Dogra Magra: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1988
Director: Toshio Matsumoto
Writers: Toshio Matsumoto, Atsushi Yamatoya, Kyuusaku Yumeno
Cast: Yôji Matsuda, Shijaku Katsura, Hideo Murota, Eri Misawa, Kyôko Enami 

Release Date: October 28th, 2024 (UK), October 29th, 2024 (USA)
Approximate running time: 109 Minutes 9 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 18 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK), $39.95 (USA)

"A man wakes in an asylum with no memory. Dr Wakabayashi helps him to recall his past in which he killed his bride on their wedding day. Part of his memory becomes linked to another doctor, Dr Masaki, and a manuscript, Dogra Magra. As the two doctors treat him, reality and fantasy become blurred and the patient becomes unsure of his identity or his doctors’ experiments." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Dogra Magra was transferred in High-Definition by producer Shuji Shibata and supplied to Radiance Films as a High-Definition digital file."

Dogra Magra comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 36.7 GB

Feature: 29.8 GB

The source looks excellent, with accurate flesh tones and a faithfully rendered distinct color palette. Image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image always looks organic.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds excellent; dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and range-wise ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery (10 images - sketches/stills), a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), Instructions on Ahodara Sutra (a popular Japanese chant delivered by Dr. Masaki in the film) by legendary street performer Hiroshi Sakano (16 minutes 19 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), a video essay by programmer and curator Julian Ross titled Dogra Magra Through the Eyes of Tatsuo Suzuki (13 minutes 27 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with director Toshio Matsumoto (21 minutes 23 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival audio commentary with Toshio Matsumoto in Japanese with removable English subtitles, reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 52-page booklet (limited to 3000 copies) cast & crew information, Toshio Matsumoto’s Director’s Statement, an essay titled Late-Period Toshio Matsumoto and Dogra Magra written by Hirofumi Sakamoto, an essay titled The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword: The Life of Atsushi Yamatoya written by Jasper Sharp, Memory Traces: Interview with Producer Shuji Shibata conducted by Alexander Fee and Karin Yamamoto, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Toshio Matsumoto, who directed Funeral Parade of Roses, his most famous film, went on to make a total of four features, with Dogra Magra being the last one.

A man who killed his bride on their wedding night wakes up in an insane asylum.

I have always been fascinated by memory; though we remember things a certain way, it is not always how they occurred. Besides our memories, the other thing that shapes our worldview is identity. When it comes to better understanding Dogra Magra, memory and identity are central.

Dogra Magra is best described as a psychological mystery with some moments that veer into the realm of horror. From its opening moments, it is clear that Dogra Magra is a film that will challenge its viewers. Where most films have a protagonist who's either easy to identify with or empathize with, Dogra Magra’s is a blank slate. That said, the protagonist's memories, fragmented, resembled a puzzle box.

Despite clearly stating the who and why of Dogra Magra early on, the narrative that follows is anything but conventional. That said, it does not help that the protagonist is an unreliable narrator whose mental state is far from sound. Another area where some might find the narrative challenging is its complete disregard of time. Also, the narrative effectively blurs the line between reality and imagination.

Though there are a few secondary characters that help further the narrative, there are actually only three characters of note: Kure Ichiro, the protagonist, and professors Masaki and Wakabayashi, the two doctors trying to help him. Considering the parameters that they have to work within, all three actors are exceptional in their respective roles. The most notable cast member is Hideo Murota, a character actor whose filmography consists of 245 films and TV series. It was cool seeing him in a role that is much more than a background character.

When discussing a film like Dogra Magra, one must not overlook the roles that the visuals play. Though there is plenty of dialog that offers many clues to what's unfolding, the visuals are filled with symbolism. That said, Dogra Magra is a film that gets better with subsequent viewings; multiple viewings are required. Ultimately, with Dogra Magra, Toshio Matsumoto delivers a thought-provoking swansong that’s overflowing with surrealism.

Dogra Magra gets a definitive release from Radiance Films, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer