Review: Criterion's 'World Cinema Project No. 3' is Essential Home Entertainment Viewing

While running at the hefty price of $99.96, the recent release of Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Project No. 3 on Criterion Collection is one of their most essential releases yet. This is the third edition of this amazing initiative, which was established in 2007 by Scorsese himself. The World Cinema Project has persisted in its dedication to preserving and presenting films from around the globe. Their growing roster of more than three dozen restorations lead cinema enthusiasts to unknown entries, helping them dive deeply into the often-overlooked category of world cinema.

This most recent volume includes six films. From Brazil, there is "Pixote" (1980), a searing portrayal of a youth fighting to survive in lower-class Brazilian society, anchored by an exceptional performance by the young Fernando Ramos da Silva. Other films range from the early 1930s (Mexico's "Dos Monjes"), to the 50s and 60s (Indonesia's "After the Curfew" and Cuba's "Lucia). The 1970s bring us "Soleil �" from Mauritania and "Downpour" from Iran. The collection provides hours upon hours of border-spanning cinema, and it continues the long legacy of what the World Cinema Project has always aimed to accomplish. They're contributions to the world of film preservation goes unmatched, and it's a blessing that they have been able to provide the opportunity to view these films in such an accessible way.

Bonus features in this boxset include new, restored 4K digital transfers of all six films, overseen by the World Cinema Project in collaboration with the Cineteca de Bologna. They look gorgeous. All films feature new introductions by Martin Scorsese, as well as new interviews with many of the filmmakers and additional scholars of world cinema. A booklet, included in the boxset, offers an introduction by Cecilia Cenciarelli, head of research and international projects for the Cineteca di Bologna, and essays by critics and scholars Dennis Lim, Adrian Jonathan Pasaribu, Stephanie Dennison, Elisa Lozano, Aboubakar Sanogo, and Hamid Naficy. Altogether, this is a must-have for anyone who deems themselves a cinephile.

"Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Project No. 3" is now available on Blu-ray from Criterion Collection.