RUSCICO's 2000 DVD of Kozintsev's 'Hamlet' offers digital restoration but flawed special features.

In 2000, the Russian Cinema Council (RUSCICO) released a digitally restored DVD of Grigori Kozintsev's 1964 adaptation of 'Hamlet.' This restoration improves the film's black-and-white visuals, highlighting the interplay of light and shadow, especially in scenes filmed along the Estonian coastline. The powerful score by Dmitri Shostakovich is featured in a high-quality Dolby Digital 5.1 remix. The DVD offers various audio options, including original Russian mono and 5.1, along with English and French voice-overs, although the English translation has issues with volume and delivery. Subtitles are provided in six languages, with an option for simultaneous primary and secondary subtitles. Special features include interviews with Kozintsev and lead actor Innokenti Smoktunovsky, filmographies, photo albums, and trailers for other Russian adaptations, though much of this extra content suffers from poor image quality and lacks commentary. The film, a classic, won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival and is presented in a region-free, two-disc set with a runtime of 140 minutes in a 16:9 aspect ratio.