The Devil's Bride (1974) Deluxe Limited Edition - Blu-ray

DELUXE LIMITED EDITION (1250 UNITS)

THE DEVIL’S BRIDE (VELNIO NUOTAKA)
1974 • Lithuanian Film Centre • 78 min.

Imagine a surreal early-1970s Lithuanian rock opera directed in the spirit of Ken Russell’s Tommy, blending elements of Jesus Christ Superstar (guitar-driven musical numbers and religious themes), Fiddler on the Roof (a rural village setting), and the folk-horror atmosphere of The Wicker Man and Blood on Satan’s Claw. The result is the strange and captivating world of director Arūnas Žebriūnas’ THE DEVIL’S BRIDE.

The film opens with an unforgettable musical sequence: a long-haired, flower-child version of God sits on a throne in the heavenly mountains, surrounded by angelic choirs in flowing white robes. As guitars erupt, the angels cast aside their robes to reveal bright mod-era costumes and begin an exuberant choreographed celebration.

An ambitious sung-through musical in the style of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg—where the entire story is performed in song—the film centers on a devil named Pinčiukas (Gediminas Girdvainis), who is expelled from Heaven and lands in a frog pond belonging to farmer Baltaragis (Vasilijus Simčičius). Pinčiukas promises Baltaragis the hand of his beloved Marcelė (Vaiva Mainelytė) in exchange for the farmer’s yet-to-be-born daughter Jurga (also played by Mainelytė as an adult), setting off a chain of complications over the years.

Based on the novel Whitehorn’s Windmill by Kazys Boruta, with music by Viačeslavas Ganelinas and striking cinematography by Algimantas Mockus, the film weaves Lithuanian folklore with dreamlike imagery: devils riding through the countryside, mysterious carriages vanishing into lakes, and ancient rituals involving mistletoe roots, rowan berries, and straw figures.

In an unexpected twist, Pinčiukas becomes one of the story’s most sympathetic characters, destined to remain on earth while longing to return to Heaven. A beloved cult favorite in Lithuania and a fascinating discovery for fans of film musicals, THE DEVIL’S BRIDE has been beautifully restored by the Lithuanian Film Centre for its first U.S. release by Deaf Crocodile.

In Lithuanian with English subtitles.

Special Features

• New video interview with Monika Edgar, daughter of director Arūnas Žebriūnas, discussing her father’s career and the making of The Devil’s Bride (in English)
• New video interview with Lithuanian film critic Ieva Šukytė on the history of Lithuanian cinema and The Devil’s Bride (in English)
• New visual essay by Dr. Will Dodson and Ryan Verrill (Someone’s Favorite Productions)
• New commentary by Michael Brooke
• New artwork by Beth Morris
• Blu-ray authoring by David Mackenzie (Fidelity In Motion)

Deluxe Edition Bonus Content

• Slipcase featuring new artwork by Hannah Vandergreen
• 60-page illustrated book
• New essay by film critic and author Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
• New essay by film critic and author Walter Chaw
• Rare production artwork and photos