The BFI releases Winstanley on DVD & Blu-ray

Available exclusively from MovieMail

MovieMail is delighted to announce the release of Winstanley available for the first time on DVD and
Blu-ray from April 27th 2009.

Winstanley is an intensely beautiful account of England's first commune. Directed by Kevin Brownlow and Andrew Mollo in 1975, the film's subject matter is highly relevant in the current economic environment, in which people are closely questioning the way our society operates.

This is the meticulously accurate and luminously filmed account of England's first commune which was established in 1649 by the social reformer and writer Gerrard Winstanley. The location was St. George's Hill in Surrey - now prime stockbroker territory. With a small band of followers known as the Diggers, he tried to establish a self-sufficient farming community by asserting their right to plough up common land and plant crops.

Drawing on David Caute's novel Comrade Jacob and using written statements made by Winstanley himself, the filmmakers situate the conflict squarely in the 17th century, but relevance with contemporary concerns are clear.

From the thrilling montage of the film's battle prelude, inspired by Abel Gance's Napoleon and backed by Prokoviev's score for Alexander Nevsky, to the solemn, Carl Dreyer influenced interior scenes, Kevin Brownlow pays fluent tribute to the directors he has championed as scholar and critic. This is a unique British film and sadly the last made by Brownlow and Mollo, whose previous collaboration was the acclaimed It Happened Here.

Winstanley will available to buy exclusively from MovieMail - the UK's leading quality film shop - until 3rd August at www.moviemail-online.co.uk or by calling 0844 776 0900


Special Features: It Happened Here Again (Mival, 1976) a making-of documentary filmed during the production of Winstanley; New 39 minute interview with Brownlow and Mollo; Booklet written by Marina Lewycka (A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian); Kevin Brownlow's short film about the last Glasgow Tram.

Title: Winstanley Release Date: 27th April 2009 Cert: PG Length: 96 mins
DVD RRP: £19.99 Cat No: BFIVD824 | Blu-ray RRP: £24.99 Cat No: BFIB1014