New DVD and Blu-ray Releases for the Week of May 6-12
From the Big Screen:
The Seed of the Sacred Fig
(2024 — Iran) Investigating judge Iman grapples with paranoia amid political unrest in Tehran. When his gun vanishes, he suspects his wife and daughters, imposing draconian measures that strain family ties as societal rules crumble. Vitals: Director: Mohammad Rasoulof. Stars: Misagh Zare, Soheila Golestani, Mahsa Rostami, Setareh Maleki, Niousha Akhshi. CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 167 min., Political Thriller, Theatrical release date: February 18, 2025, North American box office gross: $860,139, worldwide $6,520,603, Decal – Neon. Formats: Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. 
This Week’s Highlights:
In “In the Heat of the Night” (1967) Passing through the backwoods town of Sparta, Mississippi, Philadelphia detective Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier) becomes embroiled in a murder case. He forms an uneasy alliance with the bigoted police chief (Rod Steiger), who faces mounting pressure from Sparta’s hostile citizens to catch the killer and run the African 
American interloper out of town. Director Norman Jewison splices incisive social commentary into this thrilling police procedural with the help of Haskell Wexler’s vivid cinematography, Quincy Jones’s eclectic score, and two indelible lead performances -— a career-defining display of seething indignation and moral authority from Poitier and an Oscar-winning masterclass in Method acting from Steiger. Winner of five Academy Awards, including for Best Picture, “In the Heat of the Night” is one of the most enduring Hollywood films of the civil rights era. Formats: 4K UHD + Blu-ray, with 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack. Alternate 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. One 4K UHD disc of the film and one Blu-ray with the film and special features. Extras: Read more here. From The Criterion Collection … The angelically beautiful Catherine Deneuve was launched to stardom by this dazzling musical heart-tugger from Jacques Demy, “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” 
(1964 — France). She plays an umbrella-shop owner’s delicate daughter, glowing with first love for a handsome garage mechanic, played by Nino Castelnuovo. When the boy is shipped off to fight in Algeria, the two lovers must grow up quickly. Exquisitely designed in a kaleidoscope of colors, and told entirely through lilting songs by the great composer Michel Legrand, “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” is one of the most revered and unorthodox movie musicals of all time. No matter how many times we see this film, we cry. Formats: 4K UHD + Blu-ray, with new 4K digital restoration, undertaken by Ciné-Tamaris and approved by Mathieu Demy, director Jacques Demy’s son, with 5.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. One 4K UHD disc of the film and one Blu-ray with the film and special features. Extras: Read more here. From The Criterion Collection.
Buzzin’ the ‘B’s:
In “Room Six” (2024), starring Sophia Echendu, Mickey O’ Sullivan and Jack Ball, is the story of Maxx — a college student working the night shift for her summer job at a rural, vacant rundown motel before the late-night arrival of two brothers. After a few suspicious incidents, Maxx’s curiosity (or paranoia) gets the best of her, and she decides to investigate. Maxx quickly finds herself in danger as she uncovers what lies hidden in the brothers’ room. On DVD, VOD, Digital, from Freestyle Digital Media. Read more here.
All DVDs and Blu-rays are screened on a reference system consisting of an Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player w/SACD & DVD-Audio, a Rotel RSX-972 Surround Sound Receiver, and Phase Technology 1.1 (front), 33.1 (center), and 50 (rear) speakers, and Power 10 subwoofer.
