Press Release Criterion Press Release: Black God, White Devil (1964) (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

​

Myth, mysticism, and revolution collide in a blistering existential western from Glauber Rocha, the father of Brazil’s socially committed Cinema Novo movement. After killing his swindling boss, ranch hand Manoel (Geraldo Del Rey) goes on the run with his wife, Rosa (Yoná Magalhães). In the stark hinterlands, they join forces with armed bandits and pledge allegiance to a self-styled holy man who preaches revolt against rich landowners while perpetrating unspeakable acts of violence against the innocent. Suffused with antiauthoritarian fervor and the intensity of life in the desert, this landmark work of radical cinema is a scorched-earth allegory about mindless fanaticism and the allure of dead-end ideologies.

FILM INFO​

• Brazil
• 1964
• 118 minutes
• Black & White
• 1.37:1
• Portuguese
• Spine #1225
  
  

  BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES​

  • New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
  • Audio commentary by restoration producer Lino Meireles
  • New interview with film scholar Richard Peña
  • Glauber the Movie, Labyrinth of Brazil (2003), a documentary on director Glauber Rocha
  • Cinema Novo (2016), a documentary on the Brazilian film movement
  • Memória do cangaço (1964), a short documentary on the origins of cangaço, a form of social banditry in northeastern Brazil
  • Trailer
  • New English subtitle translation
  • PLUS: An essay by film scholar Fábio Andrade
    
    New cover based on the original poster by Rogério Duarte
    
    July 16, 2024

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. As an Amazon Associate HTF earns from qualifying purchases. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.

https://www.amazon.com/Black-God-Wh...3551269&sprefix=black+god,+whi,aps,125&sr=8-1

 

[jayembee]

Not something that I'm familiar with, but looks intriguing.

 

[bujaki]

A seminal film from the Brazilian Cinema Novo movement. I have very good memories of this film.

 

[bujaki]

The literal translation of the title is: God and the Devil in the Land of the Sun.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. As an Amazon Associate HTF earns from qualifying purchases. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.

https://www.amazon.com/Black-God-Wh...3551269&sprefix=black+god,+whi,aps,125&sr=8-1