A powerful hymn to the human spirit, the 1963 Alone Across the Pacific (Taiheiyo hitori-botchi) – by renowned Japanese director Kon Ichikawa (An Actor's Revenge, The Burmese Harp, Tokyo Olympiad), who sadly passed away in February of this year – tells the extraordinary real-life story of one man's obsessive quest to break free from the strictures of society.

In 1962, Kenichi Horie (Yujiro Ishihara) embarks on a heroic attempt to sail single-handed across the Pacific Ocean. Leaving Osaka in an ill-prepared vessel – The Mermaid – the young adventurer must overcome the most savage of seas, the psychological torment of cabin fever, and his mental and physical breaking point, if he is ever to reach the fabled destination of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge.

Using Horie's best-selling logbook as his source, Ichikawa portrays the epic struggle of man against nature. Yoshihiro Yamazaki's 'scope cinematography – with Horie isolated in the oceanic expanse of the frame – and a score by celebrated composer Toru Takemitsu, add to the drama of a film for which Ichikawa received a Golden Globe nomination, among other accolades.

Alone Across the Pacific will be released on UK DVD – it's first ever release on any UK home viewing format – by Eureka as part of the Masters of Cinema series on 23rd February 2009 at the RRP of £19.99. Featuring a new high definition digital transfer, anamorphically encoded, in the original 2.35:1 aspect ratio, new and improved optional English subtitles and the following extras:

• Original Japanese Trailer;
• Two teaser trailers;
• Lavish 24-page booklet featuring a colour reproduction of the original Japanese poster, archival publicity stills and an essay by Brent Kliewer (Santa Fe Professor).