Death by Hanging (The Criterion Collection) DVD

Death by Hanging from The Criterion Collection is a DVD edition of Nagisa Oshima’s dark satire about a condemned Korean man who survives his execution and the authorities’ ensuing crisis. The listing describes a restored edition with an interview, a short documentary, a trailer, English subtitles, and an essay.

At a glance

Oshima’s film uses a macabre farce to address capital punishment and the treatment of Korean immigrants in Japan.
Listed extras include a Tony Rayns interview, the short documentary Diary of Yunbogi, a trailer, and an essay by Howard Hampton.
The listing identifies the disc as NTSC and widescreen with English subtitles.

Price

$14.98Save 50%

Reference price: ~~$29.95~~

Price checked: Nov 12, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

The special features extend the disc beyond the feature film with an interview, a short documentary, a trailer, and an essay.
The stated runtime of 1 hour and 58 minutes offers a feature-length presentation.

Technical specifications

13 specifications

Disc and playback
Format	NTSC, Widescreen
Number of discs	1
Runtime	1 hour and 58 minutes
Subtitles	English
Rating	NR (Not Rated)

Film and credits
Genre	Comedy
Director	Nagisa Oshima
Actors	Fumio Watanabe, Kei Sato, Toshiro Ishido
Contributors	Fumio Watanabe, Kei Sato, Nagisa Oshima, Toshiro Ishido
Studio	Criterion Collection (Direct)
Release date	February 16, 2016

Edition features
Listed special features	New, restored 4K digital transfer; New interview with critic Tony Rayns; New high-definition digital transfer of director Nagisa Oshima’s 1965 experimental short documentary Diary of Yunbogi; Trailer; New English subtitle translation; PLUS: An essay by critic Howard Hampton

Dimensions and installation
Dimensions listed	0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 2.72 ounces

What to know before buying

The listing describes this as a restored 4K digital transfer, but the selected product is a DVD. Treat that as a source-transfer description, not evidence that the disc is a 4K format or resolution. The listing also gives English as the language without clearly specifying the film’s spoken language, so check the selected edition if that detail matters.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Viewers interested in Nagisa Oshima, Japanese New Wave cinema, or politically charged dark satire.
DVD collectors who want a feature edition with supplementary film material and an essay.

Less suited to

Buyers seeking a Blu-ray or 4K UHD disc rather than DVD.
Viewers who want a film with a clearly stated spoken-language track, since the listing’s language field is ambiguous.

Death by Hanging (The Criterion Collection) DVD · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.4 / 5 · 50 ratings

5 stars75%75%
4 stars6%6%
3 stars10%10%
2 stars4%4%
1 star5%5%

Aggregate ratings lean favorable, with most ratings in the five-star category, but there are also lower-star ratings. Without written feedback, the scores do not explain the reasons for either reaction. They may help indicate broad reception, but cannot establish how viewers assess the film’s content, disc presentation, or extras.

Frequently asked questions

What is included on this edition?

The listing specifies one DVD and describes a restored transfer, an interview with critic Tony Rayns, the short documentary Diary of Yunbogi, a trailer, a new English subtitle translation, and an essay by Howard Hampton.

Is this a 4K disc?

No. The product is listed as DVD in NTSC, widescreen format. The 4K wording refers to the described restored digital transfer, not the disc format.

What language is the film in?

English is given in the listing’s language field, and English subtitles are also specified. The listing does not clearly identify the film’s spoken-language track, so confirm that before purchase if necessary.

How long is the film?

The listed runtime is 1 hour and 58 minutes.