The Amazon has mesmerised filmmakers, like the explorers who dared to venture to it. Werner Herzog, for instance, brought to life stunning, uncompromising visions of this environment, particularly in his hauntingly sublime Aguirre: The Wrath of God. This year sees Ciro Guerra's history spanning exploration in Embrace Of The Serpent.
Loosely inspired by scientific diaries, the film tells two stories from different times — 1909 and 1940. Both stories feature Karamakate, an Amazonian shaman and last of his tribe as well a scientist in each period, Theodor Koch-Grunberg in 1900 and Richard Evans Schultes in 1940, both on a quest to find a rare plant with healing properties.
The film is an experience that engages with the dying Amazonian cultures and the conflicting ideologies. Drifting between two narratives drenched in stark, gritty yet beautiful black and white photography, it transports you to another world. It isn't an experience for everyone and may leave some viewers cold with slow pacing and ambiguous, surreal nature. It works best in parts rather than a whole, with some scenes being very confronting.
The performances of both young and old Karamakate are superb, unfolding with layered subtly and deep conflicted turmoil. Other characters are less effective, like the scientist who become vaguely drawn.
Overall, Embrace Of The Serpent is a historically spiritual yet flawed cinematic experience.
