By Roger Costa
THE FALLING SKY
A highly praised selection at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, co-directors Eryk Rocha and Gabriela Carneiro da Cunha collaborative exploration on the Yanomami People of the Amazon casts an urgent warning on both ecological and humanitarian reasons of preservation and respect.
Inspired by the poetic book written by Davi Kopenawa, shaman and spokesman for the Yanomamis, the directors patiently follow them through their daily activities, gatherings and rituals, while capturing their anguish, pride and battle for their roots.
Seen through the shaman’s testimonies and poetic stories of resilience, the film is an urgent portrait of a tribe whose lives continue to be at risk like many other minorities around this collapsing world.
It’s a passionate, lyrical and strikingly raw account on the importance of the Amazon and its People.
(KimStim. 3/7. MoMA. Co-Director Gabriela Carneiro da Cunha will be in attendance at select screenings).
THE EMPIRE
One of France’s most efficient provocateurs, Bruno Dumont returns with this darkly funny, bizarre and visually spectacular satire on Hollywood blockbusters and Star Wars franchise.
Different in style from everything he has done before, perhaps a little close to the magical realism found in his wonderful “Slack Bay”, Dumont creates a desperately cynical and wondrously witty vision of the Apocalypse or what is behind it: two super empires, good and evil, fight for the future of humanity and the planet all while disguised as humans.
Filled with irreverent performances from a stellar cast, including Lyna Khoudri, Anamaria Vartolomei, Camille Cottin, and Fabrice Luchini, and delivering sarcasm throughout, Dumont scores another impressive take on behavior, connections and power, while envisioning for the future.
(Kino Lorber. 3/7. IFC Center).
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