Written Reviews

Ousmane Sembène: Mandabi

February 17, 2021

Ousmane Sembène’s second feature, 1968’s Mandabi, explores the perilous state for older generations in post-colonial Senegal. It’s an important film. The Criterion Collections has released a new home video edition this week.

The Criterion Collection Announces May 2021 Releases

February 12, 2021

The Criterion Collection has announced what they’ll be releasing in May of 2021.

Jhumpa Lahiri: “Casting Shadows”

February 8, 2021

This week’s New Yorker story is Jhumpa Lahiri’s “Casting Shadows.”

Ben Okri: “A Wrinkle in the Realm”

February 1, 2021

This week’s New Yorker fiction is “A Wrinkle in the Realm,” by Ben Okri.

Larisa Shepitko: The Ascent

January 26, 2021

Larisa Shepitko’s The Ascent is a film that is as beautiful as it is harrowing. The Criterion Collection released a stacked Blu-ray home video edition today, and I give it my strongest recommendation.

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The Mookse and the Gripes Instagram features a more immediate space with posts and videos about current reads, recent finds, including a steady dose of Criterion films.