Birds of Passage (2018)
Stars: Carmina Martinez, José Acosta, Natalia Reyes
Runtime: 125 minutes
Synopsis: During the marijuana bonanza, a violent decade that saw the origins of drug trafficking in Colombia, Rapayet and his indigenous family get involved in a war to control the business that ends up destroying their lives and their culture.
Performances: 5/5
Screenplay: 5/5
Costumes/Makeup: 5/5
Editing: 4/5
Cinematography: 5/5
Score/Soundtrack: 4/5
Verdict: I called Ciro Guerra's directorial debut "Embrace of the Serpent" an instant classic a few weeks ago. In it, the Colombian filmmaker showcased signs of a naturally talented, extremely bold director with an eye for detail. His second project, "Birds of Passage" definitely cements him as one of the very best directors working today and one I'll most certainly be keeping a very close eye on.
Co-directed with his (now ex) wife Cristina Gallega, the film recounts in 5 cantos (Spanish for songs) the story of a Wayuu family's rise and fall in the market of drug trafficking in Colombia. Built around themes of honor and tradition, Guerra and Gallego do an incredible job at making a very grounded epic of much smaller scale that never feels contained. It never felt like your usual drug trafficking film. It never even felt like a film, but more like a very documentary-like experience. There was no cheese, no needless exposition, no overdramatization of event, nothing that takes you out of the events of a film fuelled by incredibly real characters portrayed by amateur actors who act as if they've been acting for a lifetime. The movie's gorgeous cinematography and very fitting score are also very noticeable and worth mentioning as they most certainly play a big part in building the very tense atmosphere.
"Birds of Passage", simply put, is a must. Not only is it a magnificently put together movie overflown with passion and talent, but it also serves as a wonderful introduction to a culture that was new to me. It's definitely one of the best movies of 2018 and a confirmation for Guerra that skyrocketed "Waiting for the Barbarians", his next project starring Johnny Depp and Robert Pattinson, to the top of my watchlist.
Co-directed with his (now ex) wife Cristina Gallega, the film recounts in 5 cantos (Spanish for songs) the story of a Wayuu family's rise and fall in the market of drug trafficking in Colombia. Built around themes of honor and tradition, Guerra and Gallego do an incredible job at making a very grounded epic of much smaller scale that never feels contained. It never felt like your usual drug trafficking film. It never even felt like a film, but more like a very documentary-like experience. There was no cheese, no needless exposition, no overdramatization of event, nothing that takes you out of the events of a film fuelled by incredibly real characters portrayed by amateur actors who act as if they've been acting for a lifetime. The movie's gorgeous cinematography and very fitting score are also very noticeable and worth mentioning as they most certainly play a big part in building the very tense atmosphere.
"Birds of Passage", simply put, is a must. Not only is it a magnificently put together movie overflown with passion and talent, but it also serves as a wonderful introduction to a culture that was new to me. It's definitely one of the best movies of 2018 and a confirmation for Guerra that skyrocketed "Waiting for the Barbarians", his next project starring Johnny Depp and Robert Pattinson, to the top of my watchlist.
FINAL GRADE: 8.5/10
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