🎬 #123 Internal Landscapes.
From deep in the Colombian jungle to the vast open spaces of the Texan Panhandle, this week's films take us on an introspective journey that explores the human condition in all its raw and elemental glory, amongst equally raw and elemental nature.
Happy choosing, happy viewing
Bry
FILM ONE: MONOS
2019 Dir Alejandro Landes
1 hr 42 mins
Set above the clouds in the Andean mountains, Monos is a visceral exploration of survival and humanity. The film introduces us to a group of teen soldiers, each with a nom de guerre, who are tasked with guarding an American hostage. The film’s narrative is as unpredictable as the jungle that encloses them, oscillating between moments of tranquility and sudden bursts of chaos.
Landes masterfully blends elements of magical realism (a description of a indescribable style of film that is yet to have a better description) with the stark reality of guerrilla warfare, creating a vivid portrait of adolescence under extreme conditions. With cinematography that makes you feel altitude sickness - as well as the stickiness of the jungle and a haunting score, Monos is a special cinematic achievement that infuses the viewer with mood. The feel of a cloud dewing on goose-bumped, blood- speckled skin.
TL;DR: Monos offers a riveting exploration of survival and the fragility of order amidst the chaos of war.
*Available for a small rental fee on Apple, Amazon, Google and YouTube in the UK, and Apple, Google and YouTube the US.
Fact: The film is loosely based on Lord Of The Flies. Bonus, the director is an architecture fan, designing this $50 million dollar home which he put up for sale.
FILM TWO: DAYS OF HEAVEN
1978 Dir Terrence Malick
1hr 34 mins
Malick's visually stunning masterpiece, Days of Heaven, is an evocative tale of love set against the backdrop of the early 20th-century Texan wheat fields. It tells the story of Bill, his lover Abby, and his sister Linda, who pose as a family to try and trick a wealthy, dying farmer. The film is a poetic exploration of human relationships, explored through the eyes of young Linda.
Days of Heaven is renowned for its cinematography and marks a sort of beginning of Malick as we know him now, capturing the ethereal beauty of the Texan landscape in magic hour. Its minimal dialogue and rich visual narrative make it an immersive, contemplative experience. I’d say it’s the beginning of the phase Malick is renowned for.
TL;DR: Days of Heaven is a visually poetic and poignant film that explores the messiness of human relationships amongst and idyllic setting.
*Available for a small rental fee on Apple, Amazon, Google and YouTube in the US and the UK.
Fact: The shot of locusts ascending to the sky was shot in reverse with the helicopter crew throwing peanut shells down, and actors walking backwards.