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A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness (Blu-ray Review)

Our A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness Blu-ray review covers one of the strangest and most unexpected thrillers to come out of 1970s Japan. This 1977 genre-bender blends sports, scandal, and psychological breakdowns into something that feels both pulpy and unsettling. Radiance Films brings it to Blu-ray for the first time in English-friendly territory with a Region A & B disc, a new HD transfer, and excellent packaging. For collectors of Japanese cult cinema and fans of deep-cut imports, this release finally gives the film a proper spotlight.

 

Film

A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness is a film where you think you know what you’re getting into — and then it goes completely sideways. On paper, it’s about a fashion model turned pro golfer, but it plays out more like a surreal melodrama with stalkers, scandals, and some truly wild visual detours. Reiko, played by Yoko Shiraki, gets pushed into golf fame by her editor-turned-manager (Yoshio Harada), who not only wants to profit from her image but seems more interested in controlling her every move. What starts as a sports success story spirals into something much darker, weirder, and more emotionally unhinged.

The film was Seijun Suzuki’s comeback after a ten-year blacklisting, and you can tell he came out swinging. Everything feels heightened — color palettes shift mid-scene, characters behave like they’re in a fever dream, and the tone jumps between glossy magazine spread and psychological nightmare. There’s a real Fellini-esque flair to it all, from the lavish set pieces to the way Suzuki stages ordinary moments with surreal energy. You’re watching a story about a golfer, but it feels more like a morality play about fame, media control, and mental collapse. And let’s be honest — Yoshio Harada looks cool as hell, like a Japanese Jim Morrison wandering through a slow-motion nervous breakdown.

For all its madness, there’s something very grounded about the pressure Reiko faces. The film taps into the feeling of being trapped by expectation — she’s stuck between fans, corporate handlers, nosy neighbors, and a family that doesn’t know how to support her. And then there’s the stalker, whose intrusion adds a layer of creeping dread that feels surprisingly modern. A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness may be based on a manga, but it’s loaded with real-world tension about how women are consumed and discarded by media and ambition. It hits hard — and looks incredible doing it.

Radiance Films’ Blu-ray release gives this cult oddity the upgrade it deserves. With a Region A & B disc, English subtitles, and a sharp HD transfer, it’s the first-time many viewers outside Japan can see this film in its full, uncut weirdness. If you’re into Suzuki’s more off-the-wall work — or just want something bold and unpredictable — this is a great pickup. Our A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness Blu-ray Review makes it clear: this one’s not for everyone, but if you’re tuned into the frequency, it’ll definitely leave a mark.

 

Video

NOTE: Stills are provided for promotional use only and are not from the Blu-ray.

Encoding: MPEG-4 AVC

Resolution: 1080p

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Region: A, B

HDR: N/A

Layers: BD-50

Clarity and Detail: The image is sharp and textured, with solid clarity in both close-ups and wide shots. Details like fabric, makeup, and golf course grass all come through clearly without looking too digitally processed.

Depth: There’s a good sense of visual layering here, especially in scenes where Suzuki makes use of empty space or low-angle compositions. Foregrounds and backgrounds stay distinct, even during darker indoor sequences.

Black Levels: Blacks are deep and consistent, with no major issues during night scenes or shadowy interiors. Shadow detail holds up well without crushing, keeping the surreal lighting intact.

Color: The color palette leans warm and slightly saturated — skin tones pop, red golf outfits stand out, and set dressing bursts with that retro ’70s flair. Suzuki’s dramatic color shifts come through cleanly, with no bleeding or overboosting.

Flesh Tones: Natural and well-balanced throughout. Even during more stylized lighting setups, skin tones don’t skew too warm or too cool. No waxy look, no edge enhancement.

Noise and Artifacts: No major artifacts to report. Grain is natural and film-like, not intrusive. No signs of DNR or compression issues. Radiance has delivered a clean, respectful transfer that matches the film’s wild visual style.

 

Audio

Audio Format(s): Japanese LPCM Mono 1.0 (Mono 2.0 playback)

Subtitles: English

Dynamics: For a mono track, it’s pretty lively. Dialogue, score, and sound effects all sit nicely in the mix without any harsh peaks or muffling. The occasional burst of music or crowd noise has just enough punch to make things feel alive.

Height: N/A

Low Frequency Extension: N/A

Surround Sound: N/A

Dialogue: Dialogue is clear throughout, with no distortion or major dips. Even during scenes with overlapping voices or layered background sound, voices stay front and center. The new English subtitles are easy to follow and don’t feel overly stiff or machine-translated.

 

Extras

Radiance Films includes a small but thoughtful selection of bonus features with this release. Critic Samm Deighan contributes a new audio commentary that adds valuable context to Suzuki’s comeback era, and there’s a fresh interview with editor Kunihiko Ukai that sheds some light on the film’s production. The disc also features the original trailer, newly improved English subtitles, and a reversible sleeve with artwork by Sam Smith. Rounding it out is a limited-edition booklet with writing by Jasper Sharp and an archival review, all housed in Radiance’s classy full-height Scanavo packaging with a removable OBI strip. Limited to 3,000 copies. Please keep in mind that the reversible artwork contains female nudity and may be NSFW.

LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY FEATURES

 

• Audio commentary by critic and author Samm Deighan (2025)
• New interview with editor Kunihiko Ukai (2025)
• Trailer
• Newly improved English subtitle translation
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sam Smith
• Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by Jasper Sharp and an archival review of the film
• Limited edition of 3000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings

 

Summary

Our A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness Blu-ray review ends on a strong note for collectors and fans of deep-cut Japanese cinema. The film itself is a bizarre and bold ride — part sports drama, part media satire, and all Seijun Suzuki weirdness. While it won’t be for everyone, it’s hard not to admire how committed it is to its tone and style. Radiance Films gives it a respectful HD presentation with solid audio and a few well-curated extras. It’s great to finally have this cult oddity available on a Region A & B disc with English subtitles. If you’re into surreal ‘70s cinema with a dark edge, this one’s worth picking up. If you want to check out a radically different, and early, Seijun Suzuki feature from Radiance Films, you might also want to check out our Underworld Beauty Blu-ray Review, another standout release from their recent lineup.

 

A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness is available on Blu-ray!

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