499

This screening took place on Thursday, February 11, 2021 at 8:30 pmYukon Arts Centre

Five centuries since Cortés conquered the Aztec Empire, award-winning director Rodrigo Reyes brings to the screen one of the most powerful examinations of the systemic effects of colonialism in Mexico.

Blending fictionalized elements with documentary, 499 follows a conquistador who embarks on a journey to retrace the destructive route the Spanish army took from the shores of Veracruz to Tenochtitlán (modern-day Mexico City). As past collides with present, he bears witness to his actions and hears the poignant stories of real people, getting to the root of the wave of violence that is overtaking contemporary Mexico. Told with outstanding cinematography and sound design, 499 leads audiences to confront the haunting echoes of colonization. What is the true impact of history in our lives today? And how can we stop the cycle of violence and right the wrongs of the past? - Hot Docs

In Spanish with English subtitles

Content advisory: descriptions of graphic physical and sexual violence, mature themes

Screens with Lichen

This otherworldly large-format short film takes a deep dive into lichen, a species that confounds scientists to this day. Shot in macro 3D, Lichen offers us a look at this remarkable life form and asks what we might learn from it. Ancient and diverse, both an individual and a community, lichens can live in the most extreme environments, including outer space. This meditative film bridges science and philosophy, and the words of lichenologist Trevor Goward illuminate the terrain in poetic and thought-provoking ways. 

Dir. Lisa Jackson (Anishinaabe), 2020, BC, 11 min