Tartan

14 films on Best Blurays

Based in United KingdomFounded 1984

Hamish McAlpine and John Beasley set up Tartan Films in 1984, and its Tartan Video arm put out world cinema on VHS and DVD in the UK, including Bergman, Ozu and Satyajit Ray titles. It coined the Asia Extreme brand for Korean and Japanese films such as Oldboy and Battle Royale. Tartan entered administration in June 2008, and Palisades Media bought the library, which later appeared as Palisades Tartan.

Aliases: tartan

Late Spring (1949)

Director: Yasujirō Ozu

Best English-Friendly:

Hong Kong/Japan Blu-ray

Best Video:

France Carlotta Blu-ray

Video Notes:

France Carlotta Blu-ray has best encoding of France/Hong Kong/Japan. Criterion/BFI are older master

Best Audio:

2004 Tartan DVD

Audio Notes:

(Raro/Madman/Shochiku DVDs probably similar)

4.3

Summer Interlude (1951)

Director: Ingmar Bergman

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Video Notes:

> 2018 Boxset Criterion (slightly). 2012 Standalone Criterion significantly worse.

Best Audio:

2004 R2 Tartan DVD

3.8

Early Summer (1951)

Director: Yasujirō Ozu

Best English-Friendly:

Japan Shochiku Blu-ray

Best Video:

4k resto available in France Carlotta boxset or Japan Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Tartan/Shochiku DVD

4.2

Summer with Monika (1953)

Director: Ingmar Bergman

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Video Notes:

BFI better encode than Criterion

Best Audio:

3.9

Smiles of a Summer Night (1955)

Director: Ingmar Bergman

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Video Notes:

BFI newer master than Criterion (standalone and boxset)

Best Audio:

3.9

Wild Strawberries (1957)

Director: Ingmar Bergman

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion Blu-ray

Video Notes:

BFI has boosted contrast and crushed blacks

Best Audio:

4.3

Apur Sansar (1959)

Director: Satyajit Ray

4K · Excellent

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray Apu Trilogy set

Best Audio:

Audio Notes:

Tartan DVD probably better?

4.4

Winter Light (1963)

Director: Ingmar Bergman

Best English-Friendly:

Best Video:

2022 BFI Boxset Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Tartan DVD, Criterion DVD

4.2

Persona (1966)

Director: Ingmar Bergman

Best English-Friendly & Video:

2022 BFI Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2003 Tartan UK DVD

4.4

Cries and Whispers (1972)

Director: Ingmar Bergman

Best English-Friendly:

Best Video:

2023 BFI Boxset Blu-ray

Best Audio:

4.2

Joint Security Area (2000)

Director: Park Chan-wook

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Germany Plaion 4K Blu-ray

Sources: dvdcompare.net (opens in a new tab)

Best Audio:

Stereo mix: Tartan DVD
5.1 mix: France The Jokers 4K Blu-ray
Atmos: Japan Amuse Soft Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Comparison between different extras: https://dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=56142

4.2

The Intruder (2005)

Director: Claire Denis

Best English-Friendly:

Wellspring/Tartan DVD

Best Video & Audio:

3.7

The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (2005)

Director: Cristi Puiu

Best English-Friendly:

Best Video:

DVD only

4.1

Silent Light (2007)

Director: Carlos Reygadas

Best English-Friendly & Video:

US/UK Tartan DVD

Sources: athome.fandango.com (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Also available on Fandango SD Streaming for free

3.9

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