Writer/Director Neel Kumar's Beneath A Sea Of Lights On DVD From Bayview Entertainment On Mar. 23

Bayview Entertainment announced this past week that writer/director Neel Kumar’s Beneath a Sea of Lights will be making its domestic DVD debut on Mar. 23.

Caweys (Barkhad Abdi — nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Captain Phillips … also in such films as Blade Runner 2049, Eye in the Sky and as Abdi Howlwadaag in the Castle Rock television series) is a lucky man.   A Somali with a skill who has managed to escape the horrors of Mogadishu for a job in the oil-rich nation of Dubai.

He is a billboard repairman, not like the kind of roadside signs that you might see on a long drive from Phoenix to Amarillo (stop in and see the aardvark museum, just 70 miles ahead), but those hi-tech ones with the flashing lights that offer only the best products … clothes, cars, jewelry, perfume; high end stuff.

Night after night he examines the products — up close, literally — and imagines what it would be like to have that watch or that car … all that goes with it.   He has gotten this far and tries to move up with the company that has hired him, but it is made all too clear that he is a billboard repair man and will remain a billboard repair man and if that doesn’t suit him  … they will get someone else.

He vents his frustrations to Jimmy (Jim Sarbh — Padmaavat, Neerja), an Indian ex-pat, who is a hustler.   Being a hustler in Dubai is a skillset too.   Jimmy sees in Caweys an opportunity and convinces him that if wants the stuff he sees on his billboards, he has to be willing to go get it.  

It starts off small, a little of this, a little of that, but soon Jimmy has the gullible Caweys in way, way, way over his head.   The bright lights and wealth of Dubai hide an underbelly of crime, greed and violence.   If Caweys was expendable at the advertising company, you can only imagine how quickly he could disappear if the wrong path is crossed!!

Filmmaker Neel Kumar, with Beneath a Sea of Lights, has delivered a slick thriller and you can’t help, as the action moves along, to feel for Caweys, the perfect customer for what is up in lights … can he survive this rabbit hole that Jimmy has tossed him into!  On DVD, Mar. 23, from Bayview Entertainment, be sure to circle the date on your viewing calendar.

Beneath a Sea of Lights is primarily in English with Arabic, Tamil and Hindi, English subtitles are provided.

 

 

 

Darkside Releasing Tabs Mar. 16 For The Blu-ray Debut Of Director Keith J. Crocker's The Bloody Ape

Darkside Releasing, with sales and distribution support provided by MVD Entertainment Group, will be presenting a Blu-ray double feature on Mar. 16 that genre fans will immediately recognize as a salute to legendary filmmaker Keith J. Crocker.

Titled Extreme Underground Horror, this homage to Crocker marks the Blu-ray debut of both The Bloody Ape and Blitzkrieg: Escape from Stalag 69.  

Let’s be honest, there are filmmakers like Scorsese, Spielberg and Welles, and then there are guys with a camera, guts and the willingness to plow ahead no matter what.   Ed Wood immediately leaps to mind.   And, so does Keith J. Crocker, who has made exactly two feature films, The Bloody Ape in 1997 and Blitzkrieg: Escape from Stalag 69 in 2008 … the rest of the time he has been publishing “The Exploitation Journal” (beginning in 1987) and then he founded CineFear Video (cinefear.com), an online site for rare films with the catchline “The connoisseur's source for horror and exploitation.”

For genre fans, there is nothing quite like his film The Bloody Ape, which was shot on 8MM (yes, seriously) and is by any standard, so horrible as to be good, no, wait, make that great.   A guilty pleasure of the first order.  

We’ve seen it, have it on DVD and it is truly horrible, but in a great way.   Blitzkrieg: Escape from Stalag 69, on the other hand, has escaped us, but it must be bad, but in a good way.   Looking forward to the Blu-ray celebration on Mar. 16 … as will every true genre fan!!

Bonus goodies include commentary from filmmaker Keith J. Crocker on both films, deleted scenes and making-of featurettes.

 

 

 

 

Icarus Films Targets Feb. 23 For The DVD Debut Of Documentary Filmmaker Nurith Aviv's Yiddish • Softie DVD On Feb. 16

Icarus Films has a rich and eclectic library of DVD and Blu-ray releases.   These range from insightful documentaries to some of the best foreign language imports to be found from any source.  

And then, Icarus, from time to time finds the unusual and interesting that don’t quite fit into any particular category.  Example, last November they released the double-disc DVD titled Adventures of Modern Art … and then there was also the fascinating Mondovino: The Series from the spring of 2015.   Interesting and offbeat.

On Feb. 23, we take a tour of the language that has delivered such words to the English vocabulary as klutz, chutzpah, kvetch, bubbe (remember the doomed Harry Ellis in Die Hard, “Hans, bubbe, I'm your white knight" … BANG), nosh, schlep, schmooze, spiel and more.  These words, and the language itself, are the subject of documentary filmmaker Nurith Aviv’s Yiddish, which will be available, as mentioned, on DVD from Icarus Films on Feb. 23. 

Yiddish, a mish-mash of German, Hebrew and other Eastern European languages, has had an interesting history and Aviv, a French filmmaker who was born in Tel Aviv in the spring of 1945, has turned her focus on the period “between the wars” to look at the modernist influence and the avant-garde literature, especially the poetry, that flourished during the period.

To construct a narrative that wouldn’t see the viewer’s eyes glaze over, Aviv selected seven individuals — unconnected, from around Europe and the Middle East — to talk about what the language means to each them … and, how they connect to writers from the “between the wars” period.

For example, Lila Thielemans, who lives in Paris, focuses on the poetry of Anna Margolin (author of a collection of her poems titled “Lider,” was published in 1929).  

Other poets in the discussion are Yehoyesh (a prolific Lithuanian writer who emigrated to the United States in 1890), Moyshe-Leyb Halpern, Peretz Markish (executed by Stalin in 1952 … author of poem collections titled “Mayn Dor” (1929) and “Brider” (also 1929)), Celia Dropkin (fled Russia in 1910 … author of “Heysn Vint” and more), Avrom Sutzkever (escaped the Nazis in occupied Vilnius and was able to save valuable writings from destruction … one of his collection of poems is titled “Lider fun geto”) and Debora Vogel (murdered by the Nazis in 1942 … celebrated poet before her death).

Like we said, Icarus Films’ Feb. 23 DVD release of Yiddish doesn’t quite fit into a specific category, but it is fascinating none the less.   It is presented in a mix of French, English, Hebrew, Polish and Yiddish, with English subtitles throughout.

As a bonus, the DVD release of Yiddish includes the 2020 short film from Nora Claire Miller, Peter Miller and Amy Linton titled Egg Cream.

Also new to the DVD release calendar in February is documentary filmmaker Sam Soko’s award-winning Softie.   It will arrive on Feb. 16.

Kenya, the land of tourists and safaris, has gone, step by step towards becoming a more dangerous place and the fear is that the corruption that has seeped into the fabric of the political landscape may make this the next Somalia; Nairobi the next Mogadishu.

Soko’s film focuses on former news photographer Boniface “Softie” Mwangi, who put aside his career to be a voice against the corruption that has become like a cancer upon his country.   For seven long years he has taken to the streets, to protest … and in the process, has become a leader of a movement demanding that the political process be cleaned up and the corruption swept away (his life is always in danger).

Softie is presented in English, Kiswahili and Kikuyu with English subtitles.

Bonus features include a Q&A session with director Sam Soko.

 

 

 

 

New DVD • Blu-ray • 4K Ultra HD Activity For The Period Ending January 15, 2021

 

New DVD Additions:

 

Adult Source Media

01/12/21 — Released Sinful Sex Kittens

 

Alpha Video (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released Ace of Hearts (Silent-1921), Camille (Silent-1921), Cisco Kid - Volume 5, Gentlemen with Guns, Ghost of Hidden Valley, Harold Lloyd One-Reel Comedy Classics (8 silent short films: The Non-Stop Kid, The City Slicker, I'm On My Way, Spring Fever, Just Neighbors, Never Touched Me, Captain Kidd's Kids), Molly and Me, Studio One Presents: Little Women and Sword-and-Sandal Double Feature (2 film set: Thor and the Amazon Women/Son of Samson)

 

Bayview Entertainment

03/16/21 — Sets Entombed, Her Name Was Fanny Kaplan (Ukrainian), Prosthesis (Spanish), Todd (Ukrainian) and Unbroken

 

Belle & Blade War Video (MOD)

01/05/21 — Released 12 O'Clock High: The Complete Series (20 disc set)

01/12/21 — Released Farewell Rabaul (Japanese)

 

Breaking Fate Entertainment (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released Mac Isn't Gay

 

Burning Bulb Productions (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released Desk Clerk, Mercy and Midnight

 

Championship Productions

01/05/21 — Released Mike Neighbors: 40+ Indicators that It's You (Not Your Players) Sabotaging Your Team's Success!, Mike Neighbors' Offensive Anatomy: "Our Plan to Make 'Em Wrong!", NABC On the Court Open Practice with Brad Underwood: Skill Development, Zone Offense & Transition, NABC On the Court Open Practice with Frank Martin: High-Intensity Defensive Focus & Man-to-Man Offense, NABC On the Court Open Practice with Matt Driscoll: Dead Ball Press Offense, Shooting & Build-Up Drills, NABC On the Court Open Practice with Matt Driscoll: Press Break & Early Offense + Conversion Drills, NABC On the Court Open Practice with Matt Driscoll: Press Break, Transition Defense & Full-Court Drills, NABC On the Court Open Practice with Scott Nagy: Offensive Sets, Defensive Breakdown Drills & 5-on-5 and Open Practice with Vermont's John Becker: Offense & Defense Practice Drills & Techniques

 

Cohen Media Group

01/12/21 — Released Sudden Fear

 

Criterion Collection

04/13/21 — Sets History is Made at Night

04/20/21 — Sets Furies and Memories of Murder (Korean) (2 disc set)

04/27/21 — Sets Irma Vep (French) (2 disc set) and Masculin Féminin (French)

 

Elvis DVD Collector & Movie Store (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released Joe Butterfly

 

Eye Films Releasing (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released Stained

 

Film Movement

01/12/21 — Released Queen Of Hearts: Audrey Flack, Once Upon A River and Road to Mandalay (Burmese)

 

Freestyle Digital Media (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released Power of Movement

 

Graphyco Movie Collection (MOD)

01/05/21 — Released Buster Keaton Collection: College (silent-1927) (plus two bonus silent short: The Frozen North (1922), Cops (1922)), Buster Keaton Collection: Our Hospitality (silent-1923) (plus two bonus silent short: The Frozen North (1922), Cops (1922)) and Olive Thomas Collection (2 film set: The Flapper (silent-1920), Love's Prisoner (silent-1919)

01/12/21 — Danger Lights and Helen Twelvetrees Collection (2 film set: Millie, King for the Night)

 

Gunn Shot Productions (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released I Can, I Will, I Must

 

Icarus Entertainment

02/16/21 — Sets Softie

02/23/21 — Sets Yiddish

 

Kaczmarek Digital Media Group, Inc. (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released Sacred Journey

 

Kino Lorber

01/12/21 — Released Buried Alive, Epicentro, Stretch and Thursday (ARR of 8,096 days; box office: $3,121)

 

Kitty Media

01/05/21 — Released First Love

 

Liberation Hall

01/12/21 — Released Peter, Paul and Mary: Peter, Paul and Mommy, Too

 

Lionsgate Home Entertainment

01/12/21 — Released American Dream and Lena and Snowball

 

MPI Home Media

01/12/21 — Released Jonathan Scott's Power Trip

 

Media Blasters

01/12/21 — Released Shine of the Morning Mist (2 disc set)

 

Mill Creek Entertainment

03/16/21 — Sets Tropical Heat: Sweating Bullets - The Complete Series (12 disc set) (with Digital Copy)

 

Naxos

01/12/21 — Released Beethoven: Fidelio - Theatre au der Wien, 2020, Kit Armstrong Plays Warner, Liszt & Mozart and West-Eastern Divan Orchestra: Beethoven Triple Concerto

 

PBS Direct

01/12/20 — Released Nature: Australian Bushfire Rescue, Nova: Touching the Asteroid and Thousand Cuts

 

Paramount Home Media

01/12/21 — Released English Patient, Frida, Gone Baby Gone,   Like Water for Chocolate (Spanish) and Shakespeare in Love

 

Passion River

01/12/21 — Released Narratives of Modern Genocide

01/19/21 — Sets Disrupted

 

Quiet Revolution Pictures (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released Maiden Danced to Death (Hungarian)

 

Showtime Networks, Inc. (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released Citizen Bio

 

Smart Mark Video (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released H2O Wrestling: Pay Your Dues #3 - The Receipt - Williamstown, NJ

 

Strand Releasing

01/12/21 — Released Monsoon

 

TLA Releasing

01/12/21 — Released Skeleton In The Closet (Spanish)

 

TPR Music (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released Great Kat: Bach's Air on the G-String Mosh

 

The High School Sports Network (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released 2020 MHSAA Div 2 Volleyball Semifinals #1: Notre Dame Prep vs Lakewood - Battle Creek, MI and 2020 MHSAA Div 2 Volleyball Semifinals #2: St. Mary's vs Beaverton - Battle Creek, MI

 

Uncork’d Entertainment

01/12/21 — Released Bright Hill Road and Daria

 

Universal Pictures Home Ent.

01/12/21 — Released Ammonite (ARR of 60 days; box office: $160,930)

 

VIZ Media

01/12/21 — Released Boruto: Naruto Next Generations: Set 8 (2 disc set) and Pokemon the Series: Sun & Moon Ultra Legends - The Aloha League Begins (2 disc set)

 

Vertical Entertainment

01/12/21 — Released Brightheart: Let Your Light Shine, Parallel and Skylines

 

Vision Films (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released Illegal

 

Vision Video

01/12/21 — Released Samuel The Last Of The Judges

 

Warner Bros. Home Ent. (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released Legacies: The Complete Second Season (3 disc set)

01/19/21 — Sets Ball of Fire, Boogie Nights: Special Edition (2 disc set), Girl Happy and Please Don't Eat the Daisies

01/26/21 — Sets Princess and the Pirate, Speedway and There was a Crooked Man

 

Wild Eye Releasing

03/16/21 — Sets Shark Encounters of the Third Kind

 

ZapruderFlix (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released Alien Contactee, Micro-Budget Marauders and Monsters in the Woods: Director's Cut

 

 

New Blu-ray Additions:

 

 

Arbelos Films

01/12/21 — Released Sátántangó (Hungarian) (2 disc set)

 

BMG Rights Management

01/12/21 — Released Stevie Nicks: Live in Concert - The 24 Karat Gold Tour

 

Burning Bulb Productions (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released Desk Clerk, Mercy and Midnight

 

Cinema Guild

03/02/21 — Sets Liberté (French)

 

Criterion Collection

04/13/21 — Sets History is Made at Night

04/20/21 — Sets Furies and Memories of Murder (Korean) (2 disc set)

04/27/21 — Sets Irma Vep (French) (2 disc set) and Masculin Féminin (French)

 

Dark Force Entertainment

03/16/21 — Sets Journey Into Fear

 

Flicker Alley

01/12/21 — Released Laurel or Hardy: The Early Solo Films of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy (35 silent short films: Mother's Baby Boy (1914); The Servant Girl's Legacy (1914); An Expensive Visit (1915); A Lucky Strike (1915); The New Adventures of J. Rufus Wallingford: The Lilac Splash (1915); The Serenade (1916); Hungry Hearts (1916); The Candy Trail (1916); The Chief Cook (1917); Hello Trouble (1918); Married to Order (1918); He's In Again (1918); The Rent Collector (1921); The Bakery (1921); The Show (1922); Rivals (1925); Wandering Papas (1926); Say It With Babies (1926), Bears and Bad Men (1918); The Egg (1922); A Weak-End Party (1922); The Pest (1922); When Knights Were Cold (1923); The Handy Man (1923); Pick and Shovel (1923); Collars and Cuffs (1923); Gas and Air (1923); A Man About Town (1923); The Whole Truth (1923); Brothers Under the Chin (1924); Zeb Vs. Paprika (1924); Wide Open Spaces (1924); Detained (1924); Twins (1925); Pie-Eyed (1925)) (2 disc set)

 

Gravitas Ventures (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released Go/Don't Go, Goodbye, Butterfly, Heart of the Home and Hot Mess

 

Herb Albert Presents (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released Herb Albert Is ...

 

Indie Rights, Inc. (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released Origin Story

 

Kaczmarek Digital Media Group, Inc. (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released Sacred Journey

 

Kino Lorber

01/12/21 — Released Buried Alive, Stretch and Thursday

 

MPI Home Media

01/12/21 — Released Jonathan Scott's Power Trip

 

Media Blasters

01/12/21 — Released Devilman and Shine of the Morning Mist (2 disc set)

 

Naxos

01/12/21 — Released Beethoven: Fidelio - Theatre au der Wien, 2020, Kit Armstrong Plays Warner, Liszt & Mozart and West-Eastern Divan Orchestra: Beethoven Triple Concerto

 

Raro Video

01/12/21 — Released Falchi: Falcons Special Squad (Italian)

 

Retrosploitation Direct (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released City of the Dream Demons

 

Scorpion Releasing

01/12/21 — Released Rituals (aka The Creeper)

 

Sentai Filmworks

01/12/21 — Released Bang Dream! Film Live and Girls Und Panzer: This Is The Real Anzio Battle

 

Shout! Factory

01/12/21 — Released Lupin III: The First (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack)

 

Sony Pictures Home Ent.

01/12/21 — Released Raid Collection (2 film set: The Raid, The Raid 2) (Indonesian) (with Digital Copy) (2 disc set)

 

Universal Pictures Home Ent.

01/12/21 — Released Ammonite

 

Warner Bros. Home Ent. (MOD)

02/09/21 — Sets Six by Sondheim and Tale of Two Cities

02/16/21 — Sets Baby Doll and San Francisco

02/23/21 — Sets My Dream is Yours, On Moonlight Bay, Pump Up the Volume and Show Boat

 

ZapruderFlix (MOD)

01/12/21 — Released Alien Contactee, Micro-Budget Marauders and Monsters in the Woods: Director's Cut