Bandits of Orgosolo: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1961
Director: Vittorio De Seta
Writers: Vera Gherarducci, Vittorio De Seta
Cast: Michele Cossu, Peppeddu Cossu, Vittorina Pisano

Release Date: June 25th, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 96 Minutes 10 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Italian
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $39.95

"A Sardinian peasant is suspected of murder following an encounter with bandits. In order to survive, he has no option but to turn to banditry himself." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Restored in 4K in 2023 by The Film Foundation and Cineteca di Bologna at L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory, from the original camera negative. In association with Titanus with funding provided by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation."

Bandits of Orgosolo comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 35.1 GB

Feature: 28.4 GB

The source looks exceptional; image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image always looks organic.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Italian with removable English subtitles. This is a film that relies more on ambient sounds than a score, and range-wise, this track always gets the job done, dialog always comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 52 seconds, LPCM mono Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with curator and filmmaker Ehsan Khoshbakht (11 minutes 16 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with cinematographer Luciano Tovoli (27 minutes 48 seconds, LPCM stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 24-page booklet limited to 3000 copies) cast & crew information, an essay titled An Anthropologist with the Voice of a Poet written by Roberto Curti, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Bandits of Orgosolo was the feature film debut of Vittorio De Seta, a filmmaker who, at that point in his career, was known for directing documentary short films. That said, despite directing for the next 47 years, he would only direct five theatrical feature films.

The narrative revolves around an innocent man, a sheep herder, who becomes a fugitive because of an encounter with bandits.

Bandits of Orgosolo shows Italian Neorealism's influence, even though most Italian Neorealist filmmakers had moved on by then. Whether it be Vittorio De Seta's documentary-like approach to his direction or how most of the cast would appear in a film, both of these things play into Bandits of Orgosolo’s connection to Italian Neorealism.

The simplicity of the narrative is what immediately grabs you. What starts off as a mundane tale about a sheep herder and his brother’s daily routines quickly takes an abrupt turn when bandits force themselves into their tranquil lives. And when it becomes clear that he can no longer go back to the life he once had, the sheep herder definitely refuses to sell his sheep and takes them with him while trying to stay one step ahead of the law.

Bandits of Orgosolo is a story about decisions and the role that they play. Instead of taking the easy way out, the protagonist makes several choices that hurt him. And no choice comes at a higher price than his refusal to give up his livelihood. He would rather die than lose everything that he has worked his entire life for.

From a production standpoint, there is no area where Bandits of Orgosolo does not deliver. The well-executed narrative does a phenomenal job of building tension. The beautifully photographed scenic landscapes greatly add to the atmosphere. Instead of using a traditional score, Bandits of Orgosolo very effectively uses ambient sounds. And despite the cast's lack of experience, all the performances are excellent. Ultimately, Bandits of Orgosolo is a powerful drama about one man’s determination when faced with insurmountable odds.

Bandits of Orgosolo gets an exceptional release from Radiance Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer