimes to harass, sometimes to menace, and sometimes to attack Alice, her carpenter always seems to be on hand to gorily dispatch anyone who comes too close. Has she found her guardian angel? Is she, in fact, a delusional psychopath? Or does the carpenter have his own axe to grind?
An off-the-wall and thoroughly bizarre slasher produced in Quebec by American exploiteer Jack Bravman (Snuff, Zombie Nightmare), director David Wellington’s THE CARPENTER offers an oddball storyline, gruesome kills, and a jaw-dropping starring performance from the one-and-only Wings Hauser (Vice Squad). Vinegar Syndrome is delighted to bring this sleeper classic of late 80s horror to Blu-ray, newly restored in 2K from the best existing film elements and featuring a making-of documentary consisting of new interviews with cast and crew, including star Wings Hauser.
Additional info:
- Region Free Blu-ray
- Newly scanned & restored in 2K from a 35mm release print
- Commentary track with director David Wellington and writer Doug Taylor
- Commentary track with William Morris and John Dickson of The Oscarbate Film Collective and Podcast
- “Aggressively Itself” (33 min) – a making-of documentary featuring interviews with the cast and crew
- “Tools to Play With” (8 min) – an interview with actor Wings Hauser
- Reversible sleeve artwork
- English SDH subtitles
White Cannibal Queen
⍟ Vinegar Syndrome ⍟
VS-493 SLIP
Titanic Film | 1980 | 91 min | 1.66:1 | Italian, English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
Directed by Jess Franco
Starring: Al Cliver, Sabrina Siani, Jérôme Foulon, Lina Romay, Shirley Knight, Antonio Mayans, Olivier Mathot
This special limited edition spot gloss slipcover (designed by Suspirialand) is limited to 5,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
During the course of a tropical expedition, Jeremy Taylor and his family become the unsuspecting prey of a primitive and cannibalistic tribe. While his wife is savagely killed and devoured, and Jeremy’s arm is also dismembered and devoured, his young daughter is instead taken prisoner by the tribe. Years later, Jeremy has not given up hope of rescuing his daughter and, with the aid of some friends, organizes a new expedition to bring her home. However, to his shock and dismay, he discovers that her white skin and blonde hair have caused her to become worshipped as a god by the cannibals and that she has gained a tolerance for consuming human flesh.
An expectedly outrageous lo-fi cannibal film from Euro-sleaze master Jess Franco (Venus in Furs), this delectable marvel of bad taste stars Al Cliver (The Beyond), Sabrina Siani (2020 Texas Gladiators), Olivier Mathot (Draguse), Franco regular Antonio Mayans (Night of Open Sex) and, of course, his wife and muse Lina Romay (Female Vampire). Bursting with the bizarre and transgressive creative flair for which Franco is known, on top of plentiful gut munching and other perversity, WHITE CANNIBAL QUEEN (aka La Dea Cannibale) remains a fascinating outlier from Franco’s transition between more commercial and erotically-minded fare and his plunge into almost outsider art weirdness throughout the 80s. Vinegar Syndrome is delighted to present this oft-overlooked effort on Blu-ray for the first time, newly scanned and restored in 2K from its 35mm camera negative.
Additional info:
- Region Free Blu-ray
- Newly scanned & restored in 2K from its 35mm original camera negative
- Presented in both its original Italian language soundtrack with newly translated English subtitles and the English language dub track
- Commentary track with film historians Eugenio Ercolani and Troy Howarth
- “Jungle Holocaust” (31 min) – an interview with actor Antonio Mayans
- “Sardonic Cannibals” (33 min) – an interview with Stephen Thrower, author of Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jess Franco
- “European Cannibals” (33 min) – an interview with film historian Eugenio Ercolani
- “Meat Market” (28 min) – an interview with film historian Alessio Di Rocco
- Alternate English language titles
- Reversible sleeve artwork
- English translated & SDH subtitles
The Mansion of Madness
⍟ Vinegar Syndrome Labs ⍟
VSL-015 SLIP
Prisma Productions | 1972 | 84 min | 1.85:1 | English, Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
Directed by Juan López Moctezuma
Starring: Arthur Hansel, Claudio Brook, Ellen Sherman, Martin LaSalle, David Silva
Welcome Vinegar Syndrome Labs (VSL) to the VS Sub-Label family! As with each of our sub-labels we are hoping to expand and defy expectations with the diversity of films we restore and release. As the name implies, VSL will serve as a kind of testing area for releasing genres and eras of film that one might not immediately expect to come from VS. The ultimate objective of VSL will be to see if these types of films will find an audience, and if so, pursue and release more of them…and even if not, still serve as a means of restoring more of the weird, rare, and unusual movies you might not expect from Vinegar Syndrome.
This special limited edition spot gloss slipcover (designed by Adam Maida) is limited to 3,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Journalist Gaston LeBlanc travels deep into the woods of France in order to investigate a mental institution run by the famed Dr. Maillard, who purports to have developed an experimental form of treatment for his patients, which he deems to be more “soothing.” Once Gaston and his entourage arrive just outside the institution walls, they are immediately greeted by a hostile display from the guards. Being the only one allowed inside, Gaston meets with Dr. Maillard, who gives him a tour of the facility and explains his new treatment method, seemingly allowing the patients to roam the grounds freely and engage in their own delusions. Gaston is also introduced to Dr. Maillard’s beautiful niece, Eugénie, who he is warned is more dangerous than she appears. As Gaston spends more time in the institution, he becomes wary of Dr. Maillard’s intentions as the patients engage in an almost cult-like worship of him, and soon, Gaston begins to question what is actually taking place inside the sanitorium walls.
The directorial debut of infamous Mexican director Juan López Moctezuma (Alucarda), THE MANSION OF MADNESS (aka Dr. Tarr’s Torture Dungeon) is loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether.” Mixing gothic horror elements with contemporary absurdism, THE MANSION OF MADNESS uses stunning visuals clearly inspired by Moctezuma’s peer Alejandro Jodorowsky (El Topo) in order to satirize medical treatment theories. Featuring engaging performances by Arthur Hansel (10 to Midnight) as Gaston and Claudio Brook (The Devil’s Rain) as the deranged Dr. Maillard, Vinegar Syndrome Labs is proud to present this unique blend of literary horror and absurdist imagery on Blu-ray and newly restored in 4K from the original camera negative.
Additional info:
- Region Free Blu-ray
- Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative
- Presented in both its original English language soundtrack and its Spanish language dub track with newly translated English subtitles
- Commentary track with Mexican film historian and author Francisco Peredo
- “Surreal Experiment” (16 min) – an interview with actress Ellen Sherman
- “Room for Play” (6 min) – an interview with production designer Gabriel Weisz Carrington
- “Art in 24 Frames Per Second” (15 min) – an interview with Alessandra Moctezuma, daughter of director Juan López Moctezuma
- “Alucardos: Portrait of a Vampire” (89 min) – a feature-length documentary from 2011 on director Juan López Moctezuma
- Alternate Spanish language titles
- Original English language trailer
- Reversible sleeve artwork
- English translated & SDH subtitles
Female Perversions
⍟ Cinématographe ⍟
CIN-015 CASE
Hope Runs High | 1996 | 115 min | 1.85:1 | English DTS-HD MA 2.0
Directed by Susan Streitfeld
Starring: Tilda Swinton, Amy Madigan, Karen Sillas, Frances Fisher, Clancy Brown, Laila Robbins, Dale Shuger
Taking its name from the Lumière Brothers invention of the same name, Cinématographe is a new sub-label from Vinegar Syndrome that seeks to fill gaps in the canon of American cinema. Offering a mix of auteur driven studio films produced during the New Hollywood era of the late 1960s and 70s all the way through the indie boom of the 1980s and 90s, Cinématographe will explore the wide breadth of American moviemaking, spanning numerous genres and scales of production. Curated and produced by Vinegar Syndrome’s Justin LaLiberty, each limited edition release will be housed in a specially designed, cloth-bound, media book with embossed foil titles and custom molded disc trays accompanied by a slipcase featuring newly commissioned art and an individually numbered J-card.
This special limited edition J-card MediaBook slipcase (designed by Jillian Adel) is limited to 3,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Eve Stephens (Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin), an ambitious and successful trial lawyer in Los Angeles, is up for appointment as a judge while juggling her proclivity for meaningless sex and her relationship with her kleptomaniac sister Madelyn (Amy Madigan, Field of Dreams). As she navigates intimate relationships with both male and female partners, including geologist John (Clancy Brown, Blue Steel) and psychiatrist Renee (Karen Sillas, Simple Men), Eve finds fantasy and reality converging, leading to a tense climax that will decide her personal and professional fate.
A contender for the Grand Jury Prize at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival, FEMALE PERVERSIONS marks the feature film debut of director and co-writer Susan Streitfeld as well as the American film debut of Tilda Swinton. Based on the 1991 psychology text Female Perversions: The Temptations of Emma Bovary by Louise J. Kaplan, Streitfeld’s film is an inspired amalgamation of erotic drama and psychological thriller set within the cutthroat environs of the Los Angeles justice system. Long unavailable on home video, Cinématographe is proud to present the world blu-ray release of Susan Streitfeld’s daring foray into the perverse in a brand new restoration from its original 35mm camera negative.
Additional info:
- Region A Blu-ray
- New audio commentary by film critic and historian Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
- Coming Back Around – a new video interview with director and co-writer Susan Streitfeld
- A Real Story – a new video interview with co-writer Julie Hébert
- Ahead of its Time – a new video interview with cinematographer Teresa Medina
- Jumping Through Hoops – a new video interview with actress Karen Sillas
- The Soul of Film – a new video interview with actress Frances Fisher
- No Egos – a new video conference with actress Dale Shuger
- New text essays by film critic Kate Hagen, essayist Philippa Snow and culture writer Madelyn Sutton
- English SDH subtitles
Joy of Sex
⍟ Cinématographe ⍟
CIN-014 CASE
Paramount | 1984 | 93 min | 1.85:1 | English DTS-HD MA 2.0
Directed by Martha Coolidge
Starring: Cameron Dye, Michelle Meyrink, Colleen Camp, Ernie Hudson, Christopher Lloyd, Lisa Langlois, Heidi Holicker
Taking its name from the Lumière Brothers invention of the same name, Cinématographe is a new sub-label from Vinegar Syndrome that seeks to fill gaps in the canon of American cinema. Offering a mix of auteur driven studio films produced during the New Hollywood era of the late 1960s and 70s all the way through the indie boom of the 1980s and 90s, Cinématographe will explore the wide breadth of American moviemaking, spanning numerous genres and scales of production. Curated and produced by Vinegar Syndrome’s Justin LaLiberty, each limited edition release will be housed in a specially designed, cloth-bound, media book with embossed foil titles and custom molded disc trays accompanied by a slipcase featuring newly commissioned art and an individually numbered J-card.
This special limited edition J-card MediaBook holofoil slipcase (designed by Brianna Miller) is limited to 3,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
High school senior Leslie Hindenberg (Michelle Meyrink, Real Genius) is convinced she’s dying following a medical exam, believing she has only six weeks left to live. Determined to not die a virgin, Leslie sets out on a mission to lose her virginity before her presumed untimely demise. The problem is, her father (Christopher Lloyd, Back to the Future) is a physical education teacher at her school, serving as an obstacle for would-be suitors. That is, until she meets Alan Holt (Cameron Dye, Valley Girl), a similarly virginity afflicted teen on the same mission.
Inspired by Alex Comfort’s non-fiction global bestseller, JOY OF SEX is a raucous 80s sex comedy directed by Martha Coolidge (Valley Girl, Real Genius) and adapted for the screen by Kathleen Rowell (The Outsiders) with Joyce and John Salter (billed on screen as J.J. Salter). Featuring a talented, eclectic, supporting cast that includes Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters), Colleen Camp (Clue), Lisa Langlois (Class of 1984) and Heidi Holicker (Valley Girl), JOY OF SEX is an often overlooked coming-of-age comedy from one of the freshest American filmmakers of the 80s. Cinématographe is proud to present Martha Coolidge’s ribald, feminist, tale of virginity loss in a brand new 4K restoration from its original camera negative, supervised by the filmmaker, for the first time on home video since VHS!
Additional info:
- Region A Blu-ray
- New audio commentary with film historian Elizabeth Purchell and film critic Katie Rife
- Realities of Filmmaking – a new video interview with director Martha Coolidge
- It Was All Cut – a new video interview with screenwriters Kathleen Rowell, Joyce Salter and John Salter
- Passionate About It – a new video interview with actress Colleen Camp
- Coolidge – a new video essay profile of Martha Coolidge by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
- Grace Under Fire – a new video interview with actress Lisa Langlois
- New text essays by film critics Marya E. Gates, Kristen Lopez and Stephanie Monohan
- English SDH subtitles
4:44 Last Day On Earth
⍟ IFC FILMS ⍟
IFC-007 SLIP
2011 | 82 min | 1.85:1 | English DTS-HD MA 5.1
Directed by Abel Ferrara
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Shanyn Leigh, Natasha Lyonne
Established in 2000 and based in New York City, IFC Films is a leading U.S. distributor of independent film. Its unique distribution model makes independent films available to a national audience by releasing them in theaters as well as on VOD. Partnered with OCN Distribution, IFC will release new titles on home video and revisit past favorites in brand new editions, with many making their HD physical media debuts.
This special limited edition spot gloss slipcover (designed by Steak Mtn) is limited to 2,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
In a large apartment high above the city lives our couple. They’re in love. She’s a painter, he’s a successful actor. Just a normal afternoon – except that this isn’t a normal afternoon, for them or anyone else. Because tomorrow, at 4:44 am, give or take a few seconds, the world will come to an end far more rapidly than even the worst doomsayer could have imagined. The final meltdown will come, not without warnings, but with no means of escape. There will be no survivors.
As always, there are those who, as their final cigarette is being lit and the blindfold tightened, will still hope against hope for some kind of reprieve. For a miracle. Not our two lovers. They – like the majority of the Earth’s population – have accepted their fate; the world is going to end.
Additional info:
- Region A Blu-ray
- New audio commentary with film historians Chris O’Neill and Bill Ackerman
- New video interview with writer/director Abel Ferrara
- We’re Angels Already: Faith and the Post Edgelord Apocalypse – a new video essay by film critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
- Booklet with a new essay by film archivist Justin LaLiberty
- English SDH subtitles
Amateur On Plastic
⍟ Factory 25 ⍟
FTF-088 SLIP
2020 | 73 min | 1.78:1 | English Dolby Digital 2.0
Directed by Mark Robinson
Starring: Butch Willis, Jeff Krulik, Mark Robinson, Gibby Haynes, Ian MacKaye, Guy Picciotto, Karl Hendricks, Brendan Canty, Phil Krauth, Logan Perkins, Joe Lee, Nancy Marion
Factory 25, a Brooklyn-based independent film distribution company was founded in 2009 by Matt Grady. F25 is a home for conceptually provocative narratives and documentaries. Its mission is to deliver specialized film and music titles in an aesthetically captivating way while exposing the indie world to under-the-radar films, music, and other curiosities in various ways and formats — theatrically, digitally, on TV, VOD, via subscription, limited edition DVDs, Blu-ray’s, books and vinyl. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing this diverse and unique home video line!
This special limited edition slipcover is limited to 500 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Butch Willis is a Washington, D.C. rock legend. Born and raised in 1960s suburban Maryland, Byron Henry “Butch” Willis came of age in the late ’70s post-hippie subculture. After sharing an apartment with infamous local music icon Root Boy Slim, Butch was inspired to become a rock’n’roll star himself. The unique and unusual brand of “outsider music” that Butch Willis & The Rocks created captivated the local music scene beginning with their appearance at the seminal Primitive Night in 1984. Amatuer on Plastic chronicles Butch’s life and career from the beginning all the way through to present day. It features a host of Butch-appointed band managers Joe Lee (Joe’s Record Paradise), Jeff Mentges (No Trend), Jeff Krulik (Heavy Metal Parking Lot), and director Mark Robinson (Unrest/Teen-Beat). Also co-starring is Al Breon, the Rocks’ innovative “throat guitarist.” The film combines archival footage, interviews with Butch, and performances of his hit songs “Drugs,” “The Garden’s Outside,” “TV’s From Outer Space,” and “The Girl’s on My Mind.” Amateur on Plastic also parallels the 1990’s era of seminal indie record label Teen-Beat. Behind-the-scenes glimpses of the label’s concerts and private parties provide much of the background and feature members of the bands Unrest, Versus, Tuscadero and more.
Additional info:
- Region Free Blu-ray
- Butch Willis Interview Outtakes
- Butch Willis & The Rocks — Live at the 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C., 1985
- This is Proof Speed Works — short film on The Rocks’ guitarist, Ray Wallace (8 minutes)
- Butch Willis Live and In-Person — compilation of performances:
- Butch Willis & The Rocks “I Miss Her Too Much” live at Friendship Station, Washington, D.C., September, 1984
- Butch Willis & The Rocks “The TV’s From Outer Space” with The Rocks live at Bosco’s, Silver Spring, Maryland
- Butch Willis (solo) “We Can Do It” live at d.c. space, Washington, D.C., March 20, 1990
- Butch Willis (solo) “Flashback” solo live at Galaxy Hut, Arlington, Virginia, December 29, 1996
- Butch Willis & D Flat “Private Life” live at Galaxy Hut, Arlington, Virginia, August 22, 1999
- Butch Willis (solo) “Newsletter” solo live at The Black Cat, Washington, D.C., March 30, 2001
- Butch Willis & D Flat “Private Life” (snippet) live at Galaxy Hut, Arlington, Virginia, February 20, 2003
- Butch Willis (solo) “Look” solo live at The Black Cat, Washington, D.C., February 25, 2005
- 32 Page Booklet with Butch Willis interviewed by Phil Milstein, with assistance by Jeff Krulik
- English subtitles
Autoerotic
⍟ IFC Films ⍟
IFC-008 SLIP
2011 | 72 min | 1.78:1 | English DTS-HD MA 2.0
Directed by Joe Swanberg & Adam Wingard
Starring: Amy Seimetz, Lane Hughes, Megan Mercier, Kate Lyn Sheil, Joe Swanberg, Kris Rey, Adam Wingard, Ti West, Josephine Decker
Established in 2000 and based in New York City, IFC Films is a leading U.S. distributor of independent film. Its unique distribution model makes independent films available to a national audience by releasing them in theaters as well as on VOD. Partnered with OCN Distribution, IFC will release new titles on home video and revisit past favorites in brand new editions, with many making their HD physical media debuts.
This special limited edition slipcover (designed by Stephanie Monohan) is limited to 1,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Joe Swanberg and Adam Wingard’s AUTOEROTIC follows four interconnected Chicago couples as they explore the boundaries of self-pleasure and sexual exploration. Through a unique blend of outrageous comedy and in-your-face sex, AUTOEROTIC insightfully illuminates the private sexual lives of America’s urbanites.
Additional info:
- Region A Blu-ray
- New audio commentary by directors and co-writers Joe Swanberg and Adam Wingard
- Swedish Blueballs – a 2008 short film directed by Joe Swanberg and Kent Osborne
- Booklet with a new essay by film professor Whitney Strub
- English SDH subtitles
Deadly Obsession: The Films of Bill Reeves
⍟ VHSHitfest ⍟
VHSHitfest-014 SLIP
1987-2001 | 596 min (combined) | 1.33:1 | English DTS HD-MA 2.0
Directed by Bill Reeves
Starring: Bill Reeves, Jack Dodson
VHSHITFEST has been uncovering and releasing movies on video for over a decade, across DVD and VHS, and is now moving into blu-ray, with the same goal to showcase the most unique, crazy, and obscure movies that they’ve discovered through years of collecting VHS, allowing even more people to actually be able to experience these nearly lost gems in the best versions possible.
This special limited edition slipcover (designed by Earl Kessler Jr.) is limited to 1,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Bill Reeves is the self-proclaimed Ed Wood of VHS but that is underselling his greatness. Bill is an SOV auteur who directed, wrote, edited and starred in ten movies over three decades. He tackled everything from the horror genre to slapstick comedy to documentary.
None of the movies got distribution outside of his hometown of Lebanon Indiana and because of that were impossible to see and pretty much lost in storage. VHSHITFEST is so happy to present this collection of outsider art from an unsung legend of homegrown filmmaking that deserves to finally have some recognition.
Additional info:
- Region Free 2-Disc Blu-ray
- Films included:
- The Card Game (1987)
- Who Shot Mean BR (1993)
- Deadly Obsession (1994)
- The Gutwrencher (1997)
- The Crown Jewel of Indonesia (1999)
- Trail of Terror (1999)
- Terminal Targets (2001)
- Ghost and Angel Stories from Around the World (2002)
- Ghost Stories from Indonesia (2003)
- Audio Commentary with Bill Reeves on all the films
- Audio Commentary with Bill Reeves and actor Jack Dodson on Deadly Obsession
- New Interview with Bill Reeves
- Trailer
- Teaser Trailer
- Easter Egg
- English SDH subtitles
In Flames
⍟ Yellow Veil Pictures ⍟
YVP-034 SLIP
2023 | 98 min | 2.35:1 | Urdu DTS-HD MA 5.1
Directed by Zarrar Kahn
Starring: Ramesha Nawal, Omar Javaid, Bakhtawar Mazhar
Yellow Veil Pictures is a New York City and Los Angeles-based film sales and distribution company focusing exclusively on boundary pushing genre cinema, seeking to highlight filmmakers who exist on the cusp of commercial and arthouse cinema.
This special limited edition slipcover is limited to 1,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
After the death of the family patriarch, a mother and daughter’s precarious existence is ripped apart by figures from their past. They must find strength in each other if they are to survive the malevolent forces that threaten to engulf them.
Additional info:
- Region A Blu-ray
- Commentary Track with Director Zarrar Kahn, Editor Craig Scorgie and Director of Photography Aigul Nurbulatova
- Commentary Track with Director Zarrar Kahn and Composer Kalaisan Kalaichelvan
- Interview with Director Zarrar Kahn
- Behind The Scene Featurette: The Hospital Oner
- Discussion with Director Zarrar Kahn and Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy
- Panel Discussion at the Toronto Film Festival between Director Zarrar Kahn and Producer Anam Abbas, with Fawzia and Andria Wilson Mirza, Director and Producer of The Queen of My Dreams
- Short Film: Stray Dogs Come Out at Night
- Theatrical Trailer
- Essay by Alisha Mughal
- English subtitles
Her Body
⍟ Film Movement ⍟
FM-010 SLIP
2023 | 105 min | 1.85:1 | Czech DTS-HD MA 5.1, 2.0
Directed by Natálie Císarovská
Starring: Natalia Germani, Cyril Dobrý
Founded in 2002 as one of the first-ever subscription film services with its DVD-of-the-Month Film Club, Film Movement is now a North American distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films based in New York City. In 2015, Film Movement launched the reissue label Film Movement Classics featuring new restorations released theatrically as well as on home video, with an emphasis on films by auteur directors such as Eric Rohmer, Peter Greenaway and Takeshi Kitano.
This special limited edition slipcover (designed by Steak Mtn) is limited to 1,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Professional Czech high diver Andrea Absolonová’s Olympic dreams are shattered when she suffers a devastating injury while training. Forced to leave the sport she loves, Andrea follows a photographer friend of hers into the world of nude modeling, ultimately reinventing herself as adult actress Lea De Mae and performing in over 80 porn films. Based on the tragic true story, HER BODY chronicles Absolonová’s journey as she navigates the seductive undercurrents of fame and desire, and her quest for self-liberation in this powerful portrait of resilience.
Additional info:
- Region A Blu-ray
- Music video including deleted scenes
- English subtitles
Here Comes a New Challenger: Championship Edition
⍟ ETR Media ⍟
ETRM032 SLIP
2023 | 142 min | 1.78:1 | English DTS-HD MA 2.0
Directed by Oliver Harper
Starring: Joey Anash, Steven E. de Souza, Stuart Ashen, Audun Sorlie, John Linneman, Julian Rignall, Paul Davies, Ryan Hart, James Goddard, Stephen Frost, Yoshiki Okamoto, Yoko Shimomura, Skip Stellrecht, Mick McGinty, Michael D. French, Jeff Walker, Damien McFerran, Steve Hendershot and Benny Urquidez
ETR Media is the brand new film distribution arm of Enjoy the Ride Records, a Long Island based record label, specializing in cult following reissues through a variety of genres. ETR Media releases will adhere to the same quality standards as fans have come to associate with their lavish LP reissues. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing this new and unique home video line!
This special limited edition slipcover is limited to 1,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Here Comes A New Challenger details the origins of the gaming phenomena that is Street Fighter II and how it impacted the Arcades and the lives of kids worldwide. It explores not just the video games but the merchandise, the anime, the live action movie and more! Here Comes A New Challenger celebrates what made it special to a generation who still play it to this day! This deluxe “Championship Edition” features new deleted scenes, behind the scenes interviews, new audio commentary by Audun Sorlie & John Linneman of Digital Foundry in addition to a new featurette on the home ports of Street Fighter II
Additional info:
- Region Free Blu-ray
- Trailer
- Audio Commentary by the filmmakers
- New Audio Commentary by Audun Sorlie & John Linneman of Digital Foundry
- Deleted Scenes
- EGM April Fools Gag
- Street Fighter II Movie The Game
- Champion Edition for the PC Engine
- Merchandise for the live action movie
- The educational sequel to the animated movie
- The Korean Street Fighter TV Show
- Street Fighter spoof (FutureCops)
- Joey Ansah on Assassin’s Fist
- Behind the Scenes interviews
- Animating the intro sequence
- Interview with cinematographer Christopher Stratton
- New featurette on the home ports of Street Fighter II
- English SDH subtitles
Hookers on Davie
⍟ Canadian International Pictures ⍟
CIP-033 SLIP
1984 | 89 min | 1.37:1 | English DTS-HD MA 2.0
Directed by Janis Cole & Holly Dale
Starring: Various
From arthouse to Canuxploitation, Canadian International Pictures (CIP) is devoted to resurrecting vital, distinctive, and overlooked triumphs of Canadian cinema. This label is focused on the country’s original cinematic boom years – spanning the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s – occasionally venturing past that period (and the country’s borders) to highlight the films of Canada’s most inspired actors and filmmakers. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing CIP’s brand new line of home video releases!
This special limited edition spot gloss slipcover (designed by Sister Hyde) is limited to 2,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
At the height of the 1980s, following their breakthrough documentary P4W: Prison for Women, filmmakers Janis Cole and Holly Dale turned their lens on Vancouver’s Davie Street neighborhood, a bustling, neon-soaked hub for both trans and cisgender sex workers informally known as “the prostitution capital of Canada.” The result was Hookers on Davie, a landmark document combining candid interviews with a group of instantly memorable subjects and vivid location footage of their street work, surreptitiously captured with hidden cameras. An indelible community portrait, the film culminates in the group’s collective efforts to challenge and overcome legislative oppression.
Much lauded upon its release in 1984 and no less potent – or engrossing – 40 years later, Hookers on Davie showcases Cole and Dale’s deeply humanist approach, bringing care and compassion to subjects often represented in more reductively moralistic terms. CIP is proud to present this groundbreaking classic in a new 4K restoration that confirms its place among the greatest non-fiction films ever produced in Canada.
Additional info:
- 4K Ultra HD / Region A Blu-ray Set
- 4K UHD presented in High-Dynamic-Range
- Newly scanned and restored in 4K from the original 16mm A/B negatives by Canadian International Pictures with sound transferred from the original 16mm magnetic final mix
- New audio commentary featuring directors Janis Cole and Holly Dale
- New audio commentary featuring multi-disciplinary artist and curator Jordan King
- New introduction to Hookers on Davie by Cole
- Directors on Davie (2024, 23 min.) – New interview with Cole
- Before Davie (2024, 12 min.) – Cole on her early films with Holly Dale
- Mardi on Tiggy (2024, 14 min.) – Trans elder Mardi Pieronek’s tribute to her friend Tiggy
- Video report on The West End Sex Workers Memorial fundraiser (2009, 7 min.)
- Toronto Arts Awards tribute to Cole and Dale (1994, 4 min.)
- CBC interview (1984, 8 min.) – Barbara Frum in conversation with Cole and Dale
- Citytv interview (1984, 3 min.) – Jeanne Beker in conversation with Cole and Dale
- Hookers on Davie home movies (1983, 34 min.)
- Afterword featuring Cole and Dale (2024, 8 min.)
- Cream Soda (1975, 13 min.) – New 2K scan of Cole and Dale’s first short
- Minimum Charge No Cover (1976, 11 min.) – New 2K scan of Cole and Dale’s second short
- New introductions to both shorts by Cole
- New audio commentaries for both shorts featuring Cole and Dale
- New audio commentaries for both shorts featuring King
- Hookers on Davie archival press gallery
- Booklet featuring essays by Kay Armatage, Adrian Rui Hung, and Cayley James
- Reversible cover artwork
- English SDH subtitles
Mapantsula
⍟ Film Movement Classics ⍟
FMC-008 SLIP
1988 | 104 min | 1.85:1 | English/Zulu/Afrikaans DTS-HD MA 5.1, 2.0
Directed by Oliver Schmitz
Starring: Thomas Mogotlane, Marcel van Heerden, Thembi Mtshali-Jones, Dolly Rathebe
Founded in 2002 as one of the first-ever subscription film services with its DVD-of-the-Month Film Club, Film Movement is now a North American distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films based in New York City. In 2015, Film Movement launched the reissue label Film Movement Classics featuring new restorations released theatrically as well as on home video, with an emphasis on films by auteur directors such as Eric Rohmer, Peter Greenaway and Takeshi Kitano.
This special limited edition slipcover (designed by Dylan Haley) is limited to 1,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
During demonstrations in apartheid-era South Africa, the police arrest Panic (Thomas Mogotlane), a “mapantsula” or petty gangster, while rounding up activists. His interrogation reveals the motivation for his involvement in the township riots. Once only concerned with partying, alcohol and his own interests, Panic finds himself being irreversibly pulled into the fray. Now, he is forced to choose between his personal freedom and taking a stand in the fight against the oppressive apartheid government.
Directed by Oliver Schmitz and written by Schmitz and lead actor Thomas Mogotlane, MAPANTSULA has been hailed as the “first South African film to truly represent apartheid onscreen” (Okayafrica). Banned in its homeland and made while evading the local authorities, the film was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes and went on to be selected as the South African entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars. Widely considered one of the most influential African motion pictures of all time, MAPANTSULA has been newly restored in 4K from the original 35MM negative.
Additional info:
- Region A Blu-ray
- Commentary by director Oliver Schmitz
- Archival interviews with cast and crew
- English subtitles
Not an Artist
⍟ Utopia ⍟
UTO-032 SLIP
2021 | 97 min | 1.78:1 | English DTS-HD MA 5.1, 2.0
Directed by Alexi Pappas & Jeremy Teicher
Starring: Matt Walsh, Bobby “The RZA” Diggs, Ciara Bravo, Rosalind Chao, Cleopatra Coleman, GaTa, Clark Moore, Haley Joel Osment, Alexi Pappas, Robert Schwartzman, Dan Bakkedahl, Paul Lieberstein, Betsy Sodaro, Morgan Walsh
Utopia is a film acquisitions, sales, and technology company with a ‘filmmaker first’ approach. Utopia focuses on creating new revenue and monetization opportunities, improving the direct-to-consumer experience, and helping filmmakers maintain a global presence. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing Utopia’s brand new line of home video releases!
This special limited edition slipcover (designed by Steak Mtn) is limited to 500 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
In an exclusive artist-in-residency program overseen by an enigmatic patron (RZA), artists in turmoil face a make-or-break ultimatum: unlock their full creative potential or abandon art forever. Yet, the unexpected intrusion of an outsider (Matt Walsh) jeopardizes the program’s delicate balance.
Additional info:
- Region A Blu-ray
- Behind the Scenes Stills Gallery
- Trailer
- Exclusive cast interviews
- English SDH subtitles
Nova Seed
⍟ Cartuna ⍟
TDC-004 SLIP
2017 | 64 min | 1.78:1 | English DTS-HD MA 2.0
Directed by Nick DiLiberto
Starring: Joe DiLiberto, Nick DiLiberto, Shawn Donovan, John Jellinek, Julie Kirkelos, Joel MacMillan
Cartuna is a cartoon company and indie film distributor focused on animation, puppetry, DIY art, and alt-comedy. Please enjoy our personal collection of films, our artists will thank you for it!
This special limited edition slipcover is limited to 1,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
It is an age of men and beasts. Centuries of war have left nothing but a dying planet to conquer. Habitable lands have become scarce, and toxic wastelands stretch to the edge of the world. Hidden beneath this desolation lives the Mad Doctor Mindskull. Originally created to be the first super-being, he was split in two when fears arose, dividing his superior strength from his superior mind. As a result, two beings were created: one with abnormal super strength but the brain of a child, and the other a super genius, but with a weak and frail body. Although the physical strength could be contained, a mind so powerful could not, and Dr. Mindskull became an uncontrollable danger—capable of anything imaginable, and even things once thought impossible. Now, plotting against the human race, he has created the ultimate weapon. Using the planet’s core essence of life and creation, he wields the power of death and total annihilation. Can mankind find a way to stop Dr. Mindskull before his vision of a new world is complete? The only answer lies out of reach… within the Nova Seed.
Additional info:
- Region A Blu-ray
- Director’s Commentary with Storyboard Feature
- Trailer 1
- Trailer 2
- Trailer 3
- The Art of Nova Seed Booklet
- English SDH subtitles
Rot
⍟ Saturn’s Core ⍟
SC-044 SLIP
1999 | 80 min | 1.33:1 | English DTS-HD MA 2.0
Directed by Marcus Koch
Starring: Billy Scam, Tiffany Stinky, Joel D. Wynkoop, Tim Leavey, Dane Maddison
Saturn’s Core Audio & Video is a New Jersey based home video label devoted to releasing underground oddities and shot on video cinema on VHS, and now, blu-ray discs! In partnership with OCN Distribution, Saturn’s Core will exhume forgotten or under-seen genre cinema from the 80s and 90s, with an emphasis on SOV horror features. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing this diverse and unique home video line!
This special limited edition slipcover (designed by Michael Bukowski) is limited to 1,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Artist Sara has sex with a corpse in the local funeral home and soon finds herself infected with a mysterious disease. After infecting her crust punk boyfriend Muzzy, the pair sets out on a reckless spree of carefree crime and chaos. They soon discover the virus is the deranged creation of the disgraced government genetic scientist turned janitor Dr. Robert Olsen (Joel D. Wynkoop). Developed as an experimental population control method, the virus causes its living victims to deteriorate and decompose. Shooting fermaldyde intravenously to avoid their inevitable decay, Sarah and Muzzy desperately traverse the Florida backstreets and underground punk clubs in search of an antitode to the Rot.
The third SOV feature from Florida based filmmaker Marcus Koch known concurrently for his transgressive directorial output (100 Tears, Fell, Bad Blood) as well as his masterful special FX work (Jakob’s Wife, We Are Still Here), Rot combines a rudimentary take on Cronenberg’s body horror ruminations with the grimy, analog aesthetics of Hugh Gallagher’s Gorotica. With an unhinged performance from B-Movie legend Joel D. Wynkoop (Creep, Lost Faith) and a riotous soundtrack featuring The Casualties, Blanks 77, and The Scams, Rot is a gooey and gruesome cinematic explosion of punk, puke, and necrophilia. And for the analog completists, Rot now comes accompanied by Koch’s long sought after, suburban teenage metalhead splatter epic Lunch Meat from 1989 plus over 8 hours of slimy special features!
Additional info:
- Region Free Blu-ray
- Audio commentary with director Marcus Koch and actor Joel D. Wynkoop
- Cast commentary with director Marcus Koch and actors Billy Scam, Tiffany Steinke, & Joel D. Wynkoop
- Dead Like a Piece of Old Wax: A Celebration of Marcus Koch’s Rot” -a visual essay by writer & cult film expert Heather Drain
- Interview with writer / director / FX artist Marcus Koch
- “Ladies of the Punk House”: an interview with actress Tiffany Steinke and production manager Karaly Clubb
- “The Man, the Myth, the Legend”: an interview with actor Joel D. Wynkoop (63 min.)
- “The Man in Black”: an interview with actor Walter Maseda
- An appreciation by horror author and filmmaker David C. Hayes
- Archival behind the scenes footage
- Bloopers & outtakes
- Trailer
- BONUS MOVIE: Lunch Meat (1992) Marcus Koch’s suburban teenage metalhead splatter epic with optional director’s commentary (60 min.)
- White Massacre (1989) Marcus Koch’s early short film with optional director’s commentary (35 min.)
- Reversible sleeve
- English SDH subtitles
Scarred Hearts + Uppercase Print
⍟ Big World Pictures ⍟
BWP-010 SLIP
2016, 2020 | 309 min (combined) | 1.85:1, 1.33:1 | Romanian, German DTS-HD MA 5.1, 2.0
Directed by Radu Jude
Starring: Lucian Teodor Rus; Ivana Mladenovic; Şerban Pavlu / Şerban Lazarovici; Bogdan Zamfir; Ioana Iacob; Şerban Pavlu
Founded in 2013, Big World Pictures is a non-profit distribution outfit dedicated to bringing the best in world cinema to film enthusiasts across the United States. Previous releases include films by Radu Jude, Tamer El Said, Maya Vitkova, Jean-Gabriel Périot, Julia Murat, Tsai Ming-liang and Eric Rohmer. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing this diverse and unique home video line!
This special limited edition slipcover (designed by Elizabeth Yoo) is limited to 500 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
During the summer of 1937, Emanuel, a young man in his early twenties, is committed to a sanatorium on the Black Sea coast for treatment of his bone tuberculosis. The treatment consists of painful spine punctures that confine him to a body cast on a stretcher-bed. Little by little, as Emanuel gets accustomed to the limitations of his new life, he discovers that inside the sanatorium there is still a life to be lived to the fullest. He reads, he writes, he smokes and drinks, interacts with doctors, nurses and stretcher-bearers. He observes how healing seems to happen transiently, following mysterious laws: some patients get better, some worse, others die. He even has a romantic relationship, while Romania outside the sanatorium doesn‘t have much to offer him, turning more and more into an extreme right-wing society…
In 1981, chalk slogans written in uppercase letters started appearing in public spaces in the Romanian city of Botoşani. They demanded freedom, alluded to the democratic developments taking place in Romania’s socialist sister countries or simply called for improvements in the food supply. The culprit was Mugur Călinescu, a teenager who was still at school at the time and whose case is documented in the files of the Romanian secret police. Theatre director Gianina Cărbunariu created a documentary play based on this material.
Additional info:
- Region A Blu-ray
- Scarred Hearts trailer
- Uppercase Print trailer
- Bonus short films:
- Plastic Semiotic (2021)
- The Potemkinists (2022)
- English subtitles
The Strings
⍟ Shudder ⍟
SHU-009 SLIP
2020 | 94 min | 2.39:1 | English DTS-HD MA 5.1
Directed by Ryan Glover
Starring: Teagan Johnston, Jenna Schaefer, April Aliermo, Lora Bidner
Called “one of the best streaming services in the world” by RogerEbert.com and described by Thrillist as “pretty much everything a horror fan could want,” Shudder is a premium streaming service offering the best selection of horror, thriller and supernatural movies, series and specials.
This special limited edition slipcover (designed by Lucas Peverill) is limited to 1,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
In the dead of winter, Catherine, a talented musician, travels to her aunt’s remote cottage to work on new material in solitude. Once there, she and local photographer Grace spark up a budding romance while visiting an abandoned farmhouse with a disturbing past. Soon after, strange and seemingly supernatural occurrences begin to manifest at the cottage, escalating each night and dangerously eroding Catherine’s sense of reality.
Additional info:
- Region A Blu-ray
- Feature Length Audio Commentary Track with writer/director Ryan Glover, writer/producer Krista Dzialoszynski, actor/musician Teagan Johnston
- Interview Featurette with Teagan Johnston and Ryan Glover
- “Another Reality, Almost” – Deleted And Alternate Scenes Montage
- “On Set” – Behind The Scenes Photo Montage
- “The Sound” – Behind The Scenes Look At The Film’s Music
- “Scene 89, Take 02” – Extended Musical Performance Scene
- Original Soundtrack Album Teaser
- Official Trailer
- Booklet with new writing by film critic Mary Beth McAndrews
- English SDH subtitles
Thunder
⍟ Dekanalog ⍟
DKA024 SLIP
2022 | 92 min | 1.85:1 | French DTS-HD MA 5.1, 2.0
Directed by Carmen Jaquier
Starring: Lilith Grasmug, Sabine Timoteo, François Revaclier, Barbara Tobola
Dekanalog is a film and soundtrack distribution company dedicated to the release of the most unique filmmaking voices and musical scores from around the world. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing this diverse and unique home video line!
This special limited edition slipcover is limited to 500 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Nestled in a lush Swiss valley in the summer of 1900, 17-year-old Elisabeth is preparing to take her vows, when she receives the devastating news about her older sister Innocente’s mysterious death. Seeking answers, she returns home to assist her family only to discover that no one will discuss the tragedy. Confused and isolated, Elisabeth reconnects with three childhood friends — now young men — with their own cravings for truth and connection. Rapturously photographed by Marine Atlan and featuring a cast of young, unknown performers — Carmen Jaquier’s striking debut is an enigmatic mix of self-discovery, faith and sensuality.
Additional info:
- Region A Blu-ray Modern Divinity — A newly filmed interview with Carmen Jaquier
- Early Short Films by Carmen Jaquier:
- The Girls’ Grave (2011) (French with English Subtitles)
- At The Mermaid Parade (2013) (French with English Subtitles)
- The River Under The Tongue (2015) (French with English Subtitles)
- Theatrical Trailer Booklet interviews with filmmaker Carmen Jaquier, cinematographer Marine Atlan, and composer Nicolas Rabaeus English subtitles
Two Faces of Tai Katô
⍟ Film Movement Classics ⍟
FMC-007 SLIP
1966, 1968 | 179 min (combined) | 2.40:1 | Japanese DTS-HD MA 1.0
Directed by Tai Katô
Starring: Makoto Sato, Chieko Baisho, Sanae Nakahara, Ranfan Ou, Noboru Ando, Ichiro Nakatani, Sanae Nakahara, Ryohei Uchida
Founded in 2002 as one of the first-ever subscription film services with its DVD-of-the-Month Film Club, Film Movement is now a North American distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films based in New York City. In 2015, Film Movement launched the reissue label Film Movement Classics featuring new restorations released theatrically as well as on home video, with an emphasis on films by auteur directors such as Eric Rohmer, Peter Greenaway and Takeshi Kitano.
This special limited edition spot gloss slipcover (designed by Poochamin) is limited to 2,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Double feature of Japanese master Tai Kato’s BY A MAN’S FACE SHALL YOU KNOW HIM and I, THE EXECUTIONER, released for the first time ever in HD in North America.
BY A MAN’S FACE SHALL YOU KNOW HIM:
WWII veteran Dr. Amamiya (played by real life former yakuza Noboru Ando) runs a clinic in a downtrodden Japanese neighborhood. When an accident victim brought to him for treatment turns out to be his ethically Korean war buddy he recalls the criminal strife that practically ripped their town apart and changed their lives forever just some years earlier right after the war. Flashbacks reveal the brash and contentious Korean gang that tried to take over the local market and turn it into a red light district. While fueled by innate prejudice from the native Japanese residents, the hoodlums’ ruthless methods lead to unspeakably treacherous acts. As both sides’ anger escalates to the brink, Dr. Amamiya takes things in his own hands to try and control this untenable conflict. Director Tai Kato’s groundbreaking feature takes on controversial sociopolitical issues with his distinct cinematic aesthetic in a seamless blend of melodrama and action that is exemplary of his “superb craftsmanship and personal style” (Los Angeles Times).
I, THE EXECUTIONER:
As the police investigate a sudden rash of brutal murders whose victims are all women the unscrupulous killer’s murky motivations remain hauntingly elusive. A labyrinthine character study slowly unfolds implying that the targets of these unspeakable acts may be culpable in their own shocking demise. Although director Tai Kato worked within the studio system mostly on genre films, his distinctly bold and somber style proved him a maverick auteur, with I, the Executioner one of his most incendiary masterpieces. Kato matches the film’s bleak narrative themes to its innovative aesthetics, “with blown out negatives, extreme close-ups, and deep focus mixed with his characteristic low angle composition to add to the sense of noirish dread which paints the modern city as an inescapable hellscape” (Haley Scanlon – Windows on Worlds).
Additional info:
- Region A 2-Disc Blu-ray
- By A Man’s Face Shall You Know Him:
- Old Wounds, New Faces – Patrick Macias video essay
- Kenta Fukasaku on By A Man’s Face Shall You Know Him
- A Tribute to Sanae Nakahara
- Trailers
- I, The Executioner:
- Brutal Shadows – Patrick Macias video essay
- Kenta Fukasaku on I, The Executioner
- Trailers
- Booklet with essay by Japanese & East Asian cinema specialist, Hayley Scanlon
- English subtitles
Vive L’Amour
⍟ Film Movement Classics ⍟
FMC_026b SLIP
1994 | 118 min | 1.85:1 | Mandarin DTS-HD MA 1.0
Directed by Tsai-ming Liang
Starring: Chao-jung Chen, Kang-sheng Lee, Kuei-Mei Yang
Founded in 2002 as one of the first-ever subscription film services with its DVD-of-the-Month Film Club, Film Movement is now a North American distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films based in New York City. In 2015, Film Movement launched the reissue label Film Movement Classics featuring new restorations released theatrically as well as on home video, with an emphasis on films by auteur directors such as Eric Rohmer, Peter Greenaway and Takeshi Kitano.
This special limited edition spot gloss slipcover is limited to 1,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
The sophomore feature from Tsai Ming-liang (REBELS OF THE NEON GOD; GOODBYE, DRAGON INN) finds the acclaimed master of Taiwan’s Second New Wave demonstrating a confident new cinematic voice. VIVE L’AMOUR follows three characters unknowingly sharing a supposedly empty Taipei apartment. The beautiful realtor May Lin (Yang Kuei-mei) brings her lover Ah-jung (Chen Chao-jung) to a vacant unit she has on the market, unaware that it is secretly being occupied by the suicidal funeral salesman Hsiao-kang (Lee Kang-sheng). The three cross paths in a series of precisely staged, tragicomic erotic encounters, but despite their physical proximity, they find themselves no closer to a personal connection.
Featuring an intoxicating mix of Antonioni-esque longing and surprising deadpan humor, VIVE L’AMOUR catapulted Tsai to the top of the international filmmaking world and earned him the prestigious Golden Lion at the 1994 Venice International Film Festival.
Additional info:
- Region A Blu-ray
- Tsai Ming-liang on Vive L’Amour featurette
- 16-page booklet with a new essay by film critic Nick Pinkerton
- English subtitles
