Arrow Academy Details THE CONFORMIST Blu-ray/DVD For 27th Feb

One of Arrow Academy's most anticipated titles has been Bernardo Bertolucci's The Conformist. The Blu-ray edition of this film has been delayed at various times due to extensive restoration being done in preparation for this release. However, today came the official word that it is on its way at the end of February. I've never seen this one, and I'm glad that Arrow Academy continue to open my eyes to new films. The extras include a feature length documentary on Bertolucci, and one of Arrow's fantastic booklets to go along with it. Also, in a fit of good luck, the Vittorio Storaro approved HD transfer has NOT been altered from it's original 1.66:1 aspect ration, something many were fearing would happen after similar disasters occurred with The Bird with the Crystal Plumage and Criterion's The Last Emperor. Hooray! Check out the disc details, special features, and a pre-order link below.

BERNARDO BERTOLUCCI'S MASTERPIECE ON DVD AND BLU-RAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE UK.

Awarded "Five Star" reviews during its theatrical re-release in 2008 by Empire ("Funny and frightening, seductive and satirical, ridiculous and tragic, this remains Bertolucci's greatest film."), BBCi Films ("One of the truly great films of the 1970s"), Time Out ("A dazzling film.") and the Radio Times, amongst others, Bernardo Bertolucci's undisputed masterpiece The Conformist comes to DVD and Blu-ray on 27th February 2012 for the first time in the UK courtesy of Arrow Academy.

At the peak of his creative powers the 29-year-old Bernardo Bertolucci eschewed the influence of mentor Jean-Luc Godard and partnered up with Vittorio Storaro and developed his own style for one of the most visually dazzling, politically and psychologically intriguing - and possibly greatest - of all Italian films.

Told in a non-linear structure that would go on to influence "The Godfather Part II" (although not the only influence on Coppola's film), the story begins in Rome, 1938. Marcello (Jean-Louis Trintignant) is a young fascist who takes on the job of assassinating his former professor who has fled to Paris. With his wife (Stefania Sandrelli) in tow, he meets the professor and his young wife (Dominique Sanda), with whom he begins to fall in love.

A thriller as well as study of Italian politics and psychological character, Bertolucci's Oscar nominated adaptation of Alberto Moravia's novel (an adaptation Moravia greatly admired) has gone on to influence filmmakers such as Paul Schrader, Martin Scorsese and Michael Mann and remains one of the great triumphs of world cinema.

The Conformist (cert. tbc) will be released as a dual format Blu-ray/DVD edition (£27.99) by Arrow Academy on 27th February 2012.

No word yet on region-coding for this disc.