I Am Curious: Blue/I Am Curious: Yellow [2 Discs] [Criterion Collection]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Whichever hue piques your curiosity, The Criterion Collection presents this special pairing of two erotic arthouse films from Swedish director Vilgot Sjoman. Both films are presented in their original aspect ratio of 1.33:1 full-frame, offering audio rendered in Swedish Dolby Digital Mono with optional English subtitles. Extra features for I Am Curious (Yellow) include a new video introduction by director Sjoman; a "Director's Diary," which offers commentary on select scenes; interviews with publisher Barney Rosset and attorney Edward de Grazia regarding the controversy caused by the film; a video essay entitled "The Battle for I Am Curious -- Yellow," addressing the censorship of the film and subsequent trial; excerpts from the transcripts of that trial; a theatrical trailer; and an essay by film critic Gary Giddins. Bonus materials for I Am Curious (Blue) include a "Director's Diary" that offers commentary on select scenes, excerpts from Sjoman's 1992 Swedish television documentary Self Portrait '92, a deleted scene with an introduction by Sjoman, and reprinted excerpts from a 1968 interview with Sjoman. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Number of Discs: 2
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (Pre-1954 Standard)
• Audio: Dolby Digital Mono
• Screen: Black and White
• Subtitle: English
• Features:
  • I am Curious (Yellow):
  • New video introduction by director Vilgot Sjoman
  • Director's Diary: Vilgot Sjoman's commentary on selected scenes from the film
  • New video interview with legendary publisher Barney Rosset and attorney Edward de Grazia about the controversy surrounding the film
  • "The Battle for I Am Curious -- Yellow," a video essay on the film's censorship and trial
  • Excerpts from the transcripts of the trial for I Am Curious (Yellow)
  • Theatrical trailer
  • Essay by critic Gary Giddins
  • New and improved English subtitle translation
  • Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition
  • I Am Curious (Blue):
  • Director's Diary: Vilgot Sjoman's commentary on selected scenes from the film
  • Excerpts from Sjoman's "Self Portrait '92," a documentary made for Swedish television
  • Deleted scene with an introduction by Sjoman
  • Reprinted excerpts from a 1968 interview with Sjoman
  • New and improved English subtitle translation
  • Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Director:

  Vilgot Sjöman

• Producer:

  Goran Lindgren

• Screen Story:

  Vilgot Sjöman

• Composer (Music Score):

  Bengt Palmers, Bengt Ernryd

• Editor:

  Carl-Olov Skeppstedt, Wic Kjellin

REVIEW:

• I Am Curious (Blue) can in some ways be seen as "outtakes" from the incredibly successful I Am Curious (Yellow). Both films were shot at the same time, as one long film; this was eventually edited down to Yellow. Blue was put together later, utilizing leftover footage and some newly shot scenes. Stylistically, Blue is very similar to the earlier film, with the same handheld camera and slipshod editing used to give the picture a documentary feel. And Blue also concerns a quest, but one that is at times more personal and introspective. It's also, unfortunately, more boring and pretentious. Blue is very much a product of the 1960s, and as such it's valuable as a sociological document. As a film, it's of minimal interest. Blue is surprisingly lifeless, and the emotions displayed are purposefully muted. Vilgot Sjoman is going for a "realistic" view of people, but it comes across as phony and artificial. And although many "heavy" issues are discussed and explored, they are done so in a way that gives them little weight and relevance, making Blue seem rather pointless. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi