Just in time for his next martial arts epic "House of Flying Daggers," Miramax releases Zhang Yimou's "Hero," starring Jet Li, on DVD. Also new this week: André Téchiné's wartime drama "Strayed" starring Emmanuelle Beart and Mohsen Makhmalbaf's "The Cyclist."
1. Hero
Part "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" part "Rashomon," Chinese art house auteur Zhang Yimou ("Raise the Red Lantern") gets in on the wire-fu action with the blockbuster "Hero," the martial arts sensation starring Jet Li, Maggie Cheung, and Zhang Ziyi. A surprise hit of 2004, the film topped the U.S. box office two weeks in a row. Special features include the documentary featurette Hero Defined, the interview featurette Inside the Action: A Conversation with Quentin Tarantino and Jet Li.
2. Strayed
Emmanuelle Béart plays a beautiful widow who hides her children from the advancing German army in André Téchiné's carefully observed wartime drama. Also starring newcomer Gaspard Ulliel, currently starring in "The Very Long Engagement." The DVD includes interviews with director André Téchiné, novelist Gilles Perrault, and Ulliel.
3. The Cyclist
Mohsen Makhmalbaf's story of an Afghan refugee (Moharram Zaynalzadeh) who undertakes a grueling bicycle marathon to pay for his wife's hospital bills.
4. My Flesh and Blood
Filmmaker Jonathan Karsh profiles Susan Tom, a single mother in Fairfield, California who increased her family of 4 children by adopting 11 special needs children. Winner of the Audience and Director's Awards at the Sundance Film Festival.5. Last Dance
Documentary filmmaker Mirra Bank follows the collaboration between dance company Pilobolus and author-illustrator Maurice Sendak as they create a dance-theater piece about the Holocaust.