Ixcanul is a cinematic chef-d'oeuvre that sheds light on the plight of many indigenous Guatemalans who suffer from almost unfathomable levels of economic, social, and political exploitation. The film has many heart-breaking moments where the powerlessness of the film's protagonists comes through in a way that feels deeply real and authentic. One of the most interesting aspects of this films is that it is the first feature film created in Kaqchikel, one of the many indigenous Mayan languages of Guatemala. The actors are all native speakers of Kaqchikel, and the filmmakers overcame significant difficulties to assemble the cast that they did. The fact that the actors are so inexperienced makes the film all the more incredible because it did not at moment seem faked, at least for me. I would also like to address some of the criticism that has been levelled at the film and the filmmakers. The problem of orthography, that the title uses a c instead of a k, following modern (instead of colonial) spelling conventions, seems like minutiae compared to all of the positive work the film does in raising awareness of many of the problems indigenous Guatemalans face on a routine basis. Many also say the film only reinforces stereotypes about indigenous peoples in Guatemala and in the Americas more broadly. In that for many people this film will be their first exposure to contemporary Mayans, there is a risk of Ixcanul becoming a single story that defines an entire people. But it is the choice of the spectator to determine whether or not he/she will extrapolate stereotypes about an entire people from the portrayal of one family in one village at one specific point in time. However, if you look beyond these somewhat valid criticisms, you will see a cinematic masterpiece that will make you look at the world in a different way.
23 Reviews
Ixtanul
lischneider5 October 2016
Ixtanul is a very unique film in that it causes the viewers to question. This film essentially about a young girl named Maria, who prepares for her arranged wedding (set by her parents) as she overcomes unusual obstacles along the way. Although this film is slow and not very action-packed, it taught me a lot about Mayan culture and tradition in Guatemala. This film was unlike any film I have ever seen because of its mystery and lack of sound. There was almost no music in this film, which I thought was really interesting because it added uniqueness to the film. Also, the camera angles and shots were very different than most other films. Overall, this film taught me more about Guatemalan society than I have ever known.
A beautiful and touching story about life on the side of a volcano.
jen-lynx18 September 2016
I've long been interested in Mayan mythology and culture, so when I heard about a new movie from Guatemala in the Maya language, I knew it was a film I wanted to see. "Ixcanul" is the Maya word for volcano, which looms large in the film, both physically and as a psychological barrier between this village and the rest of the world.
Maria is a teenage girl, beautiful and bold. She lives with her parents, their only child, on a coffee plantation. Her parents have arranged her marriage to the plantation foreman, but neither seem particularly enthused about it. Instead, Maria dreams of escaping to the United States with a local worker. Despite her best attempts to get Pepe's agreement to take her with him North, she never secures a committed response. Her actions, however, have significant repercussions for her and her family.
This could be a film about the uncaring and unsympathetic corporate owners of the plantations, or it could be about the ignorance of peasant life in the Guatemalan villages, or it could be a film that romanticizes North American culture and lifestyle, but it is none of these things. What it is, is an intimate and honest story of a brief moment in time of a family caught on the crossroads of tradition and modernity. "Ixcanul" is Guatemala's first entry in the Academy Awards for Foreign Language Film, and it certainly deserves to win. I am intrigued by the language and have a few unanswered questions, so it is likely I will pick this one up for the collection when released.
Maria is a teenage girl, beautiful and bold. She lives with her parents, their only child, on a coffee plantation. Her parents have arranged her marriage to the plantation foreman, but neither seem particularly enthused about it. Instead, Maria dreams of escaping to the United States with a local worker. Despite her best attempts to get Pepe's agreement to take her with him North, she never secures a committed response. Her actions, however, have significant repercussions for her and her family.
This could be a film about the uncaring and unsympathetic corporate owners of the plantations, or it could be about the ignorance of peasant life in the Guatemalan villages, or it could be a film that romanticizes North American culture and lifestyle, but it is none of these things. What it is, is an intimate and honest story of a brief moment in time of a family caught on the crossroads of tradition and modernity. "Ixcanul" is Guatemala's first entry in the Academy Awards for Foreign Language Film, and it certainly deserves to win. I am intrigued by the language and have a few unanswered questions, so it is likely I will pick this one up for the collection when released.
Between the childhood and adulthood.
Reno-Rangan4 August 2017
The director's feature film debut. From Guatemala, selected to represent the Oscars in the previous year (2016), but did not make. The film was based on the real about a small Mayan family living closer to the active volcano slope working in the coffee plantation. A perfect depiction of hardship of life, but from the perspective of a teenager. The life between adulthood and childhood, and for the lack of the knowledge of the real world, how they are misled was the film's purpose.
I liked the film, no question about that. But it did not start like that. I hate films showing cruelty towards animals. It does not matter livestock, wild animals or anything else. The exception is only for the nature documentaries which does not involve human. So it all started with a strong dislike for the film. I was not sure I about writing a review for it. But the film convinced me with the later parts. I was not expecting it. In the end, I felt a very good film became a just above average because of one bad sequence.
The film follows the character Maria. The seventeen year old girl was promised to the one who works in the city. But she wants to leave the place, country to the United States. That's when she begins to have her sexual urge. Following that, she develops a relationship with a boy from the coffee plantation. The consequence is the bigger price she has to face. With numerous challenges, not just her, but the whole family should overcome it. So how they are prepared for it and other following struggles revealed in the remaining narration.
❝He's probably living in the United States in a big house with a garden, like those in the magazine. He must speak English by now.❞
The film highlights many things. One of those was how the poverty ridden, illiterate people are misguided. The indigenous Guatemalan people that showed in this film really amazed me. Okay, the girl made a mistake, but how her family reacted to it was a surprise to me. Being very cultured, I did not expect that. In fact, I thought it could turn into a thriller, particularly in its finale. But the entire film was a drama and finding a solution to solve the issue as the way it flows. Then comes the misconception which drags the family into more trouble.
At that point of the narration, the film was close to the end. But an unexpected twist made its way. The part where desperation takes the front seat. With all the sudden, everything was resolved, but good or sad is to know, one must watch the film. Like the filmmaker, the casting was also new faces. The storyline seems simple, but where it sets in was the challenge the cast and crew excelled. The original title Ixcanul means volcano in Mayan language, but it is a force looking to explode is the correct definition, that's explained by the director.
It is one of first Guatemalan films for me. I'm very impressed with the story, the performances, locations and the overall film. It is not just a film festival product, it is like any Hollywood or the rest of the world cinema that qualified to call a good film. So if you are watching lots of regular films and got bored, you can try this for a change. A different language, different setting, but a situation every culture, ethnic had seen, that now you can learn how it all confronted by these people. Just like the film 'Tanna', but not all the same. Excluding the opening part I complained about, this is a nice film to check it out. But I won't mention the word recommended!
7/10
I liked the film, no question about that. But it did not start like that. I hate films showing cruelty towards animals. It does not matter livestock, wild animals or anything else. The exception is only for the nature documentaries which does not involve human. So it all started with a strong dislike for the film. I was not sure I about writing a review for it. But the film convinced me with the later parts. I was not expecting it. In the end, I felt a very good film became a just above average because of one bad sequence.
The film follows the character Maria. The seventeen year old girl was promised to the one who works in the city. But she wants to leave the place, country to the United States. That's when she begins to have her sexual urge. Following that, she develops a relationship with a boy from the coffee plantation. The consequence is the bigger price she has to face. With numerous challenges, not just her, but the whole family should overcome it. So how they are prepared for it and other following struggles revealed in the remaining narration.
❝He's probably living in the United States in a big house with a garden, like those in the magazine. He must speak English by now.❞
The film highlights many things. One of those was how the poverty ridden, illiterate people are misguided. The indigenous Guatemalan people that showed in this film really amazed me. Okay, the girl made a mistake, but how her family reacted to it was a surprise to me. Being very cultured, I did not expect that. In fact, I thought it could turn into a thriller, particularly in its finale. But the entire film was a drama and finding a solution to solve the issue as the way it flows. Then comes the misconception which drags the family into more trouble.
At that point of the narration, the film was close to the end. But an unexpected twist made its way. The part where desperation takes the front seat. With all the sudden, everything was resolved, but good or sad is to know, one must watch the film. Like the filmmaker, the casting was also new faces. The storyline seems simple, but where it sets in was the challenge the cast and crew excelled. The original title Ixcanul means volcano in Mayan language, but it is a force looking to explode is the correct definition, that's explained by the director.
It is one of first Guatemalan films for me. I'm very impressed with the story, the performances, locations and the overall film. It is not just a film festival product, it is like any Hollywood or the rest of the world cinema that qualified to call a good film. So if you are watching lots of regular films and got bored, you can try this for a change. A different language, different setting, but a situation every culture, ethnic had seen, that now you can learn how it all confronted by these people. Just like the film 'Tanna', but not all the same. Excluding the opening part I complained about, this is a nice film to check it out. But I won't mention the word recommended!
7/10
Ixcanul is an insightful and powerful film about Kaqchikel culture
vesperview20 September 2015
Often times in Guatemala, you go watch a Guatemalan film solely for the sake of supporting your country. Ixcanul didn't feel that way, it is truly a film that transcends its origins and offers a story that feels universal. The story tackles topics such as agriculture, arranged marriages, pregnancy, among others. The film has a stunning cinematography and direction, which was quite impressive, some scenes do make use of the shaky camera method, which within context of what's happening in the film kind of make sense, however, they may feel a bit "out of place" considering the attention to detail that the rest of the film has.
Although all of the actors are debuting in this film, the acting is stellar, particularly from María Telón who commands the film and really delivers some of it's most powerful and emotionally effective scenes. In some instances, the actors don't need to speak for you to understand their feelings, almost like a silent picture. The Spanish-speaking actors are the only ones that I felt lacking, but their parts are minimal and are hardly detracting to the film.
Overall, Ixcanul is an eye-opener to people who are not familiar with the sad realities that the Kaqchikel people have to go through. It's the first film made in Guatemala that feels thought out, as well as culturally important and significant.
Although all of the actors are debuting in this film, the acting is stellar, particularly from María Telón who commands the film and really delivers some of it's most powerful and emotionally effective scenes. In some instances, the actors don't need to speak for you to understand their feelings, almost like a silent picture. The Spanish-speaking actors are the only ones that I felt lacking, but their parts are minimal and are hardly detracting to the film.
Overall, Ixcanul is an eye-opener to people who are not familiar with the sad realities that the Kaqchikel people have to go through. It's the first film made in Guatemala that feels thought out, as well as culturally important and significant.
Authentic
MikeyB179327 September 2016
Warning: Spoilers
There is an authentic feel that runs through-out this story of Indigenous people living in Guatemala. They are poor, uneducated, but they have a strong sense of attachment to each other. The mother's love for her daughter is ample proof of that. All the young people want to find a way out – to the U.S. They want to escape their exploitation and poverty. All of this is poignantly captured.
The story centres on a young woman who can't seem to make up her mind as to what she wants. And maybe this is one of the films defects – I just found her too catatonic and so lacking in expression. It gives too much of a void to the viewer, although this may have been intentional. She imparts a great sadness to this film.
And at times the film just lingers too long on certain scenes.
Nevertheless in terms of setting and characters in a remote part of the world this is highly original.
The story centres on a young woman who can't seem to make up her mind as to what she wants. And maybe this is one of the films defects – I just found her too catatonic and so lacking in expression. It gives too much of a void to the viewer, although this may have been intentional. She imparts a great sadness to this film.
And at times the film just lingers too long on certain scenes.
Nevertheless in terms of setting and characters in a remote part of the world this is highly original.
Highly relatable
nataliercurtiss5 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Ixcanul is an astonishingly visually beautiful movie. The sweeping landscapes and colorful clothing take an urban American audience into another world entirely. Although the characters speak Kaqchikel and their lifestyles appear very different from my own, I found them instantly relatable. Maria, the protagonist, is a perfectly normal teenager. She is helpful to her parents, except when she doesn't want to be. She has a crush on a boy who isn't good for her. She wants to leave home. All of Maria's desires are the same as those of an American teenager; the physical and cultural setting is the only difference. This is part of what makes Ixcanul so important. It does a very good job of both showing difference and making it feel natural. Although we see a world that is different from the one we are used to, it does not feel alien.
The relationship between Maria and her mother, Juana, is one of the key elements of this movie that makes it so warm and familiar. While they tend to interact casually, there are several moments in which the depth of their relationship is palpable. The scene in the bath in which Maria's mother discovers her pregnancy, for instance, feels very realistic. Juana scolds her daughter for not "counting her moons", but there is no anger in her voice. Only love and concern. Her father's reaction, with near equal skill, shows the more authoritarian relationship that he has with his daughter. The small family unit is beautifully and convincingly created.
This small, close-knit family is contrasted with an immense landscape. The side of the volcano on which they live allows for wide shots of footpaths criss-crossing through a rocky, jungley terrain. Although they are not far from the town of Solola, they appear to be in a separate world with a delicate social ecosystem. This makes the plot feel even more realistic, because we are left little to compare it to until this isolation becomes an obstacle towards the end of the movie. Overall, it is an interesting, emotional movie. I highly recommend it.
The relationship between Maria and her mother, Juana, is one of the key elements of this movie that makes it so warm and familiar. While they tend to interact casually, there are several moments in which the depth of their relationship is palpable. The scene in the bath in which Maria's mother discovers her pregnancy, for instance, feels very realistic. Juana scolds her daughter for not "counting her moons", but there is no anger in her voice. Only love and concern. Her father's reaction, with near equal skill, shows the more authoritarian relationship that he has with his daughter. The small family unit is beautifully and convincingly created.
This small, close-knit family is contrasted with an immense landscape. The side of the volcano on which they live allows for wide shots of footpaths criss-crossing through a rocky, jungley terrain. Although they are not far from the town of Solola, they appear to be in a separate world with a delicate social ecosystem. This makes the plot feel even more realistic, because we are left little to compare it to until this isolation becomes an obstacle towards the end of the movie. Overall, it is an interesting, emotional movie. I highly recommend it.
A Compelling Story
ejhoffman23 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Set in the beautiful, mountainous landscape of Guatemala, Ixcanul tells the sad, but compelling story of a young girl fighting with her cultural norms. Maria, the protagonist of the movie, has been promised, at the decision of her parents, to another young man she does not know and does not love. From an outsider's perspective, not understanding the culture of arranged marriages, it is quite difficult to identify with her and the emotions that she is feeling. Additionally, the use of the Mayan language, Kaqchikel, only heightens the disconnect between Maria and the audience of the movie. While the use of the indigenous, Mayan language, is beautiful, and is bringing light to an almost forgotten culture, it keeps the audience at a distance. Even though we want to truly understand Maria and her rebellion against her culture's traditions, we simply cannot. At least not at first. As the story progresses, I was able to more strongly connect with Maria and her sad situation. I was able to see past the language barrier and sympathize with her. Here she is, a young, promised woman, pregnant with another man's baby, trying to protect her family's reputation from what she has done. The audience is let in and able to develop a connection to Maria through the intimate scene with her mother. We may not be right there, but the audience is allowed to participate in these scenes. In the end, I really did appreciate the movie, its use of an indigenous, Mayan language, and its ability to slowly pull the audience into Maria's story. There is a level of complexity that at first kept the audience at a distance, and may have even turned some viewer's off to the movie. As the director allows moments of participation between Maria, Juana and the audience, it becomes a beautiful story that captures any audience.
"Crude reality of indigenous women"
leslieaddleman4 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This film directed by Jayro Bustamante shows the harsh reality for which indigenous groups of Guatemala live especially women. You can clearly see the discrimination and exploitation that these indigenous people live in their own country. This reality is captured in the story of María, a young indigenous woman from Guatemala who is forced to marry by her parents for their convenience with a man she does not want. and she wants by all means that this does not happen because she is in love with Pepe, a young man who works on the coffee plantation. Due to a pregnancy life changes for Maria with many events and beliefs that she lives due to her mother. The illegal trafficking of children is another issue in this film, it is very unfortunate that this happens a lot in these countries with low economic resources, mainly this happens to poor people and those who cannot condemn these facts. The producer Bustamante also wants to express the feeling and real language of the indigenous people of this region that is why almost all the actors are people who live in the area, who speak the Kaqchikel language. He shows us a current real-life aspect in that region of indigenous women who are discriminated against and who do not have any kind of education and privilege. With this story, the producer denounces these acts of discrimination and illegal trafficking of children but at the same time shows a family that even with its old culture and a closed mentality experiences feelings of joy, sadness, hope and love one another regardless of time where they live.
Extraordinary view of reality for thousands of Guatemalan Maya
tsmada20 November 2016
I had the wonderful experience of watching this film with my Quiché goddaughter, who found the story real and compelling. Maria, 17, is betrothed by her parents to a young man--a decision in which she has no say. Her heart, however, leads her in another direction and therein lies the story's heart. The reality of daily life for thousands of Mayan Guatemalans, many of whom speak only their indigenous language, is conveyed with a realism that never patronizes. It is the daily struggle for life, for work, and dealing in an emergency with a power structure that is far from the experience of those who must confront it. One comment about the description: The film is bilingual: Spanish and Kakchiquel, one of 22 Mayan languages spoken in Guatemala, none of which can communicate with the other. I asked my goddaughter--who is trilingual (Kiché, Spanish, and English)--if she understood any of the Kakchiquel dialogue. "No" was her answer.
Exceptional naturalism
mmaggiano14 September 2020
Ixcanul is a practically flawless work of naturalistic cinema. Much has been said about the cutural specifics of the film, but not enough about Ixcanul as an argument for the vitality of naturalism, in an era that has been blinkered with frivolous spectacle. The movie treats its audience as adults, never telling them what to think or feel. It's beautifully lit and composed, subtle, thorny and complex. If you can find nothing engaging here, it's hardly the fault of the film.
Attractive on the Outside
kestonnhorst8 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Ixcanul has stunning cinematography and is brimming with passion and originality, but it might not be the best choice in terms of cultural accuracy. While it is impressive that native Kaqchikel speakers were cast to give it an authentic, indigenous feel, the representation of the Kaqchikel people is not its best. I will not claim to be an expert on the topic, but after speaking with and reading a paper about the film written by a Kaqchikel woman, Ixcanul provides the in-depth view from an obvious outsider, one who hasn't done enough research. According to her, the Kaqchikel view all life as sacred and worthy of respect, so moments when María uses a tree as a sort of dildo and when she attempts to abort her fetus are wildly unrepresentative of the culture.
Looking beyond these shortcomings, it is still a good tool for a superficial observation of Kaqchikel culture. While the baby kidnapping, arranged marriages, and belief in magic and superstition may be stereotypical, they still portray real aspects of some indigenous Central Americans' lives. The manipulation of Kaqchikel individuals because of their language barrier is indisputable, as is indigenous people's poverty and often impecunious plantation life. This may be the film's message—that we are treating cultures like the Kaqchikel unfairly, and perhaps the film's own inaccuracies reinforce that thought.
These high and low points aside, the film is still attractive, with expert parallel framing with María and her mother in the bath, and again with María and el Pepe before they have sex. Its long, sweeping takes of María descending the volcano balance with the stills of locals hanging at a bar or with family (these scenes themselves seem almost like neoclassical paintings). The movie is masterfully executed and naturally aesthetically-pleasing in terms of camera-work and scenery, but as a means of storytelling it falls behind somewhat because of its imperfect perception of its own subject matter.
Looking beyond these shortcomings, it is still a good tool for a superficial observation of Kaqchikel culture. While the baby kidnapping, arranged marriages, and belief in magic and superstition may be stereotypical, they still portray real aspects of some indigenous Central Americans' lives. The manipulation of Kaqchikel individuals because of their language barrier is indisputable, as is indigenous people's poverty and often impecunious plantation life. This may be the film's message—that we are treating cultures like the Kaqchikel unfairly, and perhaps the film's own inaccuracies reinforce that thought.
These high and low points aside, the film is still attractive, with expert parallel framing with María and her mother in the bath, and again with María and el Pepe before they have sex. Its long, sweeping takes of María descending the volcano balance with the stills of locals hanging at a bar or with family (these scenes themselves seem almost like neoclassical paintings). The movie is masterfully executed and naturally aesthetically-pleasing in terms of camera-work and scenery, but as a means of storytelling it falls behind somewhat because of its imperfect perception of its own subject matter.
indigenous life in Guatemala
lee_eisenberg23 May 2021
Jayro Bustamante's "Ixcanul" - Kaqchikel for volcano - looks at the challenges faced by Guatemala's indigenous population, especially the women (namely machismo). Starring non-professional actors and spoken mostly in Kaqchikel, it tells the story of a girl who has never been outside her community...until an unexpected event changes things.
This movie is not for those who expect nonstop action. The plot is deliberately slow-moving, with scenes often lasting minutes at a time. When you focus on a culture that the world doesn't usually see, it makes sense to have slow-moving action. All in all, it's a movie that you should see. How often do we get to see the day-to-day lives of Latin America's indigenous people?
This movie is not for those who expect nonstop action. The plot is deliberately slow-moving, with scenes often lasting minutes at a time. When you focus on a culture that the world doesn't usually see, it makes sense to have slow-moving action. All in all, it's a movie that you should see. How often do we get to see the day-to-day lives of Latin America's indigenous people?
Family Caught Between Past and Present; Exquisite Cinematography
Blue-Grotto10 February 2017
For a Mayan family of three living on misty and sable volcano slopes, snakes come in both reptile and human form. Blessings are bestowed upon the family as well. 17 year old Maria dreams of life on the other side of the volcano. This place she dreams of, stretching from the other side of the volcano, across all of Mexico and into the United States, is nowhere that anyone she knows has ever been. Yet her pleasant life picking coffee, cooking and taking care of farm animals is too sedate for her. She intends to bolt from an arranged marriage with her father's boss. In doing so she sets herself up for confrontations between needs; company and independence, city and country, adventure and stability, Mayan and Spanish, and more. In this struggle the real character of Maria will become more apparent.
If exquisite cinematography is your thing, you will like this unlikely yet appealing pairing of Guatemala and France. The acting is more convincing for the local talent, for even the best actors in the world would not make convincing Mayans. Kaqchikel is the film language. Ixcanul is available by Netflix snail mail delivery, a delivery that matches the gentle and pleasing pace of the film.
If exquisite cinematography is your thing, you will like this unlikely yet appealing pairing of Guatemala and France. The acting is more convincing for the local talent, for even the best actors in the world would not make convincing Mayans. Kaqchikel is the film language. Ixcanul is available by Netflix snail mail delivery, a delivery that matches the gentle and pleasing pace of the film.
A special family bond
gbill-7487719 June 2020
A beautiful film that very much transports the viewer to the struggles of a girl coming of age and working on a coffee plantation with her parents at the foot of a volcano in Guatemala. The cinematography is gorgeous, the story is heartfelt, and the performances all feel truly authentic. I thank Letterboxd user Muffintree for his suggestion to watch this film, and would recommend it to others as well.
It's clear early on that we're being plunged into a world without the luxury of pretense, where eating pork doesn't mean going in to the air-conditioned market and buying a neatly packaged cut of bloodless pink meat, and living with one's parents doesn't mean being able to pretend they don't have sex, since everyone sleeps in the same room. In this world coffee beans are tediously picked by hand, and workers (who speak indigenous Kaqchikel) are exploited by owners (who also speak the language of the ruling class, Spanish). The owners know that the laborers have few opportunities, and also run a bar where the workers might run up an alcohol tab that erases the earnings they receive from a careful weighing of the beans they've picked. All of this is so that affluent people in far-off lands like America can sip a gourmet brew, made to order by a person with a college degree in English Lit and getting a paltry minimum wage, but I digress.
The daughter (the soulful María Mercedes Coroy) has been betrothed to her father's boss, the foreman of the plantation, a situation that might improve her family's situation. Unfortunately she's more attracted to a field worker who dreams of running away to America to escape the poverty of his life in Guatemala, and drinks to excess maybe to escape it in another way. The way the parents (María Telón and Manuel Manuel Antún) support the daughter is amazing, despite the decisions she makes which have disastrous consequences. The mother-daughter bond is truly special and seems eternal, and I imagined it representing a link which must stretch back generations upon generations into the past. It was also pretty cool to see the father not erupt into anger, instead calmly accepting what happened as if a weather conditions had caused a bad crop one year. Nothing is romanticized here, but the film shows the family bond and perseverance in the face of a hard life, starting with accepting each other.
It's clear early on that we're being plunged into a world without the luxury of pretense, where eating pork doesn't mean going in to the air-conditioned market and buying a neatly packaged cut of bloodless pink meat, and living with one's parents doesn't mean being able to pretend they don't have sex, since everyone sleeps in the same room. In this world coffee beans are tediously picked by hand, and workers (who speak indigenous Kaqchikel) are exploited by owners (who also speak the language of the ruling class, Spanish). The owners know that the laborers have few opportunities, and also run a bar where the workers might run up an alcohol tab that erases the earnings they receive from a careful weighing of the beans they've picked. All of this is so that affluent people in far-off lands like America can sip a gourmet brew, made to order by a person with a college degree in English Lit and getting a paltry minimum wage, but I digress.
The daughter (the soulful María Mercedes Coroy) has been betrothed to her father's boss, the foreman of the plantation, a situation that might improve her family's situation. Unfortunately she's more attracted to a field worker who dreams of running away to America to escape the poverty of his life in Guatemala, and drinks to excess maybe to escape it in another way. The way the parents (María Telón and Manuel Manuel Antún) support the daughter is amazing, despite the decisions she makes which have disastrous consequences. The mother-daughter bond is truly special and seems eternal, and I imagined it representing a link which must stretch back generations upon generations into the past. It was also pretty cool to see the father not erupt into anger, instead calmly accepting what happened as if a weather conditions had caused a bad crop one year. Nothing is romanticized here, but the film shows the family bond and perseverance in the face of a hard life, starting with accepting each other.
Hearts break in paradise
sergelamarche4 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Life in paradise is not always a dream come true. A promised girl get lured by the unknown attraction of money and adventure with a working boy just long enough to get screwed. The mistake is not easily solved and more dramatic the situation becomes, until we make it full circle. Not before many hearts get broken. Beauty all over the place in the film. Excellent acting, felt like it was reenacted by the very people that the story was about. Very glad to see a glimpse of the world, unknown so far as well.
gross story
Dcamplisson7 October 2017
Well filmed and a close look at an Indian community. Sadly the story is not one that engenders much empathy for the family at is center. It does show how violence and selfishness are not reserved to any one ethnicity. Peasants being exploited and cheated victimize the weakest member of their family. If you disregard the rights of children you might find these people sympathetic. If you area realist you will see that they told gang up on the weak.
Much More Than Just a Cultural Immersion Film...
lndmomz27 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
***DEFINITELY HAS SPOILERS!!!***
I had no idea what this was when I began watching it--and was blown away! On the surface, this movie does an EXCELLENT job of portraying a culture I knew nothing about. I didn't just 'watch' it--I lived it right along with the characters. Very well done! But I was moved by something more--there were universal themes in this film that run much deeper than just being immersed in an unknown culture, which its tragedies highlighted even more...
1) I was deeply touched by the love this mother had for her daughter. At one point she says all she wants is for her daughter to be happy and protected. That emotion transcends all worlds (First World or Third World). All loving mothers hope for something similar for their daughters. The scene where the mother is dragging her daughter--literally bearing her burden--was very real to me. That symbolizes exactly what many mothers are willing to do for their children.
2) I found the greatest tension in the film was between generations versus culture shifts. Even though the story takes place in a society with very little education, the daughter is aware enough to know that there is something 'more' out there, beyond the barrier of the volcano. She longs for that, more than she longs for Pepe or for her mother's life recycled for herself (via an arranged marriage). But the daughter is not educated enough to know how to achieve it. With all the domestic skills her mother taught her in preparation for adult life, her mother was unable to prepare her daughter for the advancing shift in culture.
At the end of the movie, I was left wondering what the daughter's own children would encounter beyond what she knew, and what tensions--and eventual changes--the next generation would experience because of it, that the daughter herself could not prepare them for. In that way she is destined to repeat her mother's history--of not being able to prepare her children for the inevitable advancing change in culture, thus leaving them just as vulnerable to it as she was.
Side Note: While I have great respect for cultures far different than my own, I have to wonder if their evolution into a First World existence is something really to be mourned. I fail to see how one can preserve such culture while still giving women greater freedom. I don't think that's possible without an introduction to the First World and its influence and, I think, is the reason why 'America' is so admired from afar. As grossly imperfect as 'America' is, I know as a woman living here I've enjoyed tremendous freedoms in contrast to the women portrayed in this movie.
3) I found it hugely ironic that an unwanted pregnancy (with multiple failed abortion attempts) then became--once successfully done away with--something to mourn over with a funeral. I'm not diminishing the daughter's grief--I don't think she ever really wanted to lose the child. I just found that twist interesting.
4) The most significant aspect of this film, for me, was the portrayal of the strength of women and how, regardless of their circumstances, they rely on themselves to meet the demands of daily living. So many young married women I know of today (in my First World existence) look to their husbands to 'fulfill' them emotionally. I have tried to prepare my own daughter for adult life, married or single, by counseling her to learn to be her own best friend and to find healthy ways to fulfill her own emotional needs, even if married. Because ultimately and eventually, life will demand that we stand strong on our own two feet, just as the mother does in this film, even while living in the shadows of a male-dominated society.
For those who might find it objectionable, be aware that this film contains nudity and sex scenes, and some violence (animal slaughtered). I don't recall reading any foul language in the subtitles.
I had no idea what this was when I began watching it--and was blown away! On the surface, this movie does an EXCELLENT job of portraying a culture I knew nothing about. I didn't just 'watch' it--I lived it right along with the characters. Very well done! But I was moved by something more--there were universal themes in this film that run much deeper than just being immersed in an unknown culture, which its tragedies highlighted even more...
1) I was deeply touched by the love this mother had for her daughter. At one point she says all she wants is for her daughter to be happy and protected. That emotion transcends all worlds (First World or Third World). All loving mothers hope for something similar for their daughters. The scene where the mother is dragging her daughter--literally bearing her burden--was very real to me. That symbolizes exactly what many mothers are willing to do for their children.
2) I found the greatest tension in the film was between generations versus culture shifts. Even though the story takes place in a society with very little education, the daughter is aware enough to know that there is something 'more' out there, beyond the barrier of the volcano. She longs for that, more than she longs for Pepe or for her mother's life recycled for herself (via an arranged marriage). But the daughter is not educated enough to know how to achieve it. With all the domestic skills her mother taught her in preparation for adult life, her mother was unable to prepare her daughter for the advancing shift in culture.
At the end of the movie, I was left wondering what the daughter's own children would encounter beyond what she knew, and what tensions--and eventual changes--the next generation would experience because of it, that the daughter herself could not prepare them for. In that way she is destined to repeat her mother's history--of not being able to prepare her children for the inevitable advancing change in culture, thus leaving them just as vulnerable to it as she was.
Side Note: While I have great respect for cultures far different than my own, I have to wonder if their evolution into a First World existence is something really to be mourned. I fail to see how one can preserve such culture while still giving women greater freedom. I don't think that's possible without an introduction to the First World and its influence and, I think, is the reason why 'America' is so admired from afar. As grossly imperfect as 'America' is, I know as a woman living here I've enjoyed tremendous freedoms in contrast to the women portrayed in this movie.
3) I found it hugely ironic that an unwanted pregnancy (with multiple failed abortion attempts) then became--once successfully done away with--something to mourn over with a funeral. I'm not diminishing the daughter's grief--I don't think she ever really wanted to lose the child. I just found that twist interesting.
4) The most significant aspect of this film, for me, was the portrayal of the strength of women and how, regardless of their circumstances, they rely on themselves to meet the demands of daily living. So many young married women I know of today (in my First World existence) look to their husbands to 'fulfill' them emotionally. I have tried to prepare my own daughter for adult life, married or single, by counseling her to learn to be her own best friend and to find healthy ways to fulfill her own emotional needs, even if married. Because ultimately and eventually, life will demand that we stand strong on our own two feet, just as the mother does in this film, even while living in the shadows of a male-dominated society.
For those who might find it objectionable, be aware that this film contains nudity and sex scenes, and some violence (animal slaughtered). I don't recall reading any foul language in the subtitles.
is the best movie of all the times
alexandergomezv27 November 2015
Warning: Spoilers
WOW ! is the best movie and seen of all time , I fell in love this film because the plot is as sweet to my eyes because It is the best movie and seen in my entire life , besides this My film should be nominated for Oscar yet because it is a beautiful movie and no other film like this ! , and also the Users who do not pay the best rate is they do not know appreciate the true art of a very good movie and forever I will up port this movie because my I marvel this beautiful movie !also this movie is the best movie of Latin America and Spain , also contains a unique language in the world that is the Guatemalan Mayan languages and that alone also the best education and the best sound
ixcanul(kaqchikel for 'volcano');plethora of snakes in film,but the word serpiente not in title>>
jwsanfrancisco29 August 2016
Yes,I had to read the internet reviews to figure out the plot;& came in fully prepared to compare it to the last similar movie,'el Abraxo de la Serpiente',by Ciro Guerra,a more documentary-like,instructional film about the effects of 300 years of European colonialism on the indigenous Indians of the amazon rain forest. But strangely,the woman(very stoic looking Maria Mercedes Coroy,great actress)reminded me of the Mexican waif('Ride the Pink Pony',1946);excuse me,'RIde the Pink Horse', starring Robert Montgomery; about the small girl who keeps dogging this ex-GI,who lands in San Pablo,New Mexico determined to flush out a new York Mobster for squaring away past debts?both put in great performances;there was a lot of astrological/ mystical references in 'el Abraxo....',not as many in this movie,I wish there were more of those,but Juana(Telon) did call out a lot of references to beseeching blessings of earth,wind,water,volcano,or sacrifice a pig as offering to appease a long,dormant volcano, lest it explode w/ lava & havoc to the nearby villages, so as to bring good luck to her daughter's betrothel to the local coffee plantation owner.(in 'el Abraxo....' it was the local rubber plantation owners who were the villains in movie...)>>
Beautiful volcano
reguizar10 December 2020
Volcano
jahouston-969946 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
It was interesting to see the way the Mayans live. It really gives a foreign perspective about the rural peasants life. It is actually unbelievable to think that in the 21st century anyone would be living like the people in this movie. The overall lifestyle was surprising to me. The old fashioned way that the marriage was arranged in this movie surprised me. The way that that formed a bond between the two families was interesting. Also, the gender roles was very old fashioned. The entire lifestyle just seemed to be like a thousand years behind. The mother and daughter were very close to each other. They did everything together. They would even bathe together. The whole lifestyle just seemed dreadful. Day in and day out they did the same thing. The movie never showed anything they did for fun. It just seemed like a very primitive lifestyle, which I didn't think existed anymore. If the film had said it had taken place in the 1800s, I would've believed it.
Well made drama inside Mayan Kaqchikel culture
guisreis1 May 2023
With beautiful cinematography and art directon, and a well directed first-time casting, the film tells a story held in a traditional Mayan Kaqchikel community who worships nearby volcano, avoids the snakes that live there, and is exploited by greedy employers in a coffee plantation. María has been promised to marry the foreman of the plantation. However, not only she does not want it, but also is sexually excited in her virgin teen age and is attracted to Pepe. The latter is a drunkard who dreams about fleeing to the United States, where he expects everything is better than in Guatemala countryside. Well, then there is a well built drama, which explores where Kaqchikel rural and indigenous culture. Harsh reality is interwined with magic, the sadness of unsafe uncertainty faces the happiness of life.
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