They tend to always begin with a strong section opening film, and Cristina Gallego & Ciro Guerra‘s Birds of Passage (review) did not disappoint as the official Director’s Fortnight 50th anniversary ribbon cutter. It’ll likely gain more traction than the world wide acclaim that Embrace of the Serpent received, the team employed the services of some strong female heroines in Colombian actress Natalia Reyes and Carmiña Martínez in what is a generational tale about blood being thicker than water under the guise of the drug trade. With symbolic references to flight and migration, this is a particularly arty and noteworthy timeline to the infiltration of greed.…...
- 2/16/2019
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
Inspired by the travel diaries of Theodor Koch Grunberg (1879–1924) and Richard Evans Schultes (1915-2001), who provided two of the earliest accounts of Amazonian cultures, Ciro Guerra’s Embrace of the Serpent (2015) remains one of the most potent works of recent world cinema. A story told through the eyes of a warrior shaman of the search into the heart of the Colombian Amazon for the mythical Yakruna plant, the film bears witness how colonialism, religion and the exploitation of rubber affects indigenous traditions and the environment to which they are inextricably linked. So, the stakes were high for Guerra’s next project. Co-directing with Embrace of the Serpent producer Cristina Gallego, the film doesn’t disappoint.“Told in an intimate, personal way. Our own way,”1 Birds of Passage is another formidable meditation on the corrupting forces of wealth and power, set against the backdrop of the marijuana boom of the 1970s.
- 2/16/2019
- MUBI
The Guajira peninsula is a complicated landscape filled with deserts, forests, beaches and steppes. It sits in the northern part of Colombia and Venezuela, jutting out towards the Caribbean. The Wayúu people call it home, and in Ciro Guerra and Cristina Gallego’s new epic, “Birds of Passage,” the Guajira becomes the stage for a tragic story of one family’s rise to power and fall to ruin.
“Birds of Passage” weaves a tale that is both familiar yet unique, yet it is so culturally tied to the Wayúu, it would be impossible to move it outside the Guajira. The film fits very comfortably in the genres of a gangster movie and an epic, with supernatural forces forewarning what’s to happen in the earthly realm.
Rapayet (José Acosta) is the film’s tragic hero, a man trying to rejoin his people after years working in the world beyond the Wayúu’s region.
“Birds of Passage” weaves a tale that is both familiar yet unique, yet it is so culturally tied to the Wayúu, it would be impossible to move it outside the Guajira. The film fits very comfortably in the genres of a gangster movie and an epic, with supernatural forces forewarning what’s to happen in the earthly realm.
Rapayet (José Acosta) is the film’s tragic hero, a man trying to rejoin his people after years working in the world beyond the Wayúu’s region.
- 2/15/2019
- by Monica Castillo
- The Wrap
It’s tempting to think we’ve seen it all when it comes to gangster movies — the Tommy-gunning tough guys, the cosa nostra capos and cutthroats, the tattooed yakuza hard men, the cartel-to-Chinese-triad thug lifers, the coked-out kingpins with their Everest-sized blow piles and ballistic “little friends.” Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra’s stunning, sumptuous Birds of Passage isn’t out to reinvent the wheel regarding drug-lord narratives, nor is it asking Tony Montana to hold its beer. But what it brings to the party by setting its near-folkloric narco...
- 2/13/2019
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
Directed by Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra, filmmakers of ‘Embrace of the Serpent’, the first Colombian film ever to be nominated for an Oscar®, comes ‘Birds of Passage’ / ‘Pajaros de Verano’.Interviews with Christina Gallego and Ciro Guerra
A sprawling epic about the erosion of tradition in pursuit of material wealth, a a native Wayúu family in the mountains of Colombia discovers that only as long as they adhere to the matriarch’s dictates according to their oral traditions, they will prosper.
Set in 1970s Colombia among the Wayúu indigenous people, this mystical epic centers on Rapayet, a man torn between the desire to be powerful and his duty to uphold his culture’s values. Ignoring ancient omens, his tribe enters the drug trafficking business getting caught up in a conflict where honor is the highest currency and debts are paid with blood.
In three generations the ancient wisdom rooted...
A sprawling epic about the erosion of tradition in pursuit of material wealth, a a native Wayúu family in the mountains of Colombia discovers that only as long as they adhere to the matriarch’s dictates according to their oral traditions, they will prosper.
Set in 1970s Colombia among the Wayúu indigenous people, this mystical epic centers on Rapayet, a man torn between the desire to be powerful and his duty to uphold his culture’s values. Ignoring ancient omens, his tribe enters the drug trafficking business getting caught up in a conflict where honor is the highest currency and debts are paid with blood.
In three generations the ancient wisdom rooted...
- 1/1/2019
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
After his last movie–the trippy, transportive Embrace of the Serpent–became the first Colombian film ever nominated for an Oscar, director Ciro Guerra is back this year with another Academy Awards contender: Birds of Passage, which he co-directed with Cristina Gallego. The drama follows an indigenous family who gets involved in the drug trade in 1970s Colombia as the marijuana business booms. Ahead of a February release by The Orchard, the first U.S. trailer has now arrived.
Rory O’Connor said in his Cannes review, “Birds may follow the rise and fall narrative arc of basically every crime saga since Cagney and Edward G. Robinson began filling theaters in the early ‘30s, but by telling it from the indigenous perspective the filmmakers have made a movie not so much about myth-making and antiheros, but instead a fable about capitalism, lost heritage, and a death of the soul.”
Starring José Acosta,...
Rory O’Connor said in his Cannes review, “Birds may follow the rise and fall narrative arc of basically every crime saga since Cagney and Edward G. Robinson began filling theaters in the early ‘30s, but by telling it from the indigenous perspective the filmmakers have made a movie not so much about myth-making and antiheros, but instead a fable about capitalism, lost heritage, and a death of the soul.”
Starring José Acosta,...
- 11/20/2018
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
"You know what happens to a family in a war." The Orchard has released a new Us trailer for Colombian drug drama Birds of Passage, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in Directors' Fortnight. This highly acclaimed film is a crime epic spanning generations, similar to The Godfather or Scarface, focusing on two local gangs who get into the marijuana growing and export business. The two indigenous Colombia families begin a violent drug war that ends up destroying their lives and their culture. Birds of Passage stars José Acosta, Natalia Reyes, Carmiña Martínez, John Narváez, Greider Meza, Juan Bautista Martínez, Miguel Viera, and Sergio Coen. The posters for this have been stunning, a few of them can be seen below. The film is an impressive, sprawling crime saga boasting excellent performances all around. Here's the new official Us trailer (+ poster) for Ciro Guerra's Birds of Passage, direct from...
- 11/19/2018
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The Orchard has released a new trailer for “Birds of Passage,” Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra’s follow-up to “Embrace of the Serpent.” Guerra directed that hypnotic drama, the first Colombian film ever to receive an Oscar nomination, while Gallego produced. This time around, Gallego joined Guerra behind the camera, and the pair share co-directing credits. Jose Acosta, Carmiña Martínez, and Natalia Reyes star.
Here’s the synopsis: “Torn between his desire to become a powerful man and his duty to uphold his culture’s values, Rapayet (Acosta) enters the drug trafficking business in the 1970s to secure a dowry to marry Zaida (Reyes) and finds quick success despite his tribe’s matriarch Ursula’s (Martínez) disapproval. Ignoring ancient omens, Raphayet and his family get caught up in a conflict where honor is the highest currency and debts are paid with blood.”
The film premiered at Cannes before screening at the Telluride,...
Here’s the synopsis: “Torn between his desire to become a powerful man and his duty to uphold his culture’s values, Rapayet (Acosta) enters the drug trafficking business in the 1970s to secure a dowry to marry Zaida (Reyes) and finds quick success despite his tribe’s matriarch Ursula’s (Martínez) disapproval. Ignoring ancient omens, Raphayet and his family get caught up in a conflict where honor is the highest currency and debts are paid with blood.”
The film premiered at Cannes before screening at the Telluride,...
- 11/19/2018
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Exclusive: The new trailer for Birds of Passage, Colombia’s official entry for the Foreign Language Film Oscar race, shows off the visual epicness of the drama directed by Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra. The Orchard film is slated for release February 13 in New York and Los Angeles, with a national rollout to follow.
Tracing the origins of the Colombian drug trade as it slowly corrupts a native Wayúu family, Birds of Passage stars Jose Acosta, Carmiña Martínez and Natalia Reyes (the upcoming Terminator reboot). The film premiered as the opening-night selection of the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes in May and screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.
Gallego and Guerra made history with their 2015 film Embrace of the Serpent, the first Colombian film ever to be nominated for an Oscar. Birds of Passage marks the directorial debut of Gallego, who produced Embrace of the Serpent. She also...
Tracing the origins of the Colombian drug trade as it slowly corrupts a native Wayúu family, Birds of Passage stars Jose Acosta, Carmiña Martínez and Natalia Reyes (the upcoming Terminator reboot). The film premiered as the opening-night selection of the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes in May and screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.
Gallego and Guerra made history with their 2015 film Embrace of the Serpent, the first Colombian film ever to be nominated for an Oscar. Birds of Passage marks the directorial debut of Gallego, who produced Embrace of the Serpent. She also...
- 11/19/2018
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Directed by Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra, filmmakers of ‘Embrace of the Serpent’, the first Colombian film ever to be nominated for an Oscar®, comes ‘Birds of Passage’ / ‘Pajaros de Verano’.Interviews with Christina Gallego and Ciro Guerra from press notes.
A sprawling epic about the erosion of tradition in pursuit of material wealth, a a native Wayúu family in the mountains of Colombia discovers that only as long as they adhere to the matriarch’s dictates according to their oral traditions, they will prosper.
Set in 1970s Colombia among the Wayúu indigenous people, this mystical epic centers on Rapayet, a man torn between the desire to be powerful and his duty to uphold his culture’s values. Ignoring ancient omens, his tribe enters the drug trafficking business getting caught up in a conflict where honor is the highest currency and debts are paid with blood.
In three generations the...
A sprawling epic about the erosion of tradition in pursuit of material wealth, a a native Wayúu family in the mountains of Colombia discovers that only as long as they adhere to the matriarch’s dictates according to their oral traditions, they will prosper.
Set in 1970s Colombia among the Wayúu indigenous people, this mystical epic centers on Rapayet, a man torn between the desire to be powerful and his duty to uphold his culture’s values. Ignoring ancient omens, his tribe enters the drug trafficking business getting caught up in a conflict where honor is the highest currency and debts are paid with blood.
In three generations the...
- 11/13/2018
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra’s “Birds of Passage,” Colombia’s official entry to the Oscars’ Foreign-Language category, took home the best picture Fenix Award in a glittering ceremony held in Mexico City on Nov. 7. Its lead actress, Carmiña Martínez, clinched the best actress Fenix.
However, Argentine period drama “Zama” by Lucrecia Martel snagged the most awards, including cinematography, editing, sound and art design.
In a nod to the boom in premium TV series, the Fenix have included included television nominees since last year. Alex Pina’s Atresmedia-produced Netflix heist thriller series, “La Casa de Papel” (“Money Heist”), nabbed best series while Gael Garcia Bernal and Kyzza Terraza’s “Here on Earth” won best ensemble cast for a family drama-thriller series which toplines some of the most renowned actors in the Spanish-speaking world, such as Mexico’s Daniel Giménez Cacho, Chile’s Luis Gnecco and Spain’s Ariadna Gil.
Marcelo Martinez...
However, Argentine period drama “Zama” by Lucrecia Martel snagged the most awards, including cinematography, editing, sound and art design.
In a nod to the boom in premium TV series, the Fenix have included included television nominees since last year. Alex Pina’s Atresmedia-produced Netflix heist thriller series, “La Casa de Papel” (“Money Heist”), nabbed best series while Gael Garcia Bernal and Kyzza Terraza’s “Here on Earth” won best ensemble cast for a family drama-thriller series which toplines some of the most renowned actors in the Spanish-speaking world, such as Mexico’s Daniel Giménez Cacho, Chile’s Luis Gnecco and Spain’s Ariadna Gil.
Marcelo Martinez...
- 11/8/2018
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Among the 87 entries this year, down five from 2017’s whopping 92, there are more documentaries than ever, plus two African countries submitting for the first time: Malawi and Niger. Here’s a guide to the films, including logline, sales, and production contact.
Afghanistan
“Rona, Azim’s Mother”
Director: Jamshid Mahmoudi
Logline: A touching drama set in the milieu of Afghan immigrants in Iran who lack full citizens’ rights, with laborer Azim struggling to care for his mother.
Key Cast: Mohsen Tanabandeh, Fatemeh Hosseini
Intl. Sales: Noori Pictures
Algeria
“Until the End of Time”
Director: Yasmine Chouikh
Logline: An elderly grave digger and a 60-something widow meet in the cemetery of Sidi Boulekbour and develop feelings for one another.
Key Cast: Djillali Boudjemaa, Djamila Arres
Intl. Sales: MakingOf Film
Argentina
“El Ángel”
Director: Luis Ortega
Logline: A portrait of the infamous teenage serial killer “The Angel of Death,” who took Argentina by...
Afghanistan
“Rona, Azim’s Mother”
Director: Jamshid Mahmoudi
Logline: A touching drama set in the milieu of Afghan immigrants in Iran who lack full citizens’ rights, with laborer Azim struggling to care for his mother.
Key Cast: Mohsen Tanabandeh, Fatemeh Hosseini
Intl. Sales: Noori Pictures
Algeria
“Until the End of Time”
Director: Yasmine Chouikh
Logline: An elderly grave digger and a 60-something widow meet in the cemetery of Sidi Boulekbour and develop feelings for one another.
Key Cast: Djillali Boudjemaa, Djamila Arres
Intl. Sales: MakingOf Film
Argentina
“El Ángel”
Director: Luis Ortega
Logline: A portrait of the infamous teenage serial killer “The Angel of Death,” who took Argentina by...
- 11/8/2018
- by Alissa Simon
- Variety Film + TV
Ciro Guerra, Cristina Gallego co-direct after Oscar-nominated Embrace Of The Serpent.
Birds Of Passage, the Cannes Director’s Fortnight opener co-directed by Ciro Guerra and Cristina Gallego, has been selected to fly the flag for Colombia in the upcoming foreign-language Oscar contest.
The film heads to Toronto next week where it will screen in Contemporary World Cinema and chronicles the origins of the Colombian drug trade as it gradually corrupts a native Wayúu family.
Wayúu descendants Jose Acosta and Carmiña Martínez star alongside rising Colombia star Natalia Reyes of the upcoming Terminator reboot.
North American distributor The Orchard will release...
Birds Of Passage, the Cannes Director’s Fortnight opener co-directed by Ciro Guerra and Cristina Gallego, has been selected to fly the flag for Colombia in the upcoming foreign-language Oscar contest.
The film heads to Toronto next week where it will screen in Contemporary World Cinema and chronicles the origins of the Colombian drug trade as it gradually corrupts a native Wayúu family.
Wayúu descendants Jose Acosta and Carmiña Martínez star alongside rising Colombia star Natalia Reyes of the upcoming Terminator reboot.
North American distributor The Orchard will release...
- 8/29/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Birds of Passage, a sprawling epic about the erosion of tradition in pursuit of material wealth, has been selected as Colombia’s official entry for the Foreign Language Film Oscar race, distributor The Orchard said today.
The film is directed by Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra — the respective producer and director of 2015’s Embrace of the Serpent, the first Colombian film ever to be nominated for an Oscar. Birds of Passage premiered as the opening-night selection of the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes in May.
Tracing the origins of the Colombian drug trade as it slowly corrupts a native Wayúu family, Birds of Passage stars Jose Acosta, Carmiña Martínez and Natalia Reyes (the upcoming Terminator reboot). The film will screen at the Toronto Film Festival is set for release by The Orchard on Wednesday, February 13th in New York and Los Angeles, with a national rollout to follow.
“We are incredibly...
The film is directed by Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra — the respective producer and director of 2015’s Embrace of the Serpent, the first Colombian film ever to be nominated for an Oscar. Birds of Passage premiered as the opening-night selection of the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes in May.
Tracing the origins of the Colombian drug trade as it slowly corrupts a native Wayúu family, Birds of Passage stars Jose Acosta, Carmiña Martínez and Natalia Reyes (the upcoming Terminator reboot). The film will screen at the Toronto Film Festival is set for release by The Orchard on Wednesday, February 13th in New York and Los Angeles, with a national rollout to follow.
“We are incredibly...
- 8/29/2018
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
It probably says more about Ciro Guerra’s last film than this inimitable new offering (which he co-directed with his long-serving producer Christina Gallego) to suggest that fans of Embrace of the Serpent might find Birds of Passage just a little on the linear side. However, to compare the two is surely akin to comparing the varying potency of two strains of class-a hallucinogens. Set in Colombia in the 1960s, this violent, operatic, and sparsely trippy film follows the early days of marijuana trafficking in the region. Don’t worry if that all sounds a touch familiar.
Granted, we’ve grown accustomed to the world of cartels, no more so perhaps than in recent years. The thing that sets Birds apart is that Guerra and Gallego tell their fable from the perspective of the indigenous Wayuu people. Jose Acosta plays Raphayet, a self-assured bachelor who will marry a young woman...
Granted, we’ve grown accustomed to the world of cartels, no more so perhaps than in recent years. The thing that sets Birds apart is that Guerra and Gallego tell their fable from the perspective of the indigenous Wayuu people. Jose Acosta plays Raphayet, a self-assured bachelor who will marry a young woman...
- 5/25/2018
- by Rory O'Connor
- The Film Stage
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