This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman February 9, 2023

Synchronicity has once again made an appearance in my review queue, with this fascinating Lesothan film directly following the equally (if in a distinctly different way) fascinating The Funeral from Japan. As is probably more than clearly indicated in the titles of each film, our unavoidable mortality is at the center of the story of both entries, though in the case of The Funeral, a number of characters who have "outlasted" a paterfamilias are tasked with sending off their relative with appropriate aplomb despite being often uncertain of how exactly to accomplish that fact, while This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection deals with an elderly woman who is taking matters into her own hands, so to speak, preparing for her imminent demise within an additionally fraught socio-political and -economic context.

If The Funeral made a rather cogent case that, yes, death can be at least intermittently funny, This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection is almost unbearably somber at times, even if that solemnity is cloaked in what almost be termed a (Grimm's) fairy tale ambience courtesy of a narrator ( Jerry Mofokeng Wa Makhetha), who is actually evidently playing an ethnic instrument called a lesiba but who it must be admitted looks like he actually seems to be taking some pretty long tokes off of a mutant pipe in between relaying the story of Mantoa (Mary Twala Mhlongo). Though this comparison may strike some who have already seen This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection, this film reminded me (admittedly obliquely) at times of Werner Herzog's Where the Green Ants Dream, and I'd argue that this film's gravitas, which contrasts rather interestingly with The Funeral's at least at times more whimsical approach, stems from the fact that the story involves what might be termed death of a culture rather than "only" an individual.

In this particular instance, Mantoa has had a beyond hard life already when we meet her in her extreme elder years, and suffice it to say that whatever limited family support system she may have had at one point is no longer available. Much as in Where the Green Ants Dream, an ostensible "march toward progress" may actually end up devastating long held traditions and just as importantly long sacred locales, and that's where Mantoa's plans for her own funeral collide with local authorities.

This is a film that at times achieves a kind of mythic grandeur, one aided and abetted by Mosese's tendency toward staging tableaux like framings without a lot of movement in them. But the fact that Mantoa is such a remarkable character, and one so fully alive in a truly amazing performance by Mary Twala Mhlongo, gives this at times unworldly tale a surprisingly visceral and "real" quality. Mosese utilizes Lesotho locations beautifully, helping to populate the film with a number of gorgeous vistas of a still largely agrarian existence. There are probably some who will feel the pace is positively glacial after awhile, but for others that may be part of this film's raw, ineluctable power.

This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

This is Not a Burial, This is a Resurrection is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of The Criterion Collection with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.40:1. In lieu of an insert booklet, Criterion provides an accordion style foldout for this release which contains the following brief verbiage on the master:

This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection is presented in it soriginal aspect ratio of 1.40:1. The film was shot on a Sony CineAlta Venice and completed in a fully digital workflow. The 5.1 surround audio for this release was matered from the original digital audio master files.

The IMDb unfortunately doesn't have any information on the resolution of the DI, but some intermittent fuzziness leads me to believe it may have been 2K rather than 4K (as always with my reviews, if anyone can point me toward authoritative and verifiable information, I'll happily update things here). This is a gorgeous looking transfer in any case, despite a few kind of odd issues like noticeable flicker (digitally achieved?) in a couple of establishing shots, and an obvious attempt to give a more filmic appearance courtesy of digital grain, which may be just a tad gritty looking against brighter blue skies in particular at times. There's a really ravishingly lush palette on display a lot of the time, including some lustrous yellows and especially evocative purples. Shadow detail can ebb and flow, especially since a number of interior scenes seem to have been naturally (and minimally) lit. There are a couple of momentary shots that border on the psychedelic (see screenshot 17). Note the slightly curved corners of the frame, which probably subliminally contribute along with the aspect ratio toward a "historic" feel.

This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection features a really evocative DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix in the original Sotho. The haunting sounds of the lesiba give an almost otherworldly aspect to sections of the soundtrack, and a glut of outdoor material provides ample opportunity for well placed ambient environmental effects that engage the side and rear channels. Both quasi-narration and dialogue is presented cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese and producer Cait Pansegrouw


• Introduction to the Films (HD; 14:37) offers Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese discussing the three shorts listed directly below.


• Mother, I Am Suffocating, This is My Last Film About You (HD; ) is a striking 2019 film described here as "party poetic essay, part documentary" which finds Mosese investigating "links between land, history and spirituality".


• Behemoth: Or the Game of God (HD; 12:39) is on one hand more of a narrative driven exercise, but in another way has an almost Candid Camera aspect to it, as a preacher dragging a coffin around Lesotho's capital Masesru deals with local reactions. Subtitled in English.


• Mosonngoa (HD; 22:54) is based on the real life legend of Lesotho's only known female stick fighter. This has some stunning widescreen cinematography. Subtitled in English.


• Trailer (HD; 2:07)

Additionally, Criterion provides an accordion style foldout which contains an interesting essay by novelist and playwright Zakes Mda.

This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There's an ineffable sadness permeating much of This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection, an aspect to the film that may provided a pretty pointed deconstruction of the film's very title. The somewhat static nature of Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese's direction may make this feel like a filmed play at times, but the stunning use of very evocative locations at least provides a lot to look at even when narrative momentum may arguably slow a bit. The titanic performance of Mary Twala Mhlongo is unforgettable, and Jerry Mofokeng Wa Makhetha's work is also haunting in its own way. Technical merits are first rate and as usual with Criterion Collection releases, supplements are also excellent. Recommended.