colonialism
The Convert is a movie quaking with trauma and suffering.
You can make of The Mission what you will, as there is so much here to unpack in the middle of this tension. It’s undeniable.
Prey offers an excellent example of less being more, especially in a series long known for its over-the-top dialogue and gory violence.
These beauty standards have permeated in other industries and cultures but, the Filipinos’ preference and fascination for these have colonial roots.
After all the attention and commitment to the story, Waiting for the Barbarians leaves viewers without a solid and satisfying payoff.
While Reichardt seems to be well intentioned here, First Cow falters by being frustratingly empty in both its delivery and narrative focus.
The disappointment when Cargo turns out to regurgitate the messages of a Hollywood production despite the unique style can’t be understated.
By using a traditional revenge movie template, Jennifer Kent reminds us that we can have no catharsis for the horrors of the past.
These two award winning films illustrate how cinema can either reinforce or dismantle traditional understandings of colonialism and the Age of Exploration.
The most damaging and offensive cliché in films that explore colonialism and its effects on indigenous nations is the notion of the noble savage, as well as the white savior. Approaching this film the inevitable trepidations set in, but were soon quelled, as Embrace of the Serpent proved to be simultaneously intelligent and willfully authentic. Director Ciro Guerra film adheres to territorial formalism without subverting the cultural atmosphere and originality.