Mandabi (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Mandabi from The Criterion Collection presents Ousmane Sembène’s satire of postcolonial society on Blu-ray. The one-disc special edition is described as a new 4K restoration and includes several film-related extras and written materials.

At a glance

Ousmane Sembène’s film follows a jobless man whose money order brings requests for loans and bureaucratic obstacles.
The edition claims a new 4K restoration, an uncompressed monaural soundtrack, and a new English subtitle translation.
Extras include an introduction, a conversation, a program about Sembène, and the short film Tauw.

Price

$19.98Save 50%

Reference price: ~~$39.95~~

Price checked: Nov 12, 2026

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Often bought together

Black Girl (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

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Three Revolutionary Films by Ousmane Sembène (The Criterion Collection) [Emitaï/Xala/Ceddo] [Blu-ray]

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Pros and cons

Pros

The listed extras offer additional context through a film-scholar introduction, a conversation, a Sembène program and a short film.
The story combines social satire with a specific premise involving a money order and the red tape surrounding its collection.

Technical specifications

9 specifications

Format and edition
Format	Blu-ray
Studio	The Criterion Collection
Number of discs	1
Release date	February 16, 2021

Film
Director	Sembene, Ousmane
Language	French
Actors	Guey, Makuredia, Ndiaye, Yunus, Niang, Isseu, Ture, Mustafa

Listed dimensions
Dimensions and weight	0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 3.53 ounces

Identification
Item model number	BR3220

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Viewers interested in Ousmane Sembène, Senegalese cinema, or films about bureaucracy and postcolonial society.
Criterion collectors looking for a Blu-ray edition with restoration and contextual extras.

Less suited to

Buyers specifically seeking a 4K UHD disc rather than a Blu-ray.

Mandabi (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.4 / 5 · 29 ratings

5 stars75%75%
4 stars11%11%
3 stars7%7%
2 stars0%0%
1 star7%7%

Aggregate customer ratings lean positive, with most ratings in the five-star category, while a smaller share are three- or one-star. The available rating information does not explain the reasons behind those opinions, so it cannot establish how viewers assess the film, restoration, or extras.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a 4K UHD disc?

No. The listed format is Blu-ray. The product description says the film has a new 4K restoration, which describes the restoration and does not make the disc a 4K UHD release.

What extras are listed?

The description lists an introduction by film scholar Aboubakar Sanogo, a conversation with Boubacar Boris Diop and Marie Angélique Savané, the program Praise Song, the 1970 short Tauw, and written materials.

What is Mandabi about?

Jobless Ibrahima Dieng receives a money order from a nephew in Paris. Neighbors seek loans while he struggles to cash it amid bureaucracy and further troubles.