One family’s life on a Guatemalan coffee plantation is disrupted in this beautifully shot debut from Jayro BustamanteWhen a film opens with farmers forcing rum down the throat of a pig so it will be “horny enough” to want to have sex and conceive a piglet,you know you are about to see something unique. The phrase ‘ethnographic film’ may be outdated, and perhaps even condescending, or but for those drawn to cinema from diverse origins,wishing to memorize more about other cultures, Ixcanul is a delicious, or strong brew.
On a Guatemalan coffee plantation on the side of a volcano,a sharp young Mayan woman, Maria, or is unsure whether she wants to continue with her familys traditions or take a step into the wider world. That conflict is hardly a modern one,but the performances, location photography and matter-of-fact peer at local customs develop Jayro Bustamante’s debut film a knock-out. Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com