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. Winning multiple awards at the Venice Film Festival, Bandits of Orgosolo continues the traditions of Visconti and De Sica, yet with his own style and rhythms, Vittorio De Seta musters just as much power as the earlier masters. Despite awards and plaudits on release this incredible film only now makes its debut on home video. Upon release, Bandits moved Martin Scorsese to observe: “It was as if De Seta were an anthropologist who spoke with the voice of a poet.”

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Video Quality

Bandits of Orgosolo debuts on Blu-Ray courtesy of Radiance Films with a 4K restoration of the Original Camera Negative conducted by The Film Foundation and Cineteca di Bologna at L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory. This new restoration has brought a life to this film that it was unlikely to receive otherwise. The transfer retains the natural grain structure that preserves the sumptuous cinematography of the feature. The transfer unveils subtle details in the clothing and landscapes that are essential to grounding you in this locale.

The lovely black-and-white photography maintains a steady handle of the contrast in all environments with crisp highlights and no serious instances of black crush. Moments cloaked in shadow present some wonderful depth to the image. This source has been given a careful clean-up with barely any lingering specks found. There are brief instances of softness in a few spots, but this is a very rare occurrence as the material holds up impeccably. Radiance Films has delivered an incredible visual presentation that gives this one the first-class treatment.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with an LPCM 2.0 mono track in the original Italian (with optional English subtitles) which handles the material without issue. Dialogue is not a consistent presence thanks to the isolated nature of these characters, but the words that are spoken present with crisp clarity and no hint of distortion. Conversations never get lost to the environmental effects or the score. Music is kept to a minimum, but what materializes comes through with impressive fidelity. The meditative approach to the narrative allows for the precise deployment of environmental sounds and other textural elements. This audio track renders with grand fidelity and nothing in the way of age-related wear and tear. Radiance Films has come through for this title.

Special Features

The first-pressing of the Radiance Films Blu-Ray of Bandits of Orgosolo includes a booklet featuring the essay “An Anthropologist with the Voice of a Poet” by author and film historian Roberto Curti that gives great insight into the film and Italian cinema of the time. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Ehsan Khoshbakht: A new 11-minute interview with curator and filmmaker Ehsan Khoshbakht in which he explores Bandits of Orgosolo, how it fits into Italian cinema, the visual language of the film, how it relates to other classic films, the film’s legacy, and more.

Luciano Tovoli: A 28-minute interview with cinematographer Luciano Tovoli in which he discusses his work with Vittorio De Seta, how different waves of filmmaking influenced his life, the casting process, shooting handheld, and more.

Trailer: The three-minute trailer is provided.

Final Thoughts

Bandits of Orgosolo is a patient drama that evokes a feeling of helplessness in a way few others can match. Our main character is very nondescript in many ways, and the way in which he is resigned to life treating him poorly is heartbreaking. Through careful execution, you are taken on an impactful journey of a man growing into something he was condemned to be by others. The beautiful filmmaking on display contrasts sharply with the dour moral journey. If you appreciate this period in Italian cinema, you should find this to be a rewarding watch. Radiance Films has released a Blu-Ray featuring an excellent A/V presentation and some welcome special features. Give this a look if it sounds interesting to you in the slightest. Recommended

Bandits of Orgosolo is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Radiance Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.