I've been looking everywhere for a widescreen version of this film with no success. Even discs from other regions appear to be pan-and-scan versions.
Does anyone know where I could find a widescreen version? I'd even settle for a VHS.
I'd rather have poor quality widescreen VHS than digital pan-and-scan.
Thanks.
ive never came across it. im sure it exists, just never gonna get put out. lame.
shareI've just bought the German DVD releases of this film and THE ADDICTION, from the
German label Arthaus, and both contain anamorphic widescreen presentations of the films. THE FUNERAL can be found on Amazon.de under the title DAS BEGRABNIS.
'What does it matter what you say about people?'
Touch of Evil (Orson Welles, 1958).
It's truly a shame that there isn't a widescreen release of this in Region 1, or even any DVD release in Region 1 of The Addiction. I hope Criterion rescues these two films.
"Your mental capacity isn't the only problem. You also have the sensibility of a cow on morphine."
That's pretty much our only hope of seeing these great films as they're intended to be seen. Ferrara gets zero respect in America.
shareI'd love to see THE FUNERAL on Blu-ray, but I don't think it'll happen anytime soon - unless it gets released in France or Italy, perhaps.
Till then, the German DVD will have to do. The only frustrating thing about that release is the lack of English subtitles for the Italian language dialogue.
'What does it matter what you say about people?'
Touch of Evil (Orson Welles, 1958).
It's strange how much of an outcast he is, given the popularity and widespread acclaim films like King of New York and Bad Lieutenant rightfully have. Unfortunately, his career after The Funeral is pretty much a grab-bag of underrated masterpieces (New Rose Hotel, 'R Xmas) mixed with failed experiments (Mary, Go Go Tales etc). There's a certain awkwardness of tone and dialogue to Ferrara's recent pictures that's hard to explain or excuse; additionally, they're formally a lot sloppier than one would expect from the director of films as aesthetically exacting and brilliant as Bad Lt.
Even still, his lesser films deserve to be seen just as much as the better ones, and it's absurd that 4:44 was his first in a decade to actually get a theatrical release in the US. Ferrara's "failures" still leave so much of what gets praised as quality film today in the dust. And whatever happens, we'll always have that great string of hits to admire: China Girl, KoNY, Bad Lt, Dangerous Game, Body Snatchers, The Addiction, The Funeral, New Rose, 'R Xmas... a hell of a run. (Never been a big fan of The Blackout but it does have several things to admire).
"Your mental capacity isn't the only problem. You also have the sensibility of a cow on morphine."
Yes, he's made a number of great movies over the years and like you said, it's absurd that so few of his films have been released theatrically in the US.
I thought 4:44 was quite good, one of the best films of 2011. I also liked Mary and Go Go Tales which it seems you didn't. I wouldn't rate either among his best work, although I did think Mary had some very powerful moments, but as you said, even Ferrara's "failures" are superior to the best efforts of many lesser but more praised filmmakers. I hope that someday critics will reassess Ferrara's outstanding body of work and realize what a mistake they've made by ignoring him throughout the years.
Incidentally, the wonderful Ms. 45 was released a couple of months ago in a good quality Blu-ray edition, so at least that's one more of Ferrara's films that can be purchased stateside. I've always considered that to be one of his best films and perhaps the earliest example of his brilliance as a director. A great movie very much of a piece with other classics like Repulsion.