6.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Storytellers through song, with connections to political theater, the beloved Moroccan band Nass El Ghiwane became an international sensation thanks to their political lyrics and sublime, fully acoustic sound, which draws on the Moroccan trance music tradition.
Starring: Larbi Batma, Abderrahman Kirouche, Allal Yaala, Omar SayedForeign | 100% |
Documentary | 13% |
Music | 4% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Arabic: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Ahmed El Maanouni's "Trances" (1981) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include an archival video introduction by Martin Scorsese and archival documentary on the making of the film. In Arabic, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
The band
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Trances arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.
The following text appears inside the leaflet that is provided with this Blu-ray release:
"This digital transfer was created on an ARRISCAN film scanner in 2K resolution from the 16mm original camera and sound negatives, preserved by producer Izza Genini. The sound negative was restored to Dolby SR and digital. The restoration produces a new 35mm internegative for long-term preservation and was completed in May 2007. Special thanks go to Genini and director Ahmed El Maanouni for facilitating the restoration process.
Restoration supervision: L'immagine Ritrovata/Bologna, Italy."
If you have seen the Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Project, No. 1 box set, then you already know how Trances looks on Blu-ray. This single-disc release offers a presentation of the exact same restoration of the film.
The film was restored in 2007 with the participation of producer Izza Genini and director Ahmed El Maanouni. Because it was shot on 16mm (and later on blown up to 35mm) under varying conditions, different parts of it exhibit certain minor fluctuations in terms of density, clarity, and fluidity. In select areas where archival is incorporated, traces of fading can be spotted as well. The important point that needs to be underscored is that there are no traces of compromising digital work, which is why the end product has a very pleasing organic appearance. The color grading is convincing, but I have to admit that my only experiences with this film have been on Blu-ray. Debris, cuts, damage marks, and all other similar age-related imperfections have been removed as best as possible. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: Arabic: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit). Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.
The audio incorporates a lot of organic sounds and noises, so you should expect to notice plenty of dynamic fluctuations. Clarity and balance could be affected as well, but there are no distracting anomalies to report. In other words, the original soundtrack has a documentary quality that is entirely appropriate. There are no distortions or audio dropouts to report.
It isn't difficult to understand why Martin Scorsese was so overwhelmed by Ahmed El Maanouni's Trances -- it is a raw and at times indescribably intense film about a legendary band from Morocco that managed to transform an entire generation of people with their music. The visual style of the film reminds of Gimme Shelter, but its atmosphere is unlike anything I have ever experienced. A few years ago, when it was first released on Blu-ray, Trances was a tremendous discovery for me. This release offers a presentation of the same restoration of the film that was first introduced via the Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Project, No. 1 box set.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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