Fausto Film Difficulty Ranking: 4
Fausto isn’t like the usual films you’re used to. There’s no main characters and there’s no narrative that you can follow. Instead, Fausto is a collection of mysterious stories and images; some might fill you with wonder and others might just drift through you. It’s all in the name of searching for something bigger than ourselves – nature, the universe, magic.
From: Mexico, North America
Watch: Trailer
Next: Tabu, Serpentarius, Extraordinary Stories
The Breakdown
Fausto starts with a blurred white light in the middle of darkness. As we hear waves washing back and forth, we can assume that the blurred light is a distant lighthouse. The lighthouse, like the film, is searching in the darkness. It’s trying to search for and grasp something beyond what it already knows, which also connects it to the story of this film is inspired by – Faust.
Granted, Fausto isn’t like the films you’re probably used to. Instead of revolving around an obvious narrative featuring characters that develop throughout the film, Fausto is simply a collection of stories and images. It’s more reminiscent of an art project than your Hollywood blockbuster so it needs a higher percentage of your concentration. However, if you’re patient, you might be rewarded. For me, Fausto reminded me of reading a dense philosophical book mixed with an astronomy tour as it contained occasional moments of inspiration amidst a constant state of wonder and mystery. You’ll never find out ‘what’s going on’, but that’s half the point of it – you’re only meant to search for, and hopefully find, your moments of inspiration either in the film or after.
What to Watch Next
For two more unique films without a strong narrative check out Serpentarius and Mother, I Am Suffocating. This Is My Last Film About You. Serpentarius matches the dreamy, wonderful nature of Fausto as it follows a young man searching for answers in Angola. Mother, I Am Suffocating… matches the narration style of Fausto and features a man’s recollections of his mother, home country (Lesotho), and emotions.
Or, if you loved the stories told in Fausto, check out Mariano Llinas’ Extraordinary Stories. It’s one of the best storytelling films I’ve seen featuring a handful of very intriguing stories.
Or if you’re looking for a film like Fausto but with more narrative and plot, check out Tabu. It features a old Portuguese woman and her dreamy flashbacks to life in colonial Africa.
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