Yes, you’ve probably emptied your bank accounts buying people presents this holiday season, but you have plenty of time to save up for March 2019, when the Criterion Collection releases six new films that film fans are surely going to need to pick up. Of the six films debuting in the Collection in March 2019, some of the highlights include the incredible ‘70s film from filmmaker Barbara Loden, titled “Wanda,” Edgar G. Ulmer’s classic noir “Detour,” and acclaimed Mexican director Carlos Reygadas entering the Criterion family with “Japón.”
First, you have Loden’s incredible, and terribly under-seen, ‘70s classic “Wanda.” Sporting the new restoration that made its debut in theaters in 2018, “Wanda” tells the groundbreaking story of a woman who left her husband and children and ventures out into the unknown attempting to survive trapped in society’s margins. The Criterion release features the hour-long documentary “I Am Wanda,” which features an interview with Loden, as well as a clip of the filmmaker on the “Dick Cavett Show” from 1971.
READ MORE: Barbara Loden’s Groundbreaking Film ‘Wanda’ Shines in Stunning New Restoration [Review]
“Detour” is another classic film that got a brand-new restoration in 2018 and a small theatrical release. The 1945 film noir from Ulmer tells the story of a nightclub pianist that finds himself on the run with a dead body in the trunk of his car. Along the way, he meets a mysterious woman that just adds to the already complicated situation. The upcoming release features the new restoration, as well as special features including a 2004 documentary featuring Roger Corman, Joe Dante, Wim Wenders, and actor Ann Savage.
Carlos Reygadas finally gets his first film in the Criterion Collection in March, when his debut film “Japón” gets the special treatment. The 2002 drama is all about a man going through an existential crisis, who travels from Mexico City to a remote village to commit suicide. The acclaimed film sports a new 2K restoration, as well as a new conversation between Reygadas and filmmaker Amat Escalante, a video diary filmed during production, and the filmmaker’s first short film, “Maxhumain.”
But, as mentioned, these three films are just the tip of the iceberg. Joining the March 2019 release slate are Ingmar Bergman’s “The Magic Flute,” Robert Zemeckis’ “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” and Harold Lloyd’s “The Kid Brother.”