Out on Blu-ray and 4K UHD June 25, 2024
A wrongly wanted man runs for the authorities while setting him his flock of sheep for survival and teaching a younger shepherd the ropes.
Written by Vera Gherarducci and Vittorio De Seta with the latter also directing, this film is one that is very dated, but in a good way. Yes, it’s black and white. Yes, it’s old. However, the story still resonates. The story of a working-class man unjustly wanted by the law is a classic and one we still see new movies being made and released about. Here, the story is very much Italian, taking place in the Italian countryside, filled with old school Italians, giving the film a very specific mood that is interesting and keeps the attention on the film. The story does feel a bit slow, but it’s not too terrible slow that it may cause issues with attention spans. The story here is well-written, well-directed in a takes-it’s-time sort of way. That being said, the story is interesting enough and the performances are connected enough to make the slowness a non-issue.
The cast here is solid with Michele Cossu and Peppeddu Cuccu giving good, organic performances, something that film needed and exactly what their respective parts required. The two of them are great to watch along with rest of the cast. There is something here in the performances that feels natural, like these folks have lived this life for a thousand years and are just letting us have a peek at their ways. The performances in this film are a big part of what makes it all work.
The cinematography here is black and white with stark contrast at times, giving the film a very specific look that is perfect for the story and its different elements. The nighttime sequences are particularly beautiful with true deep blacks and bright white lights. This is easily appreciated in this new release with the image looking crisp and the sound being super clear. This new release from Radiance Films boasts a new 4K restoration from the camera negatives, something some with care and love as is obvious while watching the film.
The extras here are a bit limited, but what there is has a high quality to it. Th reversible sleeve is stunning and has new art by Filippo Di Battista, and the booklet has new writing by Roberto Curti. The content of the disc itself are more focused on the new high-resolution restoration, adding a new interview with cinematographer Luciano Tovoli and a new interview with filmmaker and film curator Ehsan Khoshbakht, both of which are more than worth checking out.
Bandits of Orgosolo is a look at a long past style of filmmaking from Italy, a prime example of a performance-driven film, one that looks and sounds great as well. It’s a solid entry in these new re-releases and one that is worth checking out for fans of Italian Neo-Realism and of beautiful stark black and white films.
