Brief Encounters / The Long Farewell: Two Films by Kira Muratova (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

The Criterion Collection’s Brief Encounters / The Long Farewell presents two Kira Muratova films on a two-disc Blu-ray set. The listing describes fragmented portraits of women and family relationships, with new 4K digital restorations and interviews among the special features.

At a glance

Includes Muratova’s first two solo features, each centered on complicated personal and family relationships.
The listing describes new 4K digital restorations and uncompressed monaural soundtracks.
Extras include scholar interviews, an archival interview with Muratova and an essay by Jessica Kiang.

Price

$29.98Save 50%

Reference price: ~~$59.95~~

Price checked: Nov 12, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

Two films and a substantial set of interview and essay extras are included across two Blu-ray discs.
English subtitles are listed for the Russian-language films.
The stated restoration and monaural soundtrack details make the edition informative for viewers comparing presentation formats.

Technical specifications

18 specifications

Format and contents
Format	Blu-ray, Widescreen
Number of discs	2
Runtime	3 hours and 10 minutes
Aspect ratio	2.40:1
Genre	Drama
Rating	NR (Not Rated)

Language and credits
Audio language	Russian
Subtitles	English
Director	Kira Muratova
Contributors	Kira Muratova, Nina Ruslanova, Vladimir Vysotsky, Zinaida Sharko
Studio	The Criterion Collection

Restoration and extras
Restoration	New 4K digital restorations
Soundtracks	uncompressed monaural soundtracks
Interviews	Interviews with scholars Elena Gorfinkel and Isabel Jacobs
Archival feature	Archival interview with director Kira Muratova

Release information
Release date	August 13, 2024
Digital copy expiration date	December 31, 2019

Dimensions and installation
Dimensions listed	6.75 x 5.3 x 0.47 inches; 3.84 ounces

What to know before buying

Listing details to confirm

The listing gives a digital copy expiration date of December 31, 2019, which precedes the stated August 13, 2024 release date. It does not confirm whether a usable digital copy is included, so buyers seeking one should verify the selected edition.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Viewers exploring Kira Muratova’s cinema and Soviet-era film.
Collectors looking for two restored films plus interviews and a booklet essay.
Russian-language film viewers who want English subtitles.

Less suited to

Buyers seeking a 4K UHD disc rather than Blu-ray.
Viewers who require an explicitly confirmed digital copy.

Brief Encounters / The Long Farewell: Two Films by Kira Muratova (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.5 / 5 · 4 ratings

5 stars49%49%
4 stars51%51%
3 stars0%0%
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Aggregate ratings lean positive, with the displayed ratings split between four- and five-star categories. The sample is very small, and no written customer feedback is supplied, so it cannot establish specific strengths or concerns about the films, restorations or extras.

Frequently asked questions

Which films are included?

The set contains Brief Encounters and The Long Farewell, Kira Muratova’s first two solo features.

What language and subtitle details are listed?

The listed language is Russian, with English subtitles.

What extras are described?

The listing names interviews with scholars Elena Gorfinkel and Isabel Jacobs, an archival interview with Muratova and an essay by film critic Jessica Kiang.

Is a digital copy confirmed?

The listing provides a digital copy expiration date of December 31, 2019, but does not clearly confirm that a digital copy is included. Verify the selected edition if that matters to you.