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Description

This World Cinema Project pairing features Soleil Ô, Med Hondo’s furious and formally adventurous critique of postcolonial racism in France, and Downpour, Bahram Beyzai’s lyrical Iranian study of love, obsession, and community.

Description

Mauritanian French firebrand Med Hondo puts colonialism itself on trial in this one-of-a-kind musical spectacular—a collective effort of unprecedented scale and ambition that proved a watershed event in African cinema. Aboard an enormous mock slave ship, Hondo stages a series of imaginative reenactments and intricately choreographed musical numbers that trace the devastating effects of French imperialism across centuries of enslavement and injustice. Beyond mere extravaganza, West Indies: The Fugitive Slaves of Liberty is a stirring call to Pan-African independence and a dazzling yet critical reconception of an entire people’s history of oppression and rebellion. BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack Program featuring archival interviews with director Med Hondo New interview with African-cinema scholar Aboubakar Sanogo Excerpted archival interview with cinematographer François Catonné Trailers PLUS: An essay by film programmer and critic Ashley Clark Top Similar From the Brand Questions Reviews West Indies: The Fugitive Slaves of Liberty (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] West Indies: The Fugitive Slaves of Liberty (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]