Comrades (BFI DVD/BD) in July

BFI have announced the UK DVD and Blu-ray Disc release of Comrades on 27th July 2009. This film by Bill Douglas tells the epic story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, six Dorset labourers deported to Australia in the 1830s for forming a trade union.

Comrades is presented in a new High-Definition restoration and available for the first time ever on DVD (£22.99 RRP) and Blu-ray (£27.99 RRP) in a 2-disc set with over 2 hours of special features. The release coincides with the BFI’s Blu-ray release of the Bill Douglas Trilogy on the same day.

Special features on Disc 2

• Lanterna Magicka – Bill Douglas & the Secret History of Cinema (2009, 60 mins), an insightful new documentary on Douglas’s life and work
• Visions of: Comrades (2009, 15 mins), cast-members recall making the film
• Bill Douglas interviews (1978, 33 mins), exclusive presentation of a remarkable interview in which Douglas discusses his method and creating approach to writing and directing
• Home and Away (Michael Alexander, 1974, 30 mins), charming short film co-scripted by Douglas
• Original Comrades trailer
• On-set report from the set of Comrades
• Illustrated booklet with essays, production material and credits

The film includes English HOH, French, Spanish and German subtitles, while extras have English HOH subtitles only.