It's hard to believe it's already been 12 years since Criterion's original Antonio Gaudí DVD release. This Blu-ray serves as a direct successor to that DVD set, offering upgraded video and audio based on similar sources. However, it falls short when it comes to extras, as Criterion has reused the same bonus content from the 2008 DVD, all still in standard definition, without any changes.
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For this Blu-ray, Criterion uses the same high-definition restoration and master from the DVD edition, although now encoded in 1080p/24hz. The original restoration was based on a scan of a 35mm low-contrast print that was made from the original negative.
As for the video quality here, there's a faint amount of grain throughout, giving the picture an authentic film look without overpowering it. I will say I was impressed at the quality at times, as the camera work often lingers on images. When pausing, the stills almost look like photographs which is impressive. As for the colors, the black levels are strong, and the overall color palette is natural, sometimes vibrant, without feeling oversaturated. Sadly the frame can be slightly unstable when text overlays the screen, such as during the main title, opening credits, quote sequence near the end, and the end credits. In terms of compression and other issues, Criterion has done a great job as artifacting is nill.
Antonio Gaudí is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.33:1.
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The Blu-ray features a lossless PCM 1.0 monaural track of the original Japanese audio. With minimal dialogue, the audio presentation is dominated by composer Toru Takemitsu's score mostly. This was somewhat rough on the DVD and while the music still feels slightly distant here, especially compared to what's found on CD, it's an improvement. Sadly, dialogue remains unclear, though as mentioned it's very sparse throughout the film. While this isn't a great audio presentation, it's worth bringing up that it's a notable upgrade from the DVD.
The audio track is accompanied by removable English subtitles, which translate both the dialogue and any on-screen text.
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I gave the Criterion DVD, which was a two disc set, a perfect score for its extras. My rating here might be a little harsh, but it's mostly as Criterion rolls out the same exact extra content but it's still in standard definition. It feels a little lazy, and some of the features are hurt from being blown up to fit modern screens.
Anyway, the one extra that's not hurt is the physical booklet. Printed on high-quality paper, the booklet begins with an essay titled "Border Crossing". Written by professor and author Dore Ashton, the essay starts with a biography of Teshigahara and then dedicates significant attention to the collaboration between him and composer Toru Takemitsu. The booklet also presents an essay, "My First Trip to the West", written by Teshigahara himself that details his 1959 travels to the United States and Europe. This is followed by a roundtable discussion from 1959 involving Hiroshi and his father Sofu Teshigahara along with photographers Ken Domon and Taro Hiramatsu. It centers on their photographic explorations of the West, with significant attention given to Gaudí's works. The booklet concludes with information about the transfer used for this release, which technically was back for the DVD version but the same source was used here but presented in high definition.
As for the disc extras, the original theatrical trailer is still here along with Gaudí, Catalunya, 1959 which is a collection of 16mm test footage documenting the Teshigahara father-son duo's trip to Barcelona and Salvador Dalí's house. Although the footage is of decent quality for its age, its lack of sound makes it difficult to fully engage with.
A relatively modern, at least for the 2008 DVD release, 13-minute interview with architect Arata Isozaki is also included, who also served as an art director on Face of Another (1966). Filmed in Japanese with removable English subtitles, this exclusive interview explores Isozaki's friendship with Hiroshi Teshigahara, their trip to Barcelona, and their reaction to Gaudí's work, which stood in contrast to the prevailing artistic sentiments in Japan at the time.
Additionally, the Blu-ray includes a 59-minute BBC documentary from 2004 titled God's Architect: Antonio Gaudí, hosted by art critic Robert Hughes. This high-definition, widescreen documentary contrasts with Teshigahara's minimalist 1984 film, offering a more traditional, narrative-driven exploration of Gaudí's life and works. Sadly, this particular extra really suffers from being in standard definition, as it's easy to have a more critical eye on the more contemporary short as it's blown up on a large screen.
Another BBC inclusion is a 1961 episode from the Monitor series, which focuses on Gaudí and provides an interesting counterpoint to the other documentaries. Despite some minor source damage, it is notable for its examination of the modern European architecture that emerged following Gaudí's death.
The final extra is a documentary titled Sculptures by Sofu - Vita, filmed in 1962. This 17-minute piece delves into the work of Hiroshi Teshigahara's father, Sofu. While it demonstrates the director's unique approach to filmmaking, it is marked by varying quality, with significant print damage in places. The documentary is in Japanese with removable English subtitles.
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Bottom line, complaints aside, this is the best way to enjoy the unusual documentary at home. While it feels like a rushed release from Criterion, basically riding the coattails of what was a great DVD set from them, it's still an overall upgrade.
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