Donkeyote, Chico Pereira, 2017
Sunday, April 9th, 2017, 14:15
To this day I'm still not sure whether it was a documentary or fiction, or a mix of both. It's catalogued as a documentary, but it feels like fiction. Something magical-realist here. A quirky film, certainly—but endearingly, maybe even wisely, so. And how could it not be? The wordplay in the title isn't just a tongue-in-cheek throwback to the Cervantes classic; this film is a subtle tribute to the Dreamer, a modern reminder, perhaps even a revival, of the Quijote and its magic: the mask of satire that slips and reveals nostalgia underneath, the whistle-in-the-dark laughter at the expense of old age, the self-deprecating dig at our own idealism—and the sudden spark of hope that maybe the impossible dream really isn't all that impossible.
(Why is Quixote spelled with an X in English? The correct pronunciation, in Spanish—and, being the epitome of Spanish Golden Age literature, I think it should be pronounced that way in any language—is kee-HOH-teh).
In lieu of rehashed or revisionist personal histories, the film beautifully illustrates the way a life can be shaped and reconfigured by intrepidly putting one foot in front of the other in stubborn forward momentum, even through the most inhospitable of landscapes.
~ Pamela Cohn, Filmmaker magazine, March 2017
(read the full article & interview here)
This man, the love he feels for his animals, especially his donkey Gorrión (but there's also a dog, and—well, you know me and dogs), the journey he embarks on, his stubborn commitment to a dream... it's s a beautiful thing to see.
And then there's the cinematography. Yes, the Spanish landscape makes an extraordinary setting even in the most amateur production, and this one, true to its documentary vibe, lacks any special effects or any construed dramatic device. Pereira, the director is known for his austere approach, his talent for telling brilliant stories by making use of "the moments when nothing is happening" (Filmmaker article, 2017). Like his previous feature-film, Pablo's Winter, this one also showcases that talent beautifully.
Another one that sounds intriguing, though probably not intriguing enough for me to go out of my way to try to watch it.
ReplyDeleteI hear you, Andrew. For me, that's the beauty of film festivals: you get all these films, extraordinary but rather obscure, films you probably wouldn't make the effort to locate and watch otherwise, all in one place :)
DeleteUnfortunately, a film festival is also a thing I will probably never make the time for.
DeleteHahaha... Well, you're most definitely not alone there ;)
DeleteHi Guilie - it does remarkably interesting and I enjoyed the clip, so I hope I get to see it somewhere ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI think you'd love the film, Hilary... And the scenery would probably blow you away, too.
DeleteThanks for coming by!
Well... this does sound intriguing. The one I'm waiting for is the Terry Gilliam [Time Bandits, Brazil!!!] version of events due out this year, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote. I cannot imagine a better director, save del Toro to go after this subject. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1318517/
ReplyDeleteOooohhh, with Adam Driver as Sancho! The trailer seems a bit... well, 'odd', but maybe it's early days. I'd definitely watch the movie regardless. Hmm, can't really imagine del Toro taking on a project like this one... His brand of magical realism is rather different, I think. But it'd be great to see what he'd do with it, wouldn't it? Thanks for pointing me to this one, Sarah!
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