![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNxVo2D4t6a_OseRvuLJZ0-U43vfuThXn7uaswtE3FBXbI24vFvNuA8mtqzUW_MhyphenhyphenJSYn_T8Kx7P5HrMgFHsX2v5e1V24l0cJAcG6ZNGD0024aX5HvnpgZmCy8VzqHVdM0y7M-OMbfQY/s1600/criterion.jpg)
April marks the first anniversary of boutique blu-ray label Criterion's UK offshoot, and they celebrate in style with two of the pillars of world cinema - Andrei Tarkovsky's Solaris and Kenzi Mizoguchi's The Life of Oharu.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9n33-AujdOahqmUDS5i233ZRWq1aWScjCiSPUBrZDFrItuix8j991Sa0kPVExnfy2j8IBwsA3NKzyHzUhNzwO6m2oZxbqVZX0RefavLJnE0jdgwVEC6dLsIbKBdF8BiuGqast8wX1wBs/s1600/solaris.jpg)
April 3rd sees the release of Andrei Tarkovsky's 1972 Solaris, widely considered as one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever made. Blu-ray extras include a commentary track from Tarkovsky scholars Vida Johnson and Graham Petrie; nine deleted and alternate scenes; interviews with actress Natalya Bondarchuk and cinematographer Vadim Yusov; an excerpt from a documentary on author Stanislaw Lem; and a booklet with writing by Akira Kurosawa and critic Phillip Lopate.
Criterion's synopsis reads:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTJ-mZfF8Aa3YxHqaPz8V0Aha2pfJmY4C9Q9dYhdggslGMzoG8WSIoA5mPamx18GZW7HXz_xaQBX3Xb7HdlRHjtkREJkG9ZsftFQEW-1L47pI4IO_DojQfZoVf0UsJCp0IMkjqjgkbgc/s640/00.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhD7uR-qvvmSYzPeo7j7v6GgD6Uz8yYd1_69eGxDKIxKUn4Z99BesrQslE6Byygqzv-k3tD606qIflBT3lh5X2Mg9aDcNi5xjKaUXUICB89Ay0ZgBCYDwlda5T6JEboxue6KtNLwYBFI4/s1600/the+life+of+oharu.jpg)
On April 24th Criterion UK bring us Kenzi Mizoguchi's classic of Japanese cinema, The Life of Oharu. Blu-ray extras include a commentary by film scholar Dudley Andrew; illustrated audio essay; a documentary on star Koko Kajiyama's 1949 goodwill tour of the US; booklet featuring writing by scholar Gilberto Perez.
Criterion's synopsis reads:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3XA1czn_5SqJYrd6G2CvgzVIBma50IL6VFFB2h85E_2LZSIUWqaOq7mpr_7onIA7niF8spb_5MZSNVLed2bOc5bTD34DpsTU1qYNHa0qK17T5Nrd-3A9Fq4dkD8cQvTqKZj57immS2U/s640/00.jpg)