Hello all,

I need some help. I live in Canada and I recently was (finally) able to see Satyajit Ray's sublime Apu Trilogy. Needless to say, I was blown away, and I really want to add the films to my collection.

However, the Region 1 DVDs (released by Columbia Tristar) leave a lot to be desired. They lack any special features and there is no way to buy them together in one set (meaning you have to buy each of them separately!).

However, the box set available in the U.K. (this one - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/ ... 73-3193269) is apparently Region 0. It has many special features too.

So I'm wondering:
1) Will the Region 0 discs work on my Region 1 player?
2) If I order the DVDs from amazon.co.uk to where I live (Canada), will I have any trouble?

I know these may seem obvious, but I just want to be sure that I will be able to do this without any problems.

Thanks in advance for any help/comments/advice,
Yasin

Also -

The amazon.co.uk site lists The Apu Trilogy as being Region 0.

However, the review on the zulm website says it's R2, and a lot of other websites confirm this.

Is the amazon website just wrong, or are there two different versions?

I have the disk and it is Region 2 (PAL). The best way to see these films on DVD would be to get yourself a Multi-Region Player ( Philips 642 is not a bad choice - 60-70$ US and takes 2 mins to make it region free).

FYI - The Region 2 disks are far from perfect but they are the best we have . I ordered my copy from amazon.co.uk and had no problems with it ( I live in US).

http://dvdbeaver.com/film/dvdcompare/patherpanchali.htm
http://dvdbeaver.com/film/dvdcompare/aparajito.htm
http://dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReview/wolrdofapu.htm

Hope this helps

Thanks! That helps a lot...

I suppose I'll have to bite the bullet and buy the R1 DVDs. I already have three DVD players (long story), and I don't think I can justify another. Still, I'll research if I can find something cheap.

Thanks once again.

No worries ..., I wish you could get the Region 2 disk - the special features ( though not much) are alone worth it.

try to find a cheap, hackable player if possible. i have two such players bought in toronto (AND i have the R2 Apu Trilogy ) also, i think the r2 is cheaper. sony charges 30 bucks a disc i think.

I ordered from amazon.co.uk like 2 years ago. I live in los angeles. I must say there was a long wait period before I received my dvd. it took like 3 weeks, i think. i know it was more than 2 weeks, and I had sent them emails regarding whether or not it would arrive, but it eventually did.

and one solution to your dvd playback issue is to use an "HTPC". Home Theater PC. but I have a hacked stand alone player that plays PAL & R2 discs. I'm afraid it's going to die soon though.LOL. I'm looking to build a decent HTPC to replace my DVD players.

Going by my vague memory, the following is mentioned here and there in different posts:

- Criterion was involved in Apu Triology DVDs even though it's not classified as Criterion Collection??

- TV broadcasts that I saw were PAL to NTSC converted field averaged??

- Then it implies that NTSC DVD must be PAL to NTSC converted field averaged??

- R2 DVD is in PAL as mentioned above. Then this must be straight Film to PAL DVD transfer and hence progressive by default??

----------------------------

Please correct/ clarify if any one has any of the answers.

Confirmation found to what I said above, in thread:
viewtopic.php?t=4469&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=apu+triology&start=15.

------------

My memory is not that bad after all.

I am curious how criterion was invloved ?. From what i know so far they did not have the "intention" of doing it ( response from JM via email ).

In one or two Apu triology films that they aired on TV about 2 yrs back, had Criterion in the beginning/ end credits. I recorded on VHS. I think it was either Criterion presentation or criterion telecine (don't remember the details). It was PAL to NTSC converted (field averaged). Obviously North American TV broadcast was using a PAL source.

As I noticrd Criterion in the credits, I e-mailed them to check if these films are being released under Criterion Collection (Same e-mail address as Anwar has given in thread viewtopic.php?t=7451 ).

They replied promptly that they indeed are working on Apu Triology DVDs but the titles are not classified as 'Criterion Collection'.

So, pick up R2 Apu Triology DVDs that are in PAL and Criterion standard. Cinetel in PAL DVDs are 4% speed shifted (normal) but Progressive by default.

R1 DVDs are PAL to NTSC converted field averaged and not Criterion standard. Criterion, or any one with any reputation or concern for quality, will never do system conversion for film matrial DVDs.

Thanks Rana for the info, sorry totally forgot about this thread untill now.

R2 Apu Triology DVDs were reviewed on zulm as well. These DVDs received a score of 8, perhaps the highest from zulm reviewers.

http://www.zulm.net/modules.php?op=modl ... 98aefb57b6