Birds Of Passage Movie Review

Birds of Passage was scripted by Maria Camila Arias and Jacques Toulemonde Vidal. It was directed by Cristina Gallego Cristina Gallego, a well-known producer of product >> Read More... and Ciro Guerra Award-winning Colombian film director and screenwr >> Read More... . David Gallego served as the cinematographer, and Miguel Schverdfinger was the editor. The music for the film was composed by Leonardo Heiblum. The film was produced by Cristina Gallego and Katrin Pors. It features Carmiña Martínez, Natalia Reyes Colombian actress Natalia Reyes was born on Februa >> Read More... , José Acosta, Jhon Narváez, Jose Vicente Cotes, Juan Bautista, and Greider Meza.

Plot

This Columbian crime drama centers on Zaida, a young Wayuu woman, and her coming of age. It is set in the late 1960s. When she meets Rapayet, he makes a marriage proposal. Zaida's mother, Ursula, sets a high standard for her dowry, as she comes from the powerful Pushaina family. Rapayet joins a drug cartel, hoping to make quick money, but things do not work out as he had expected. The movie follows him and his family as they become successful in the drug trade, grow older, and gradually renounce their customs and way of life. The film tackles violence that has destroyed many lives, families, and communities, as well as the drug trade, which dates back to its contemporary beginnings.

Star Performance

Natalia Reyes as Zaida and José Acosta as Rapayet skilfully bring their characters to life. The supporting cast is incredible as well.

Analysis

The genre film iconography is infused into Birds of Passage's examination of Colombian myth and culture. Throughout the movie, we are fully immersed in the harshness and gentleness of life in an indigenous culture. Gallego and Guerra's Ode to a Lost World depicts the inherent violence of the subject matter without reservation. By trying to authentically represent their culture, Gallego and Guerra also give their characters a human touch.

The film depicts how the new energies of the drug trade intensify and distort cultural expressions. As the narrative goes on, it becomes more typical to see heaps of decapitated bodies. However, director of photography David Gallego's widescreen frame concentrates more on the offenders than the bloodshed, undermining traditional visceral thrills with long shots, cutaways, and editorial ellipses and directing our attention instead towards the self-inflicted wounds of an impending catastrophe. With vibrant colors and stunning scenery serving as the background for devastation, this film can at times be shockingly lavish. The film's soundtrack is eerie, particularly the Wayúu singer's voice, which opens and closes with a song that narrates the tale of the family at its core. Music is an essential component that runs throughout the movie. Full of ideas and images, this filmmaking genuinely pushes the boundaries of storytelling and generic templates.

What’s There?

• Beautiful photography and stunning imagery

• Good pacing and touching music

• Great acting

What’s not There?

• Nothing too major to complain about 

Verdict

This crime drama and cautionary tale is superbly crafted. The rich detail of the ethnography is captivating, and its setup at the start stands in stark contrast to the end, which represents the loss of tradition. It explores significant topics in Colombian cultural history from a knowledgeable and devoted Colombian viewpoint. It follows the well-known plot of the drug crime thriller from an original angle that is both intensely violent and visually captivating. The filmmakers should be commended for illustrating the human cost of the chaos and devastation criminal organizations bring to society. Fans of the director's earlier film, Embrace of the Serpent, will undoubtedly enjoy this one.