Criterion Crazy: May 2024 Releases
Written by Andreas Babiolakis
It’s that time again, folks! Not only is Criterion on time with its announcement this month, but we’ve got five things worth celebrating this time around! I don’t think a single one of these selections is questionable or niche in any way, and there will likely be wipeouts of each film’s stock when that flash sale comes around (it should be any day now…). From older classics of world cinema to contemporary favourites, Criterion flat-out didn’t miss at all today with these picks. Why am I still rambling? Let’s get into these choices!
The Favourite: Three Revolutionary Films by Ousmane Sembène
Were you ever bothered that Criterion only had a couple of Ousmane Sembène films (Black Girl/La noire de…, and Mandabi)? Well, they’ve made up for this oversight with a breathtaking box set of three of his other beloved titles! The Senegalese legend now has Emetaï (one of my personal favourites of his), Xala, and Ceddo in the collection. There aren’t many features (a making-of documentary for Ceddo, a conversation about Sembène’s influence as an African cinematic titan, and a scholarly essay by Yasmina Price), but allow me to sell you on a couple of other points. The box art is gorgeous (I recommend looking at the individual sleeves as well). Additionally, Sembène’s films are in dire need of preservation and remastering assistance, and they’re getting this necessary treatment here. This is essential for any fans of African cinema. For any of you who are looking to get into Sembène’s works, I’d recommend La noire de… first (it’s a very accessible film, so finding it won’t be an issue). For anyone else who has already started with his greatest film, this box set feels like a no-brainer. The box set is available in DVD and Blu-ray.
Buy Three Revolutionary Films by Ousmane Sembène Here
Best Newer Release: Anatomy of a Fall
Here’s a release that relies purely on how great the film in question is. I’d pick this up just because Anatomy of a Fall has become a recent favourite of mine, particularly when it comes to legal dramas (I think it’s exemplary). I also am not surprised the film is here given its success and fanbase, but I didn’t think it would be in the Criterion Collection quite this quickly! Okay, so the cover art is…. fine (it’s one of those instances where Criterion could have easily just gone with the original, striking poster art and called it a day), and the features are a little slim (there’s deleted scenes, audition footage, and an essay by Alexandra Schwartz, but the main feature I’m interested in is the interview with director Justine Triet). The film is also available on DVD and Blu-ray (no 4K for this one?). Having said that, again, this is a release that is worth getting just because of the strength of the film alone. It’s Anatomy of a Fall. There could be a special feature of grass growing, and I’d still want to pick this up.
Buy Anatomy of a Fall Here
Come Get Your Cult Classic: Girlfight
So Girlfight is my least favourite of the five picks here, but I do like the film quite a bit and I understand that there is a massive fanbase for this film. This release is clearly tailor-made for that audience and no one else, as there aren’t many features but they are very specific for Girlfight obsessives (I’m talking audio commentary and interviews with director Karyn Kusama, editor Plummy Tucker, and score composer Theodore Shapiro); there’s also one of those classic Criterion essays, this time by critic Carmen Maria Machado. The film is only available on Blu-ray, but if there’s only going to be one format, at least it’s in between DVD and 4K, I suppose. Essentially, this feels like a potential blind-buy for those who have always wanted to watch Girlfight (and, should they be won over, they have those features to enhance the experience furthermore).
Buy Girlfright Here
It’s Back: Peeping Tom
Finally! One of the most coveted out-of-print titles, Peeping Tom, is back in the Collection! Michael Powell’s controversial prelude to the slasher genre is a feast for the eyes that is presented here in 4K (Blu-ray is also available) and with a slew of features. These include the following: documentaries about the film and its restoration, audio commentaries, an interview with iconic editor and Powell’s widow Thelma Schoonmaker, an introduction from Archers super-fan Martin Scorsese, an essay from Megan Abbott, and more. The cover art is to die for (hopefully not literally, in this case), and there’s far too much else to love about Peeping Tom’s return to the collection. This would be my highest choice of what to get if the Sembène box set didn’t exist, because this cult classic has many reasons to pick it up. This precursor to the New Hollywood movement is a must, either way.
Buy Peeping Tom Here
It’s Time to Upgrade: A Story of Floating Weeds / Floating Weeds: Two Films by Yasujiro Ozu
Finally, we’ve reached the upgrade of two Yasujirõ Ozu favourites: the 1934 silent film A Story of Floating Weeds, and its colour, sound remake (also by Ozu) Floating Weeds. The former has audio commentary by film historian Donald Richie and the latter film by Roger Ebert; Richie also supplies an essay for the pair of releases. There’s not much else, otherwise, and this upgrade is essentially from DVD to Blu-ray (DVD is available right now as I type this). While I was hoping for a little more than the bare-basics approach we got here, this is Ozu we’re talking about, and both versions of this story are fantastic. At least it isn’t just available on DVD, I suppose. This is a pretty good place to start for anyone who wants to get into Ozu, because you’ll get films from his two most prominent eras (and, as a result, some perspective on his greatness and also his growth as a director). Just know that his best works are even stronger than these.
Buy A Story of Floating Weeds / Floating Weeds: Two Films by Yasujiro Ozu Here
Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Toronto Metropolitan University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.