Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by tinear (A) on June 13, 2010 at 14:04:14

the extremely talented director of the earlier classic, "Vidas Secas" ("Barren Lives"), Nelson Pereira dos Santos.
In very early colonial Brazil, a Frenchman is captured by the ruling tribe of indigenous people and he is kept alive because of his innovative contributions to the tribe; he is even given a beautiful bride--- though he knows that he is slated, no matter how valuable he is, to be consumed within the year in a ritual sacrifice.
This fictional account is absolutely truthful to cinema verité: it is very much like watching a documentary. It isn't spoiled by any extraneous plot lines, exaggerations of "beautiful" nature photography, or lush scoring. Rather, it thrusts the viewer into the man's situation, far from his own culture and people, forced to adapt and survive by his wits among a people whom he soon realizes are every bit as human, with all the faults and virtues that implies, as his fellow French.
Also, unlike the typical Hollywood bowdlerization, there is plenty of nudity of both sexes, sans cutesie flowers or vegetable ornamentation in strategic placement.
Terence Malick should have seen this before he spent his millions.... THIS film is a classic: a brilliant criticism of modern society; a realistic account of an indigenous culture (this is the first film I have seen in which a real indigenous language is spoken as if it truly were a language and not a poorly voiced "fake" series of phrases: the language is Tupi and the actors were well drilled by the actual native actors).
Again, this is thrilling because you actually feel you are living this frightening experience. No, there is no "Avatar" FX, no imaginary world created by an imagination. As usual, reality is FAR more entertaining, strange, and fascinating.