Radiance Films will release The Desert of the Tartars (Limited Edition) on Blu-ray on February 23, 2027. The Desert of the Tartars (Limited Edition) is the U.S. Blu-ray premiere of the final film by Valerio Zurlini, in an edition of 3,000 copies. Zurlini adapted The Desert of the Tartars (1976) from the novel by Dino Buzzati, with Jacques Perrin as Lieutenant Drogo.
About The Desert of the Tartars (1976)
Lieutenant Drogo (Jacques Perrin, Corruption) is a young soldier eager to join the fight. After enlisting, he is sent to a border fortress where the troops prepare for battle. As he acclimatises to his new surroundings, he discovers that there is little action and instead of fighting, he becomes embroiled in a battle of endless bureaucracy. The troops strain for sanity as they await an onslaught that may never arrive.
The Desert of the Tartars 4K restoration and documentary
Luce-Cinecittà restored The Desert of the Tartars in 4K from the original negative. Radiance Films will release the 4K restoration on Blu-ray.
David Cairns made Deserts of Vast Eternity, a 68-minute documentary from 2026. The documentary covers Zurlini’s career and influences up to the making of The Desert of the Tartars. Navid Ghazanfari, Lawrence Venuti and Daniel Riccuito appear in Deserts of Vast Eternity. Deserts of Vast Eternity also features Willard Bohn, Stephen Volk, Pasquale Iannone and Federica Fioroni.
The Desert of the Tartars (Limited Edition) extras and packaging
The Desert of the Tartars (Limited Edition) includes 2 archival interviews from 2005. Cinematographer Luciano Tovoli gives a 36-minute interview, and producer Mario Gallo gives an 18-minute interview. The Desert of the Tartars (Limited Edition) has a newly improved English subtitle translation.
Radiance Films packs The Desert of the Tartars (Limited Edition) in a full-height Scanavo case with a removable OBI strip. The Desert of the Tartars (Limited Edition) case has a reversible sleeve with artwork based on the original promotional materials. Radiance Films includes a booklet with new writing by Michael Brooke and an archival interview with Zurlini.
The Desert of the Tartars (Limited Edition) Blu-ray release details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Label | Radiance Films |
| Film | The Desert of the Tartars (1976) |
| Director | Valerio Zurlini |
| Format | Blu-ray |
| Edition | Limited Edition of 3,000 copies |
| Video | 4K restoration from the original negative by Luce-Cinecittà |
| Subtitles | English (newly improved translation) |
| Packaging | Full-height Scanavo with removable OBI strip, reversible sleeve and booklet |
| Release date | February 23, 2027 (North America); February 22, 2027 (UK) |
The Desert of the Tartars (Limited Edition) special features
The Desert of the Tartars (Limited Edition) includes these features:
- 4K restoration of the film from the original negative by Luce-Cinecittà
- Deserts of Vast Eternity – a documentary on Zurlini’s career and influences leading up to the making of The Desert of the Tartars featuring Navid Ghazanfari, Lawrence Venuti, Daniel Riccuito, Willard Bohn, Stephen Volk, Pasquale Iannone and Federica Fioroni (David Cairns, 2026, 68 mins)
- Archival interview with cinematographer Luciano Tovoli (2005, 36 mins)
- Archival interview with producer Mario Gallo (2005, 18 mins)
- Trailer
- Gallery of promotional materials
- Newly improved English subtitle translation
- Reversible sleeve featuring artwork based on original promotional materials
- Booklet featuring new writing by Michael Brooke and an archival interview with Zurlini
- Limited edition of 3000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings
The Desert of the Tartars (Limited Edition) comes out on Blu-ray from Radiance Films on February 23, 2027.
