Where can I find a high-quality version of Tarkovsky's "The Mirror"?

December 14, 2015 9:19 PM

Tarkovsky's "The Mirror" is the most beautiful film I have ever seen. There don't seem to be any well-liked versions available in the U.S. on DVD or Blue-Ray. Where can I find a version that has good subtitles, is framed correctly and has good color? Does this even exist?
posted by Mei's lost sandal to Media & Arts (9 answers total)

It's streaming on YouTube (officially, by Mosfilm). The quality looks pretty good, but make sure to select HD if it doesn't come up by default.

Background info here (although the video link is wrong).
posted by O9scar at 9:35 PM on December 14, 2015 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks O9scar; so far the only version I've been able to see is the YouTube version.
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 9:44 PM on December 14, 2015

This page compares several available releases.
posted by kickingtheground at 10:19 PM on December 14, 2015 [1 favorite]

Go with the Japanese IVC Blu-Ray.
posted by GlassHeart at 10:26 PM on December 14, 2015

Note though that the Japanese release doesn't include English subs.
posted by GlassHeart at 10:34 PM on December 14, 2015

Response by poster: Yes I thought that was the case.
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 10:40 PM on December 14, 2015

If it just comes down to subtitles, you can rip the DVD to your computer and add the subtitles of your choice.
posted by ernielundquist at 7:12 AM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

It's available on DVD.com (the old Netflix) and says it has English subtitles, but I can't attest to its print quality
posted by JulesER at 8:40 AM on December 15, 2015

Response by poster: Thanks JulesER. The DVD.com is the Kino version which I've heard Russian speakers comment that the translation is not so good and leaves things out of Tarkovsky's father's poems (this is the same as the Youtube version.)
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 2:33 PM on December 15, 2015