critic Archive

The Emigrants; The New Land, Blu-ray (1971-72/2016)

by Audiophile Audition | Feb 26, 2016 | DVD & Blu-ray Video Reviews

A terrific pair of Jan Troell films from 1971 & ’72, with gorgeous restoration and fascinating extras. The Emigrants; The New Land, Blu-ray (1971-72/2016) Director: Jan Troell Cast: Max von Sydow, Liv Ullmann, Eddie Axberg Studio: Swedish Film Industry/Warner Bros./ The Criterion Collection 796/797 (2/9/16) [2 discs] Video: 1.66:1 for 16:9 wide screen, 1080p HD color Audio: Swedish PCM mono Subtitles: English Extras: New intro by theater/film critic John Simon, New conversation with film scholar Peter Cowie and Jan Troell, New Liv Ullmann interview, To Paint with Pictures – an hour-long 2005 documentary on making of the film, Trailers, Illus. booklet with essay by critic Terrence Rafferty. Lengths: Emigrants: 191 min.; New Land: 202 min. Ratings: *****, **** B0184DLI1Y This is a long couple of films: over six and half hours total plus the hour-long documentary. Vilhelm Moberg, upon whose novels the two films are based, considered his original four volumes a single work. Many Swedes had already read the novels about the journey to America in 1850. The fact that Troell keeps up interest during the long story, aided by the terrific acting of the youngish Ullmann and von Sydow, makes this a simply wonderful survey of human drama […]