Black Girl Blu-ray Review

Criterion's Blu-ray release of Ousmane Sembene's "Black Girl" is a technical marvel, presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1 and encoded with MPEG-4 AVC. This 1080p transfer, sourced from a 4K restoration process undertaken by The Film Foundation's World Cinema Project at L'Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, displays a high level of craftsmanship and attention to detail. The restoration utilized a 35mm original camera negative and benefitted from additional touch-ups by Criterion using MTI Film's DRS and Digital Vision's Phoenix. Image stability and color grading are exemplary, providing a clean and balanced visual experience with deep blacks and healthy whites and grays.

The improvement over previous DVD releases is remarkable, offering unprecedented detail and clarity, especially in outdoor footage. The retention of a subtle grain structure contributes to the image’s authenticity without introducing noise, while skin textures, hair styling, and production designs are rendered with lifelike realism. Despite minimal remaining imperfections, such as light blemishes visible during particular scenes, the overall presentation is spotless. The monochrome palette benefits greatly from solid inky blacks and strong greyscale, further enhanced by effective shadow separation that adds depth and a three-dimensional effect to the visuals. Criterion’s strategy to avoid unnecessary sharpening ensures the transfer maintains an organic quality without compromising on clarity.

In sum, this Blu-ray release stands as a definitive visual representation of "Black Girl," meticulously restored to showcase the film as it was meant to be seen while delivering an immersive viewing experience. (Note: This Blu-ray is Region-A locked, requiring a native Region-A or Region-Free player for access).

The Blu-ray audio presentation of "Black Girl" features a French LPCM 1.0 mono track, devoid of a significant music score, and includes optional English subtitles. The dialogue is consistently clean, stable, and well-balanced, making it easy to follow without any drops or digital distortions. Although the dynamic intensity is modest, this aligns with the film's character and shooting style, ensuring a faithful auditory experience.

This track is carefully sourced from original 35mm audio elements, with additional restoration by the Criterion Collection enhancing its quality. The dialogue, particularly Diouana's internal monologues voiced by M'Bissine Thérese Diop, plays a dominant role, with atmospheric and background sound effects appearing restrained and giving the listener a sense of detached observation. While free from hisses and pops, the audio can occasionally sound shrill, with piano scores exhibiting a tinny quality reminiscent of old vinyl recordings. Overall, it’s a solid audio mix that fittingly complements the film’s introspective narrative but does not provide an immersive surround sound experience.

The extras included in the Blu-ray edition of "Black Girl" present a profound exploration into Ousmane Sembène's groundbreaking work and its historical impact. The content is meticulously curated, with special featurettes addressing the socio-political landscape that shaped Sembène's filmmaking. Samba Gadjigo sheds light on Sembène’s enduring legacy, while Mbissine Therese Diop provides personal insights on her role as Diouana. Manthia Diawara elaborates on the film’s political significance. The inclusion of the color sequence serves as an intriguing contrast to the monochrome narrative. Archival material like the Prix Jean Vigo interview and Sembène’s directorial debut, "Borom Sarret,” enrich the viewing experience, offering both historical and cinematic context. The discussion in "Sembène: The Making of African Cinema" bridges the past and present of African cinema. This edition is a treasure trove for film enthusiasts seeking depth and context.

Extras included in this disc:

Trailer: Original trailer for the 4K restoration of Black Girl.

On Ousmane Sembène: Samba Gadjigo on the historical significance of Sembène’s work.

Mbissine Therese Diop: Interview with actress Mbissine Therese Diop on her casting and experiences.

On Black Girl: Manthia Diawara discusses the film’s inspiration and political themes.

Color Sequence: A sequence initially shot in color, replaced in the final cut.

Prix Jean Vigo: Excerpt from a 1966 French TV program featuring Ousmane Sembène post-award.

Borom Sarret (1963): Includes the short film and an introduction by Manthia Diawara.

Sembène: The Making of African Cinema: Archival documentary examining African cinema's evolution.

Leaflet: An illustrated leaflet featuring Ashley Clark's essay "Self, Possessed" and technical credits.

Ousmane Sembène's "Black Girl" (1966) stands as a pioneering work in African cinema, reflecting crucial socio-political themes. The film utilizes the contrasting cultural backdrops of Senegal and France to deeply explore the post-colonial West African experience. At its core, "Black Girl" is a poignant narrative about Diouana (Mbissine Therese Diop), a young Senegalese woman who travels to France expecting a better life but instead finds herself trapped in a disillusioning and degrading role as a domestic servant. This setup starkly reveals the exploitation and systemic mistreatment born from colonial histories, still pervasive in contemporary societal structures.

Sembène's film meticulously showcases Diouana's journey from hope to despair, manifesting as a poignant critique of colonialism and cultural dislocation. Her initial optimism, sparked by glossy dreams of luxury, quickly dissipates as she encounters the harsh realities of servitude. The film's incisive commentary underscores how colonial mentalities persist through the dehumanizing treatment Diouana endures. Notably, while revealing Diouana's struggle against the oppressive environment at her employer's home, the film also reflects on similar inequities present in her homeland, particularly gender-based societal divisions.

"Black Girl" further delves into nuanced character portrayals, notably through Diouana's employer, Madame (Anne-Marie Jelnek). While Madame's cruelty underlines the exploitation theme, her own figurative imprisonment within an uninspiring life adds complexity. Thus, Sembène presents a dual critique - of both individuals bound by socio-economic shackles and societies struggling under colonial legacies. The film's almost documentary style and naturalistic performances enhance its historical relevance, elevating it beyond mere storytelling to a searing social commentary. Criterion's Blu-ray release, complete with a 4K restoration and compelling supplemental features like new interviews and essays, offers an essential preservation of this cinematic landmark.

Ousmane Sembene’s seminal work, "Black Girl," emerges as a cornerstone in African cinema, marking an audacious critique of neo-colonialism and social inequalities. This film is not merely a cinematic piece; it is an extension of Sembene’s revolutionary writings that prodded the socio-political contours of post-colonial Africa. Captivating in its execution, "Black Girl" poignantly addresses themes of immigration and the fraught relationships between employer and employee, maintaining relevance in contemporary discussions. The Criterion Collection has rendered this influential work in stellar high-definition with a recent 4K restoration, elevating the film's visual impact.

The Blu-ray release is noteworthy not only for its pristine audio-visual quality but also for the comprehensive array of supplementary materials. These additions delve deep into Sembene’s legacy and his fervent political activism, enriching the viewer's understanding of his artistic and ideological endeavors. Among these features is Sembene’s celebrated short film, providing valuable context to his oeuvre. The disc’s craftsmanship ensures an immersive viewing experience, vividly highlighting the stark yet emotive storytelling that characterizes "Black Girl."

Conclusively, Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembene’s "Black Girl" is appreciated as a pivotal moment in African cinematic history. While the film should be contextualized within its politically charged origins, akin to approaching Jean-Luc Godard’s works, its pertinence remains undiminished. Criterion’s Blu-ray release supplements this classic with impressive technical fidelity and insightful extras, making it a commendable acquisition for enthusiasts of meaningful, historically significant cinema. RECOMMENDED.