Robert Siodmak’s People on Sunday Getting BFI Blu-Ray Release

In this vivid snapshot of Weimar life, a group of young Berliners enjoy a typical lazy Sunday, including a trip to the city’s suburban lakes. Flirtations, rivalries and petty jealousies ensue as they all try to wring the last from their weekend even while Monday and the weekly routine loom. On 17 June 2019 the BFI will bring People on Sunday to Blu-ray for the first time in the UK. It is presented with two vibrant scores, a documentary, three short films and a new audio commentary.

As the original negative of this film is lost and no complete copy exists, this restored version was reconstructed by The Eye Institute in the Netherlands and the 2K scan was digitally restored by Deutsche Kinemathek.

People on Sunday launched the careers of a group of influential young filmmakers who would achieve international success: future Academy Award®-winners Billy Wilder (The Apartment), Eugen Schüfftan (The Hustler) and Fred Zinnemann (A Man for All Seasons), the future noir masters Robert Siodmak (The Killers) and Edgar G Ulmer (Detour), and prolific fantasy screenwriter and novelist Curt Siodmak (The Wolf Man).

This release coincides with BFI Southbank’s major two-month season to mark the centenary of the Weimar Republic. BEYOND YOUR WILDEST DREAMS: WEIMAR CINEMA 1919-1933 which opened on 3 May and runs until 30 June, is celebrating one of the most innovative and ground-breaking chapters in the history of cinema.

Special features

· Presented in High Definition
· Two vibrant scores by leading Australian composer Elena Kats-Chernin and the experimental Icelandic group múm
· Weekend am Wannsee (Weekend at the Wannsee, 2000, 31 mins): Gerald Koll’s documentary about People on Sunday, featuring interviews with star Brigitte Borchert and writer Curt Siodmak
· Eine Fahrt durch Berlin (A Trip Through Berlin, 1910, 6 mins): a ride through the streets of Berlin, from the bustling Friedrichstraße and Leipziger Straße to the city seen from the Spree
· Beside the Seaside (1935, 23 mins): Marion Grierson’s beguiling picture of the British seaside, with a commentary written by WH Auden
· This Year – London (1951, 28 mins): documentary by John Krish following the adventures of Leicester factory workers on their staff outing to London
· Newly commissioned commentary by Adrian Martin (2019, 75 mins)
· Illustrated booklet featuring new writing from Amanda DeMarco, Sarah Wood and Örvar Smárason (first pressing only)

Germany / 1929 / black and white / 75 mins / silent with German intertitles and English subtitles / original aspect ratio 1.33:1 / BD50, 1080p, 24fps, PCM 2.0 stereo audio (48kHz/24-bit) and Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo audio (192 kbps)

People On Sunday will be released on Blu-Ray on 17 June 2019.