Hirokazu Kore-eda’s HANA on DVD

One of my favorite films from this year’s Toronto International Film Festival was Hirokazu Kore-eda’s HANA. Kore-eda is best-known for films such acclaimed films as Nobody Knows and Afterlife. While HANA contains the same sensitive, warmly human feelings of those films, it’s considerably more mainstream and audience-friendly — which in this case, is not a bad thing.

Although the film may be a samurai film set in 18th century Japan, it thoroughly (and enjoyably) subverts many of the genre’s conventions, from the glories of honor and duty to the sword-clashing action. The result is a film with a very moral, pacifist message that is neither preachy nor heavy-handed, a film as much about grace and forgiveness as anything (my Twitch review).

YesAsia is currently accepting pre-orders for the movie’s DVD release (which they have listed as Hana Yori mo Naho). Two versions are available: the “First Press Limited Edition” ($57.99) that includes a second disc of extras, interviews, and behind-the-scenes featurettes, and the “Normal Edition” ($35.99).

Both versions have English subtitles (though it’s safe to say that the limited edition’s bonus features won’t have them), and are scheduled for release on November 24, 2006.