September 26th: EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT (Ciro Guerra, 2015)
NOTE: This film will be projected in the high-definition Blu-ray format.
In two time periods thirty years apart, white scientists go on expeditions with the same tribal shaman deep into the Amazon rainforest in search of a sacred plant.
Director Ciro Guerra hails from Colombia, and had international success with his second feature The Wind Journeys, which was selected for the Un Certain Regard sidebar at the Cannes Film Festival. He and his wife, producer Cristina Gallego, were inspired by stories of Amazon exploration to make a film that would help to preserve the knowledge and culture of indigenous tribes from the region while highlighting the damaging, long-lasting effects of colonization.
Guerra worked on the script with fellow Colombian filmmaker Jacques Toulemond Vidal. For research materials the two used the early 1900s journals of German ethnologist Theodor Koch-Grunberg as well as 1980s writings by biologist Richard Evans Schultes (a collaborator of LSD discoverer Albert Hofmann). Local tribal historians were also able to contribute information and stories.
The film was shot entirely on location in Colombia, particularly in the Amazon departments of Vaupés and Guainia. Behind the camera was cinematographer David Gallego, brother of the producer. Indigenous communities participated in the production on camera as well as off, helping to hand-craft all of the natural costumes and ornaments. Guerra made the decision to shoot in black & white, feeling that he would not be able to accurately depict the colors used by the vanishing tribes, and that the viewers' imaginations would play an active role.
The two explorers are played by Belgian actor Jan Bijvoet and American actor Brionne Davis, with the part of Karamakate played in two time frames by Antonio Bolivar and Nilbio Torres. Acting coach Andrés Barrientos worked with the actors intensively to break down their language barriers and foster communication via a series of immersive exercises.
The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in the Director's Fortnight sidebar, where it received the Art Cinema award. It took honors at other international festivals, and was Colombia's official submission for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards, and was ultimately chosen as one of the five nominees (the first from Colombia). Critical response was positive and it placed on a number of Top 10 lists and critics polls.
Running time is approx. 2 hours.
In two time periods thirty years apart, white scientists go on expeditions with the same tribal shaman deep into the Amazon rainforest in search of a sacred plant.
Director Ciro Guerra hails from Colombia, and had international success with his second feature The Wind Journeys, which was selected for the Un Certain Regard sidebar at the Cannes Film Festival. He and his wife, producer Cristina Gallego, were inspired by stories of Amazon exploration to make a film that would help to preserve the knowledge and culture of indigenous tribes from the region while highlighting the damaging, long-lasting effects of colonization.
Guerra worked on the script with fellow Colombian filmmaker Jacques Toulemond Vidal. For research materials the two used the early 1900s journals of German ethnologist Theodor Koch-Grunberg as well as 1980s writings by biologist Richard Evans Schultes (a collaborator of LSD discoverer Albert Hofmann). Local tribal historians were also able to contribute information and stories.
The film was shot entirely on location in Colombia, particularly in the Amazon departments of Vaupés and Guainia. Behind the camera was cinematographer David Gallego, brother of the producer. Indigenous communities participated in the production on camera as well as off, helping to hand-craft all of the natural costumes and ornaments. Guerra made the decision to shoot in black & white, feeling that he would not be able to accurately depict the colors used by the vanishing tribes, and that the viewers' imaginations would play an active role.
The two explorers are played by Belgian actor Jan Bijvoet and American actor Brionne Davis, with the part of Karamakate played in two time frames by Antonio Bolivar and Nilbio Torres. Acting coach Andrés Barrientos worked with the actors intensively to break down their language barriers and foster communication via a series of immersive exercises.
The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in the Director's Fortnight sidebar, where it received the Art Cinema award. It took honors at other international festivals, and was Colombia's official submission for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards, and was ultimately chosen as one of the five nominees (the first from Colombia). Critical response was positive and it placed on a number of Top 10 lists and critics polls.
Running time is approx. 2 hours.
Comments
Post a Comment