Rowan Sullivan

371

Damiana Kryygi – History Cannot Be Changed But It Can Be Rectified

Damiana Kryygi Film Difficulty Ranking: 4

“We have to know our past to build a better future”

These are the wise words of one of the Ache people from Southern Paraguay when reflecting on the tumultuous past his people have faced. Damiana, a young girl kidnapped by settlers just over one hundred years ago is a symbol for the decline of the Ache people. Her return will fill a missing piece in Ache history – a piece that allows the Ache to build a better future.

Why Watch Damiana Kryygi?
  • Learn about the Ache tribe of Southern Paraguay
  • See that History can be made right!
  • If you want to see a documentary about the fall of indigenous tribes of South America under imperial rule (a good pairing for the fantastic Embrace of the Serpent)
  • See some of the extent of deforestation in South America
The Breakdown

Damiana Kryygi starts with two men on the outskirts of a jungle digging a hole in the earth. They take turns to jump into the hole over 2m deep and wide enough for them to fit in. They burrow deeper with a long stick and chuck out the red/brown dirt over their heads. These are two Ache people from Southern Paraguay. Their reasons for digging will become clear.

Damiana was a young Ache girl who was kidnapped during a settler raid on the Ache people at the turn of the 20th century. She was kidnapped and became a subject of study for the settlers. Her once human life was turned into the life of a captive animal. She died of Tuberculosis as a teenager and her ruins were never returned.

Over a century separates the death of Damiana and the present day Ache people. The period has seen huge changes to the landscape and Ache people. Now the landscape is barren, a desert of green grass has taken over from a wild forest. The Ache people have lost a huge part of their memory with the destruction of the forest. They have been forced from their lives as hunter gatherers. It all started with the dictatorship at the turn of the 20th century which abused and massacred the Ache population.

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Conclusion

The horrific trials that young Damiana went through as a child won’t be things you’ll enjoy reliving. But the resilience of the Ache people is enough to fill anyone with respect. Watch to witness how one indigenous tribe in South America is piecing together it’s painful recent history.

 

372

Abouna (Chad) – Two Brothers Looking for their Dad in Chad

Abouna Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

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How many films from Chad have you seen? In fact, how many African films have you seen? Probably not enough. Abouna is one of the better coming-of-age films you’ll see, plus it’s one of the most beautifully shot films you’ll see. Transport yourself to Chad for a while by watching Abouna here (on YouTube).

Why Watch Abouna?
The Breakdown

Abouna starts with an expansive shot of some desert sand dunes. A man walks across the sand whilst guitar music plays. He comes towards the camera, looks straight us, and walks off, across another sand dune and into the distance. It’s like a classic western shot of a cowboy riding off into the distance.

After the credits roll, two brothers 15 and 8 take the centre stage. They’re annoyed as their dad didn’t show up to ref their football game. They go home looking for him but there is no sign of him.

Their individual loneliness is captured in some beautiful shots of each of the characters with empty space surrounding them. For example, in the shot below, Amine (the younger brother) walks along the street on his own.

Without the empty space to frame the picture, everything would appear normal. But with the black empty space to frame the picture, the shot becomes more melancholy. Amine is on his own and has to take care of himself.

Conclusion

Simply put, Abouna is a great film. So watch the film and transport yourself to Chad for a while. Watch it here on YouTube.

373

Dog Lady (Argentina) – Life on the Fringe of Society

Dog Lady Film Difficulty Ranking: 4

Firstly, let me clarify that I had no expectations of Dog Lady before I started watching it. But luckily the message it carries is a great one. The present only gives clues of the past. Just because we can see people in the present doesn’t mean we know their past.

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Why Watch Dog Lady?
  • If you can watch dogs all day and never get bored
  • You’re interested to see how someone can make a film about a dog lady
  • You’re not sure what a dog lady is
  • To explore the meaning of life
The Breakdown

A middle aged woman is walking through a forest at dawn. It’s still pretty dark, but through the trees you can see a woman followed by a pack of 5 or 6 dogs. You only see her and the dogs through the branches as if we are spying on her. She takes out a slingshot and tries to hunt some food. This is our Dog Lady!

So what is a middle aged woman doing hunting for food in a forest in the early hours of the morning? Judging by her dirty clothes, encampment near the forest, and dog friends she must be homeless. But luckily the film doesn’t let us hold that prejudice.

We never learn about the past life of our nameless dog lady. Even though there are clues where she has come from (which you’ll see from her visit to the city) the director never gives us a past to give us a definite answer. Because of this, she remains anonymous and foreign to us, and someone who can be easily categorised. But as with all homeless people, there is always something you cannot see from simply looking at them.

Conclusion

Dog Lady never gives away enough about it’s protagonist for us to really understand who they are. Instead, the anonymity of our protagonist makes her a symbol of the homeless in Argentina and the world. We only see clues as to why she is living this way but never the full truth. Just because we see the present doesn’t mean we know the past.

374

Brooks, Meadows, and Lovely Faces (Egypt)

Brooks, Meadows, and Lovely Faces Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

“We forgot your aunt!” *Two men appear carrying her in a bathtub complaining*

“You’re not carrying the pyramid”

“No! But at least that was one stone at a time!”

You’ll experience plenty of drama in Brooks, Meadows, and Lovely Faces. But you’ll be transfixed throughout because of the quick-witted banter, flirting, and taunting.

Why Watch Brooks, Meadows, and Lovely Faces?
  • You’re up for some Egyptian DRAMA
  • Learn how to cook some Egyptian dishes (perfect if you’re a cooking fan)
  • You’re a Norwich fan and will get a kick from seeing one of the cast members in a Norwich shirt
  • Or if you simply love wedding controversy and gossip!
Breakdown

Brooks, Meadows, and Lovely Faces starts at a big celebration. The wealthiest man in town has hired the best chefs and has a big time governor as his guest of honor. But it’s obvious that none of the villagers like him. He picks problems with their cooking (even though they’re the experts) and takes offence at them calling him by his nickname. One thing is already clear from this opening – there’s going to be drama!

The film flashes back maybe a year earlier and follows the chefs from the opening scene. They’re getting ready for a big wedding. During the preparations one of the top chefs sees one of his old crushes return to the neighborhood from abroad. There’s also a secret marriage and plenty of extra-marital flirting. You just know there’s going to be trouble! If you like this kind of trouble this film might just be for you!

Conclusion

Just like in After the Battle Yousry Nasrallah’s Brooks, Meadows, and Lovely Faces has plenty of juicy drama. There’s plenty of controversy, comebacks, and tension. If that’s your thing, you better find this film and watch it now!

375

Finished Narcos? Here’s 8 Drug War Films You Need to Watch

If you’ve finished Narcos and are already experiencing withdrawal symptoms here’s 8 Drug War films you need to watch!

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Yes, you might have finished Narcos already but there are plenty of great drug war films which more than stack up to the series. If you’ve seen all the eight films below and want more recommendations leave a comment or email me here. If you haven’t seen any of the films below or Narcos, you’ve got a lot of catching up to do! No time like the present.

8. Scarface

Scarface: the old classic. It’s full of recognizable quotes and has a hit performance from Al Pacino. There’s plenty of violence, hard drugs, and strong language.

7. Sicario

Sicario: the modern classic. It takes place on the streets of the once murder capital of the world, Juarez, Mexico. You’ll see a group of FBI agents sent to the border town to try and take down the dominant drug cartel. The last scene is a nail biter.

6. Miss Bala

Miss Bala is a brutal portrayal of the Mexican drug war. The film is loosely based on the true story of 2012’s Miss Sinaloa who was arrested with suspected cartel members. It’s definitely not a happy film.

5. Maria Full of Grace

This Colombian film is the ultimate film about the perils of drug smuggling. In fact the performance from actress Catalina Sandino Moreno is so eerily convincing she was nominated for an Oscar.

4. City of God

One of the best films made ever. City of God tells the story of Rocket and Lil Ze, one becomes a drug lord, the other becomes a photographer trying to make it amidst all the turf wars. The fast paced editing and narrative are exactly what you want following Narcos. And don’t trust this strange 90s-esque trailer.

3. El Infierno

Aha! Unless you’re a drug war film pro you’ve probably never heard of this film. And if you haven’t heard of it you are missing out. It’s the best drug-war comedy in existence. It satirises the narcos, the police, and the government, Luis Estrada (the director) holds everyone accountable. And, as an added bonus, the main character is played by Narcos Drug Lord Gilberto Orejuela.

2. Traffic

Traffic is the best American Drug War film. It has an incredible cast: Don Cheadle, Benicio del Toro, Michael Douglas, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. In addition, it’s broken into 3 storylines: one following a policeman in Mexico, another with DEA agents tracking a don, and another with the drug czar of the U.S. and his junkie daughter.

1. Elite Squad

Last but not least, here’s my favourite, the Brazilian Elite Squad. First thing you should notice is the main actor is the same guy that plays Pablo Escobar (yes Spanish is not his native language). Second you’ll notice that he’s on the other side – he’s playing a cop! It’s also directed by the same guy that directed Narcos. Three things which combine to make the ultimate substitute to Narcos! Plus the sequel is even better than the first!