Press Release Criterion Press Release: Christ Stopped at Eboli (1979) (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

[Robert Crawford]

An elegy of exile and an epic immersion into the world of rural Italy during the Mussolini years, Francesco Rosi’s sublime adaptation of the memoirs of the painter, physician, and political activist Carlo Levi brings a monument of twentieth-century autobiography to the screen with quiet grace and solemn beauty. Banished to a desolate southern town for his anti-Fascist views, the worldly Levi (Gian Maria Volontè) discovers an Italy he never knew existed, a place where ancient folkways and superstitions still hold sway and that gradually transforms his understanding of both himself and his country. Presented for the first time on home video in its original full-length, four-part cut, Christ Stopped at Eboli ruminates profoundly on the political and philosophical rifts within Italian society—between north and south, tradition and modernity, fascism and freedom—and the essential humanity that transcends all.

FILM INFO

• Francesco Rosi
• Italy
• 1979
• 220 minutes
• Color
• 1.33:1
• Italian
• Spine #1043

SPECIAL FEATURES

• New 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
• New introduction by translator and author Michael F. Moore
• Documentary from 1978 on Italian political cinema, featuring director Francesco Rosi and actor Gian Maria Volontè
• Excerpt from a 1974 documentary featuring Rosi and author Carlo Levi
• Excerpt from Marco Spagnoli’s short 2014 documentary Unico, in which Rosi discusses Volontè
• Trailer
• New English subtitle translation by Moore
• PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by scholar Alexander Stille and a 1979 director’s statement by Rosi

New Cover by Katya Mezhibovskaya

September 22, 2020

 

[Robert Crawford]

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[Thomas T]

I'm excited as I've wanted to see this for the longest time. But a 1.33 aspect ratio for a 1979 film? Was this originally shot for TV?

 

[bujaki]

I'm excited as I've wanted to see this for the longest time. But a 1.33 aspect ratio for a 1979 film? Was this originally shot for TV?

It seems that the 224-minute version (yay!) was meant to be shown in 4 parts on TV; hence the 1.33 ratio. It would have been great had they included the theatrical cut; however, the opportunity to see the complete film overrides all.

 

[Angelo Colombus]

Have read about this film in my movie books but never seen it so i hope my local library will get it.

 

[HawksFord]

Never saw the film, but I read and thoroughly enjoyed the book many years ago. Looking forward to this one!

 

[Ronald Epstein]

 

[Angelo Colombus]

I love Italian films and thanks to my local library i finished watching this over the weekend and liked it very much. It did remind me of Ermanno Olmi's The Tree of Wooden Clogs with both having running times of over three hours it went by quickly and was involved in the story and beautiful scenery. Perfecting timing with the Criterion sale so i did order the Blu-ray.

 

[bujaki]

On my watch list. I remember reading the novel a lifetime ago.