Paradise gained

It turns out that China is the best place for a hardcore cinéphile to go, at least once per year.

Starting from last year (maybe), the production line has attained a new height in both the thoroughness of source material and the quality of presentation.

These “master box sets”, to which I am referring specifically to, could be the object of envy for any cinéphile around the world who is still dreaming of penniless and painless film collecting.

Packaging is one thing, although I do think it is convenient to have all works of a certain filmmaker INSIDE one single box, which at least prevents any accidental lost. But the most technically advantageous point of owning such a box set is that it is a combination, a remake of best available source material across multiple regions.

Let us take a example, Fassbinder. The films they have included in this box sets are:

1. Veronika Voss (1982)：Region One Criterion Collection

2. Lola (1981)：R1 CC

3. The Marriage of Maria Braun (1979)：R1CC

4. BRD bonus：R1 CC

5. The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (1972)：R1 Wellspring

6. Fist-Fight of Freedom (1975):F2 Carlotta

7. The Third Generation (1979)：G2 ART HAUS

8. Mother Küsters Goes to Heaven (1975)：F2 Carlotta

9. Fear Eats the Soul (1974)：R1 CC

10. Love Is Colder Than Death (1969)：R1 Wellspring

11. Satan’s Brew (1976)：F2 Carlotta

12. The American Soldier (1970)：F2 Carlotta

13. Beware of a Holy Whore (1971)：R1 Wellspring

14. Chinese Roulette (1976)：F2 Carlotta

15. Effi Briest (1974)：F2 Carlotta

16. In a Year of 13 Moons (1978)：F2 Carlotta

17. The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)：F2 Carlotta

18. Gods of the Plague (1970)：F2 Carlotta

19. Niklashauser Fart, Die (1970)：R1 Wellspring

20. Martha (1974)：F2 Carlotta

21. Querelle (1982)：R1

22. Lili Marleen (1981)：G2 ART HAUS

23. Germany in Autumn (1978)：G2 ART HAUS

24. The Stationmaster’s Wife (1977)：R1

25. Fear of Fear (1975)：R1 Wellspring

26. Whity (1971)：R1

27. Pioniere in Ingolstadt (1971)：R1

28. Water Drops On Burning Rocks（2000）R2

Except for the last one, which is actually made by Ozon, all these films form a substantial body of information adequate enough even for a Fassbinder expert. Unfortunately we are still missing Berlin Alexanderplatz. But we understand that is because it is not yet released on DVD—the proud producers of this box set would not bother to transfer VHS into DVD, they can always wait. And once it is released, they can produce another box set (estimate to be at least 10 discs) the complement this one. In fact, there is rumor circulating that either criterion or Fassbinder Foundation is going to produce such a monster in 2007—monster in the eyes of many, not for Chinese collectors.