Birds of Passage

This screening took place on Monday, April 1, 2019 at 8:15 pmYukon Arts Centre

Birds of Passage (Pájaros de verano) The true-to-life rise and fall of rival Wayuu clans in northern Colombia is a 1970s Shakespearean drug crime thriller.

From the filmmakers of the Oscar-nominated Embrace of the Serpent. "Documenting the true-to-life rise and fall of rival Wayuu clans in northern Colombia, the latest film by Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra (Embrace of the Serpent) is an unexpected take on the cartel genre. Raphayet (José Acosta) is captivated by Zaida (Natalia Reyes) at her "coming out" ceremony, and is determined to come up with the enormous dowry her mother and family matriarch, Úrsula (Carmiña Martínez), demand. The solution to his money woes appears when he and his friend Moisés (Jhon Narváez) meet up with some hippie Peace Corps volunteers who are looking for weed. As everyone’s wealth increases, so too does Moisés’ ego. When he targets Raphayet’s cousin’s clan, a rapid downward spiral ensues, bringing everyone along with it.

"Perfectly blending professional and non-professional actors, trappings of Western influence, and exquisite, colourful Wayuu attire, Gallego and Guerra’s Birds of Passage is a fascinating tale of Shakespearean proportions." - TIFF

In Spanish, English, Wayunikee with English subtitles.

*Not suitable for children under 16. Content warning for mature themes and graphic violence.

"Imagine "The Godfather" made by dazzling Latin American directors who combine bravura filmmaking with political awareness and a probing social conscience." - Kenneth Turan, The Los Angeles Times