The Criterion Channel Makes A Number Of Films About Black Lives Free To View

While we may not always comment on it, we’re big fans of the work The Criterion Collection does to preserve film heritage. It presents key films from a variety of genres and countries in the best formats possible with incredible special features meant to illuminate the stories behind the story and the art of filmmaking itself. They practically invented audio commentaries and special features back in the Laserdisc era. And as part of their commitment to recognizing film — from the work of Agnès Varda to the Showa Era Godzilla movies — they have announced a plan to broaden the cinema canon to include more films by black filmmakers and works which illuminate the black experience. As part of the endeavor, they have made the following films available for free on their Criterion Channel streaming service.

“We’ve met as a company and a community to talk openly about the work we need to do to build a better, more equitable, more diverse Criterion, beginning with education and training for our ownership and our staff,” Criterion said in a statement. “We are also committed to examining the role we play in the idea of canon formation, whose voices get elevated, and who gets to decide what stories get told.” As it happens, placing films like these into a broader understanding of cinema means they will eventually become as well-studied as the work of Hitchcock or a film like The Godfather. They become key parts of a well-rounded film education for those studying the form while also opening eyes to lives they may have never known before.
Additionally, Criterion announced the establishment of an “employee-guided fund with a $25,000 initial contribution and an ongoing $5,000 monthly contribution to support organizations fighting racism in America, including bail funds, community organizations, legal defense funds, and advocacy groups that address police reform.” Opening the purse, as it were, goes a long to revealing a dedicated commitment to changing the prevalence of systemic racism, even as the films available make it possible for those stuck at home to broaden their views. And while we often look to entertainment to escape from the pressures and realities of the world beyond the screen, it is also a valuable tool in learning about that tough reality as well.
(h/t: EW)