A Ciambra Blu-ray Review

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and encoded with MPEG-4 AVC, A Ciambra arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p transfer courtesy of Sundance Selects/MPI Home Video. The film's visual presentation is commendable, showcasing lush, natural colors that often lean towards a warm palette. The movie exhibits excellent image stability with no serious anomalies, although some minor encoding optimizations could have been beneficial. Due to the film's borderline documentary appearance and frequent use of a fast-moving hand-held camera, there are occasional fluctuations in clarity and depth, particularly in the darker scenes.

The movie, shot on location by cinematographer Tim Curtin from May through August 2016, employs a hand-held camera technique to amplify its guerrilla filmmaking style. This approach, driven by practical constraints and a modest budget, convincingly reflects the authentic atmosphere of the depicted community. The choice to avoid traditional preparation results in a raw and unpolished look that perfectly suits the film's narrative. It's worth mentioning that this is a Region-A locked Blu-ray release, necessitating a native Region-A or Region-Free player for access. As for the audio, the DTS-HD Master Audio track delivers crisp sound with a well-balanced mix between dialogue and sound effects.

The Blu-ray release of "A Ciambra" offers two standard audio tracks: Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Italian LPCM 2.0, complemented by optional English subtitles. The Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is highly commendable, delivering clarity and fidelity that enrich the film's raw aesthetic. All conversations and action sequences are rendered with impressive definition, although the dynamic contrasts might sometimes appear uneven and abrupt. However, this characteristic lends authenticity to the organic sounds and noises prevalent throughout the movie, highlighting its realistic and immersive atmosphere. Encoding anomalies were non-existent, ensuring an uninterrupted auditory experience.

The movie's soundtrack, shot in DTS-HD Master Audio, is equally noteworthy for its crispness and balance. Cinematographer Tim Curtin’s use of handheld cameras contributes to the documentary-like feel of the film, which is further enhanced by a sound design that harmoniously blends dialogue and environmental effects. The decision to shoot on location and implement guerrilla filmmaking techniques ensures that the movie's soundscape authentically reflects the setting and community it portrays. The translation quality is excellent, facilitating a seamless experience for English-speaking audiences.

Overall, the audio presentation of "A Ciambra" on Blu-ray is a significant highlight, capturing the essence of the film's raw and authentic narrative with precision and auditory clarity. The technical execution in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 stands out for its fidelity and immersion, making it an essential aspect of the viewing experience.

The Blu-Ray extras for "A Ciambra" offer a comprehensive and immersive exploration of both the film's creative process and the real community it portrays. Viewers gain unique insights through a detailed documentary that delves into the authentic Ciambra, complete with personal anecdotes from its residents about the area's evolution. The journey of the filmmakers and cast to Cannes is vividly captured in a picturesque featurette. The selection of deleted scenes provides additional context, while an alternate short version of the film serves as an intriguing variant of the final product. Overall, these extras significantly enhance the understanding and appreciation of Jonas Carpignano's work.

Extras included in this disc:

• A Ciambra: The Other Side of the Story: Documentary exploring the real Ciambra and its residents.
• From A Ciambra to Cannes: Featurette depicting the journey to Cannes.
• Deleted Scenes: "Cocchi Sleeps", "Copper", "Soldier".
• A Ciambra: A Short Film: Alternate shorter version.
• Trailer: Original promotional trailer.

Jonas Carpignano's "A Ciambra" offers an immersive glimpse into the lives of the Romani (Gypsy) and African migrant communities in Calabria's destitute neighborhood, Ciambra. The story revolves around Pio Amato, a 14-year-old boy, struggling to gain respect by emulating his older brother, Cosimo, and engaging in petty crimes. The narrative is underscored by themes of familial bonds and survival, showing Pio navigating a world of crime and poverty, attempting to support his large multigenerational family. The realism and raw energy pulsating through the scenes depict a hard life marked by smoking, drinking, and law enforcement harassment.

The movie's stylistic approach marries documentary realism with dramatic storytelling, reminiscent of the Italian neorealist tradition yet echoing contemporary works like the TV series Gomorrah. The film’s depiction of Ciambra as a slum where unemployment prevails, and crime is an everyday activity, adds a gritty authenticity. Pio's dynamic relationship with Ayiva, an immigrant from Burkina Faso, enriches the narrative, providing a nuanced exploration of trust and betrayal in dire circumstances. The neighborhood's infrastructure decay, including lack of basic amenities like sewers and electricity in parts, underscores the systemic neglect faced by these marginalized communities.

"A Ciambra" not only delves into the intricate web of local gangs and family crews but also contextualizes it within the broader socio-economic landscape prevalent across many European countries. Although it stops short of fully unraveling the criminal ecosystem akin to larger productions, it provides significant insights into the predeterministic path of its young protagonist within a tightly-knit yet troubled community. The film's success is further highlighted by its selection to represent Italy in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 90th Academy Awards, cementing its place in contemporary cinema with its poignant portrayal of life in the margins.

The Blu-ray release of "A Ciambra," presented by executive producer Martin Scorsese and Italy’s official Best Foreign Language Film entry for the 2018 Academy Awards, provides a compelling dive into Italian urban reality. The film’s gritty narrative, set against the backdrop of the Romani community in Southern Italy, is authentically captured by director Jonas Carpignano. The transfer quality of the Blu-ray disc is commendable, offering a clear and vibrant visual experience that enhances the film's nuances. The audio presentation is equally robust, ensuring dialogue and ambient sounds are delivered with precision.

Notably, the bonus features significantly enrich the viewing experience. The included featurette, "A Ciambra: The Other Side of the Story," offers an insightful perspective on the dire living conditions in the area, where the infrastructure remains incomplete and basic amenities like electricity and sewers are lacking. This featurette stands out from typical Hollywood production documentaries by providing a genuine behind-the-scenes look at Carpignano’s directorial process. It highlights his ability to engage and motivate his cast, presenting a raw and unfiltered view of filmmaking in challenging environments.

The likes of "Piranhas," "Dogman," and especially "Gomorrah" have raised the bar so high that they cannot be kept out of any discussion where Italian films dissecting Italian urban reality are mentioned. I had to draw comparisons too, and while I like "A Ciambra" quite a bit, it is just not as hard-hitting and illuminating as its closest relative, "Gomorrah." This recent release offers a solid technical presentation of "A Ciambra" with a fine selection of bonus features, one of which is a long documentary about life in the area where the film was shot. RECOMMENDED.