Well, it only took, what? 24 years since the original barebones DVD release of Todd Solondz's ground-breaking depiction of modern adolescence, Welcome To the Dollhouse (27 if you want to go all the way back to the laserdisc)? But we've finally got a proper special edition! Sony at least gave us a feature-less blu-ray in 2018 to tide us over. But you can throw all of that crap out, now, because a new UK outfit called Radiance Films - sort of the next iteration of the sadly shuttered Arrow Academy line striking out on their own - have given this film the care and respect it's always deserved. The official release date is March 6th.
2023 Radiance Films blu-ray. |
Importantly, too, in the audio department, Radiance restores the original stereo track (in lossless PCM), as opposed to the US blu-ray, which replaced it with a 5.1 remix. All three discs also offer optional English subtitles.
But now let's get into The Special Features Club (sorry)! First and foremost, we get all new on-camera interviews with Solondz and Heather Matarazzo. There's also a Criterion-style visual essay, which tracks the Dawn Wiener character through this, Palindromes and Wiener-Dog, and a fun audio commentary by the hosts of the This Ends At Prom podcast. The trailer is here, too, restored to widescreen for the first time. Also included is a full-color, 48-page booklet, with credits, Solondz's director's notes, three critical essays, extracts from a Solondz interview and critical reviews, and technical notes. This limited edition features reversible artwork, an obi strip, and if you order direct from Radiance, a Welcome To the Dollhouse bookmark.
The limited edition is restricted to just 2000 copies, and is still available as of this writing. Though after that sells out, there will very likely be a standard edition with all of the same contents except the obi, bookmark and booklet. This release is region B, so make sure you can play region B blu-rays before ordering. If you can't, though, this fantastic disc may be reason enough to get yourself a region free player!
I got this blu ray edition from Radiance. It's a splendid release. Hopefully more of Solondz's work get the HD physical media treatment.
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