Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Los Muertos

Argentina

Very unusual film. We follow a middle-aged man as he is released from prison. He makes his way back home and we go along with him every step of the way. Home is deep in the jungle and as he gets further away from civilization he sheds his clothes and reverts back to a more primitive state. At one point he sees a goat on the shore so he stops, kills it and dresses it...all on camera. No disclaimers here.

The journey he follows is mesmerizing...the sound of birds and insects fills the soundtrack, the outrageously garish greenery fills our eyes. There is almost no dialogue...just the polite, necessary exchanges he has. We don't know what he did, why, where he is going, what awaits him there...really anything.

Most of the takes were long and lingered after the actors had gone. This imparted a timeless quality to the film. Home, when he finally arrives is a primitive plastic tarpaulin in the jungle. Just as he connects with a grandson the film ends abruptly.

I'm not sure what the intent of the filmmaker was here...I enjoyed my immersion in his world while it lasted but don't see a wide audience for work like this.

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