It seems to be available on DVD, but only in the original language -- no subtitles. The VHS subtitled version is available on Amazon, but mostly used copies.
I suppose this film is just not well known enough to be worth putting on DVD. But that's a SHAME! In many ways this is my favorite film.
I wonder how anyone even hears about this film anymore. I only found out about it many years ago when my mom sent me a listing of films being shown on her cable tv station where she lives in California (I live in Montana) and she asked if any of them looked interesting and should I have her tape any for me. I noticed the title "URGA" and read the description, and noticed it had been nominated for an Oscar as best foreign picture. I've always been interested in Russian culture, so I asked her to tape it for me.
When I received it and watched it, I could not believe what I was experiencing. Pure magic.
Probably the best thing to do, if you're interested in it coming out on DVD, is to write a letter to Paramount Studios at this address: Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA 90038 ATTN: Home Entertainment. (Paramount Studios put out the VHS version.) Make sure you use the title "Close To Eden" as the title "Urga" does not seem to be in their database.
By actually sitting down and writing a letter, you demonstrate that you are serious about your desire to see it come out on DVD, and maybe that will put it on Paramount's radar. Maybe you could explain that Close to Eden was made by famous Russian filmmaker Nikhita Mikhalkov and that it was nominated for an Oscar for best foreign film of 1992. Also explain that another Mikhalkov film, Burnt By The Sun, WON the best foreign film Oscar for 1994 and IS available on DVD from Sony studios. Mention that Mikhalkov is considered the "Spielberg" of Russia according to this very website IMDB.com. Or better yet, maybe you could print Mikhalkov's biography page off of IMDB.com and include it with your letter. I assume that's ok!?
Got the DVD its a nice anamorphic 16x9 version for both Urga and burned by the sun. Russian or french language tracks with dutch subtitles. Bought it through the dutch version of bol.com.
If you actually bother to check the drop down menu you notice the DVD option :) Perhaps it depends on the language / country selection if you can find this release because its by a dutch distributer.
yeah, its a bit weird there is no proper international release with english subtitles. Actually both movies are excellent, burned by the sun is a great movie about russia just before the second world war.
I have only ever watched the first 20 minutes or so of this film but I have to say it left an indelible impression on me. I've just managed to buy a copy of urga and burnt by the sun from bol.nl with the help of... http://babelfish.altavista.com/
Took ages but I managed it and, well I'll let you know what I think of the whole film...
I have seen (all of) burnt by the sun and it is also a beautiful film so I'm rather done up!
Well, anyone who has a videotape copy can easily make a DVD of it, if he or she knows someone with a DVD recorder. I got one cheap from Ebay for $25, and it works like a charm.
Also, I have heard from two who should know that copies with English subtitles are available from bittorrent sites. It's illegal to download, but their existence shows that someone has a digital copy.
As of today, 17 February 2011, there is a seller on ebay under the seller i.d. raingel2007 who sells a South Korean issue of the DVD. I just received it and it's exactly what we're looking for. It appears totally legitimate. It has English subtitle option, and none of the actors' voices are dubbed over; they speak in their original language, and it plays on my American dvd player.