Cocote Film Difficulty Ranking: 4
Are blood ties stronger than spirituality? Find out in Cocote as one man returns home to bury his father. Is it worth sacrificing a stable Christian life in the city for a family life he has tried to leave behind.
From: Dominican Republic, North America
Watch: Trailer, Buy Direct, Kanopy, Hoopla
Next: Batuque, White Sun, Blue Ruin
Why Watch Cocote?
- Witness the burial rights one of the pagan religions of the Dominican Republic
- Debate whether family always comes first
- To hear about the funeral for a Goat
- Learn about corruption in the police
The Breakdown
Cocote opens with a black and white shot of a smoky fire which cuts to a highway full of traffic. The director directly contrasts the bleak opening shots with a serene colour shot of a private pool in a private garden. It’s a direct contrast between the poor and the rich in Santiago, the capital city.
We meet Alberto in the immaculate private garden of what is most likely one of the country’s most influential families. However, Alberto is not a member of this family, but their gardener. Instead he’s from another much poorer family from the country, which he goes to visit.
As he returns home, we find out he has tried to leave his past behind. Since he left home, he has become a Christian (which is apparently rare in rural Dominican Republic), and forgotten about his dad, who has recently been murdered. He says it must have been God’s will, but his family tell him he must seek revenge.
Religion vs. Family
Two topics define this film: religion and family.
1. Christianity, is rare in rural Dominican Republic. Christianity is associated with the more well-off city dwellers, whilst the pagan religion Alberto’s family practice at home is the religion of the common people. Alberto is constantly criticised by his family for following Christianity and carrying his Bible. To them, it signifies his attempt to break off from his family and leave his past behind.
2. Family is why Alberto returns home to the country. Even though he has tried to leave his family behind, his blood ties bring him home to bury his father. Once he is home, he spends the majority of the film battling against his families desire to pull him back into their sphere. They want him to take revenge against his father’s murderers, he wants to return to the city and Christianity.
Ultimately, this film is about family vs. Religion. What is more important to Alberto, his blood ties or his beliefs.
What to Watch Next?
If you’re looking for more films featuring a lot of music and rituals, check out Batuque from Cape Verde (your intro to the music of the islands). You should also check out White Sun from Nepal which follows another son returning home to bury his father after spending years in political exile.
Or if you’re looking for a a more active thriller, check out Blue Ruin from the United States of America.
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