Embrace of the Serpent is a highly-acclaimed, internationally co-produced Black & White drama and entry for the 88th Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g6ICkXnubE?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0&w=920&h=415]
Directed by Ciro Guerra, Embrace the Serpent (El abrazo de la serpiente) chronicles the story of a tribal shaman named Karamakate (played by Nilbio Torres and Antonio Bolívar) and the two white men he builds a relationship with at separate times in his life, the first in 1901 and then in 1940. The scientists who come to his village are seeking the rare yakruna plant, said to be sacred and offering psychedelic effects. The trailer hints at not only the visual splendor in the incredible setting, (filmed on location in Columbian Amazon), but also the chilling story that sees a powerful mix of cultures and values as Karamakate becomes the only surviving member of his people. Based on the journals of the scientists, this fictional account details the trauma of a man coming to terms with being the last of his kind.
Hailed at festivals a master work of cinema, the trailer certainly is gripping and if you’re a fan of foreign language films, this is one to put on the list.
Director:
Ciro Guerra
Writers:
Ciro Guerra, Theodor Koch-Grunberg (based on the diary by)
Stars:
Nilbio Torres, Jan Bijvoet, Antonio Bolivar