SOLARIS (1972 - TARKOVSKY) ON VIDEO TAPE
1. Europe/Australia
Produced by: Connoisseur Video in Surbiton (Surrey, UK) in 1991
Languages: Russian dialogue with English subtitles
System: VHS PAL (one tape, appr. 132 min.)
2. USA & Canada
Languages: Russian dialogue with English subtitles
System: VHS NTSC, split over two tapes
Picture format: letterbox (widescreen)
SOLARIS (1972 - TARKOVSKY) ON VIDEO LASER DISC
Produced by: Image (catalogue No. ID 2104 CO) in 1993
Languages: Russian dialogue with English subtitles
System: NTSC standard laser disc No. 3496
Sound: Mono, Digital/Analog-CX
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Picture format: letterbox (widescreen)
Length: 166 min.
SOLARIS (1972 - TARKOVSKY) ON DVD (Digital Video Disc)
Available form 15 May 2001 (France) and 21 January 2002 (UK).
According to Solaris (2002) official Internet site
http://www.k26.com/solaris/“the Region 2 PAL Widescreen 2 disc set contains a wealth of material for Solaris, Tarkovsky and Lem fans”. According to the same source “Picture quality is reportedly excellent. The image is widescreen and far crisper than the Laserdisc or shoddy VHS tapes. The only down side is that the film is split over 2 discs, neverthless a must if you’re a fan. Currently (May 2001 – LK) the DVD is no.12 on the French Amazon.com rankings”. Andrei Tarkovsky's 1972 adaptation of “Solaris” was also released on DVD in the UK & Ireland on 21st January 2002 by UK distributor Artificial Eye. The 2-disc set is basically the same as the French version reported on earlier, featuring a 2.35: anamorphic print. The DVD is available from Internet retailers such as amazon.co.uk, blackstar.co.uk and moviem.co.uk.
Technical details:
Number of Discs: 2 single layer (split at the 80-minute mark)
Sound system: Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1
Languages: French, Russian, English
Subtitles in: French, English, Russian, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Swedish
Aspect Ratio: Colour 2.35:1 Anamorphic (16:9 compatible)
Length: 169 minutes
Special Features:
• Filmographies and Photos
• Theatrical Trailers
• Biographies - Stanisław Lem and Andrei Tarkovsky
• Extract from Lem’s "The Tales of Pirx the Pilot"
• Documentary on Donatas Banionis: "The Master of the Little City"
• Interview with Natalya Bondarchuk (Hari)
• Souvenirs from Andrei Tarkovsky's sister
Copyright for this filmography by Lech Keller
lech.keller@gmail.com