Sambizanga Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

Sambizanga Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman February 17, 2023

Note: This film is available on Blu-ray as part of the Criterion release of Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Project, No. 4.

Criterion is often described as the very paradigm of a "niche" collector label, and in that regard, there may be nothing Criterion has offered over the years that is more "niche" than their series of World Cinema Project offerings, all bearing the rather notable imprimatur of one Martin Scorsese. This fourth volume follows in the footsteps of the previous three collections and offers another often bracing aggregation of little or at least lesser known films, some from rather unusual places and also at times addressing subjects that are not regular fodder for big budget Hollywood extravaganzas.

Reviews of the previous three volumes in this series, all of which offer some really interesting and worthwhile films, are accessible by clicking on the following links:

Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Project, No. 1 Blu-ray review

Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Project, No. 2 Blu-ray review

Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Project, No. 3 Blu-ray review

Sambizanga might rightly be called a "ripped from the headlines" production, even though those headlines might only be widely known to those with an interest in Angola. The film is of further interest in that filmmaker Sarah Maldoror might arguably be credited with having helped to write some of those headlines herself, at least insofar as her own personal history and that of her rabble rousing husband Mário Coelho Pinto de Andrade align rather strongly with some of the historical occurrences providing context for this bracing and at times viscerally disturbing examination of the horrors of colonialism, at least from the perspective of the "natives". Using a cast of non-professionals, Maldoror offers a "real life" tale of a revolutionary imprisoned for his activities, and a popular uprising which follows.

What's often fascinating about this film is that while the revolutionary would seem to be the focal character, the real impetus of the story is the man's wife and her journey to find out what has become of her husband. Maria (Elisa Andrade) spends a great deal of time in the story on a trek to find the imprisoned Domingos (Domingos de Oliveira), with her baby slung in a wrap on her back. The film explores some of the issues behind Angola's fight for independence, while offering the rather unique perspective of what might be termed a "woman warrior".

Sambizanga Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Sambizanga is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of The Criterion Collection with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.37:1. Some introductory text before the main feature provides the following information on the restoration:

This restoration is part of the African Film Heritage Project, an initiative created by The Film Foundation's World Cinema Project, the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers and UNESCO - in collaboration with Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna - to help locate, restore and desseminate African cinema.

Restored by The Film Foundation's World Cinema Project and Cineteca di Bologna in association with Editions Rene Chateau and the family of Sarah Maldoror.

Funding provided by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation.

Sambizanga was restored in 4K using the original camera negatives. Color grading was supervised by Annouchka de Andrade and cinematographer Jean-Francois Robin.

Restoration work was carried out in 2021 at L'Immagine Ritrovata and L'Image Retrouvee laboratories.

Even more detailed information is imparted in Criterion's insert booket:

Sambizanga is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1. This digital transfer was created in 4K resolution on an Arriscan film scanner from the 35 mm original camera negative. Color grading was supervised by Annouchka de Andrade, the daughter of Sambizanga director Sarah Maldoror, and cinematographer Jean-Francois Robin, a frequent collaborator of Maldoror's. The monaural soundtrack was remastered from the 35 mm original soundtrack negative.

There's an undeniable verité aspect to Sambizanga, and as such some of the location photography in particular can be slightly hazy at times, but other than some passing variances in detail levels in such moments, this is an often ravishing looking transfer that supports a really robust palette and some nice fine detail levels, particularly in close-ups. The prominence of the grain field and some intermittent fuzziness can almost give this a 16mm look at times, but there is always a really appealing organic quality to the visuals, and densities are routinely excellent. There's really no significant damage or other age related wear or tear to mention.

Sambizanga Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Sambizanga features an LPCM Mono track in the original French. As with the visual side of things, the quasi-documentarian approach can occasionally lead to minor variances in amplitude in dialogue in particular, but the entirety of the track is well modulated and offers a secure accounting of all spoken material, as well as ambient environmental effects the regularly populate the sound design courtesy of a lot of outdoor material. Optional English subtitles are available.

Sambizanga Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Criterion has packaged Sambizanga and Prisioneros de la Tierra together on one disc. After selecting an individual film, supplements exclusive to that film are then accessible, as follows:

• Martin Scorsese Introduction (HD; 3:10)


• On Sambizanga (HD; 25:56) is a worthwhile piece combining archival footage of director Sarah Maldoror and a contemporary interview with her daughter Annouchka de Andrade. In English and French, with English subtitles when appropriate.

Sambizanga Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Sarah Maldoror's own personal history is part and parcel of this tale, as the main supplement associated with this feature gets into, and that gives this story a visceral intensity and realism. Things might arguably have been aided by a more polished cast, but perhaps the "unprofessional" status of these performers only adds to the gut wrenching intensity of the film. Technical merits are solid and the main supplement very interesting. Recommended.