Here’s some great news for fans of Marc Singer’s awesome 2000 film Dark Days; 11 years after its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival (where it went on to win three of the festivals major awards), the film has now found a new home at Oscilloscope Laboratories. The boutique distribution company has announced that they’ll be re-releasing the film theatrically (which I believe kicked off on July 1st in New York City), followed by a repackaged 2 disc DVD release that’s packed with supplemental features.
For years, a homeless community took root in a train tunnel beneath New York City, braving dangerous conditions and perpetual night. DARK DAYS explores this surprisingly domestic subterranean world, unearthing a way of life unimaginable to those above. Through stories simultaneously heartbreaking, hilarious, intimate, and off the cuff, tunnel dwellers reveal their reasons for taking refuge and their struggle to survive underground.
Filmed in striking black and white with a crew comprised of the tunnel’s inhabitants and scored by legendary turntablist DJ Shadow (Endtroducing…), DARK DAYS remains a soulful and enduring document of life on the fringe.
The DVD edition of the film is set to hit stores on July 19th. You can pre-order the disc here or watch for it on the shelves of your favourite video outlet bargain place. Have a look at the sweet special features below and check out the trailer while you’re at it. God bless Oscilloscope!
Disc one
Dark Days – all-new digital transfer from original 35 mm telecine
Audio commentary with director Marc Singer
English subtitles for the hearing impaired
Disc two
The Making of Dark Days (2000) – interviews with Marc Singer, DJ Shadow, and others
The Tunnel Today – director Marc Singer revisits the tunnel in 2011
Fragile Dwelling – an all new photo essay featuring photographs by Margaret Morton
Dark Days Design – a look at the typography with title designer Jay Hillyer
Life After the Tunnel – an update on the characters
Introduction with former New York City Mayor David Dinkins and Q&A with Singer and Executive Director of the Coalition for the Homeless Mary E. Brosnahan at the Maysles Cinema in 2011
Original theatrical trailer
Deleted scenes with notes by Marc Singer
With an exclusive essay by film critic Kenneth Turan
This is fantastic news for a wonderful film . . . great images, a striking score, and a hell of a story.
Very excited to hear this! I’m amazed how few people have seen this compelling film. Now they’ll have no excuses!
I spent several days with Marc at the Munich Film Festival in 2000. Great guy and a great story. The film is amazing and everyone should see it. Brilliant and heart warming.
P.S. Any body that talks to Marc I would like to get a hold of him.
Bob Jay Mills
Good Housekeeping / Better Housekeeping
I have seen the film and I liked it so much, though the unexpected ending was strange to me. the success of this film I believe is because of its honesty and being straight. pure documentary without pretending.So mush respect I felt toward the people in front of Singer’s Camera and for him who made this film .
MA FAVORITE MOVI EVAAAR
great documentary. inspiring. thank you for making it.
I was moved by Dark Days and would love to see a follow up on these people. One thing that has bothered me a lot is not knowing what happened to the dogs that were living in the tunnels. Thank you for making this documentary, it really opened my eyes to the brutality of drugs and the undying spirit of people.
Would like to know what happened to everyone in this documentary. A follow up is a must!
what happened to the dogs? really scary to think…im assuming none could be taken to the apartments, so they were probably surrendered to the pound and most likely euthanized—very sad. and update would be great.