A timeless epic with a superior “joie de vivre.” Powerful, evocative, unforgettable.
It is a living poem, featuring breathtaking cinematography and well-crafted magical realism.
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| Italian Poster |
“Ixcanul” is the Mayan word for “Volcano.” The character-driven story centers on Maria (Maria Mercedes Croy) and her brutal working family, who live in a small coffee community on the volcano’s slopes. The hot weather and rich soil produce some of the world’s best coffee. They are the Kakchiquels.
Although Maria is only seventeen and should be preparing for her “Quinceañera,” she is preparing for an arranged marriage.
In many countries, it is acceptable for a young girl to marry a mature, wealthy man: India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China are examples where honor is valued more than love, choice, or freedom.
In the Oscar-nominated “Water,” Deepa Mehta illustrates how young girls are forced into marriage with older men in India — the beauty of this Canadian production makes us forget the horrors those young women endure.
In Atiq Rahimi’s “The Patient Stone,” a young Afghan woman tells the truth to her older, decrepit husband as a form of catharsis against oppression.
In “Ixcanul,” Maria’s issues and decisions mirror those faced by millions of women, even in developed countries: anxiety, first-time sex, unwanted pregnancy, abortion, single motherhood, postpartum depression, and so on.
In the movie “Grandma,” by Paul Weitz (“About a Boy” and “American Pie”), in California, Lily Tomlin’s granddaughter is experiencing the same situation as Maria in Guatemala. The only difference is that the American film is viewed as a comedy, while the one from Central America is viewed as a drama.
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| French Poster |
Some of those rituals are reminiscent of the epic Hollywood movies set in the Pacific Islands, Hawaii, Africa, and South America, where the spectacular landscapes and human tragedy blend with captivating, hypnotic imagery that conveys deep emotions.
Human exploitation has persisted for centuries, not only in Mayan communities but also in other isolated parts of the world. Under such conditions, it is hard to have dreams — there is no dreaming in this town when the world is against you.
The little money they earn from harvesting coffee is spent on food and on getting drunk. People struggle to survive in this environment — reaching for dreams is not an option.
Maria’s dream is to go to the big city and follow El Pepe (Marvin Coroy) to the United States, but destiny and her status as a Mayan woman will significantly affect her dreams.
El Pepe is a young boy who likes Maria, enjoys the moment, and takes advantage of any situation. He is the only one who has lived in the United States and longs to return.
Maria sarcastically tells Pepe (in Mayan): “You’d better start learning Spanish before learning English.”
In “Ixcanul,” the sub-theme is migration. In Guatemala, young people want to emigrate to the United States for a better future and sometimes to save their lives, while older people stay.
When their lives are at risk, the language barrier leaves them “Lost in Translation.”
In their community, everyone speaks Mayan, but in the big city, no one else does. Ignacio is the only bilingual person, translating only what suits him, betraying his own people.
The transcendence of “Ixcanul” further connects community, family values, hard-working people, traditions, emotions, and beliefs.
“Ixcanul” reflects the Guatemalan people’s hunger for justice. Maria and her Maya community deserve to be treated fairly.
It also depicts the poverty and oppression faced by indigenous communities, who are victims of abuse of authority by their own government.
They deserve justice and respect from the rest of the world.
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| Jayro Bustamante, director of Ixcanul, Guatemala. Photo by Jose A Hermosillo, Copyrights 2015 |
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| Jayro Bustamante, director of Ixcanul, Guatemala. Film critic Jose A Hermosillo, Copyrights 2015 |
An underlying biblical reference is evident: Maria is the Virgin Mary, El Pepe is a nickname for Jose or Joseph, Ignacio becomes Judas, and baby Jesus still needs to be found.
The film also reflects, on a minor scale, the recent political turmoil in Guatemala, which has escalated rapidly to an unprecedented level in an effort to bring down the corrupt government.
The Guatemala/France co-production won the Silver Bear in Berlin, the Blue Angel in Slovakia, the Best Ibero-American Film, and Best Director at the Guadalajara International Film Festival. More awards, including Oscar® and Golden Globe nominations, are expected, making “Ixcanul” the most awarded film in Guatemala’s history.
“Ixcanul” is an impeccable work of art, marked by exceptional craft, extraordinary beauty, and an enduring story.
The terrific performances make “Ixcanul” a strong contender among the five nominated films for Best Foreign Language this year.
“Ixcanul” was the best film at the Guadalajara International Film Festival in Los Angeles (FICG in LA). The beauty of this Guatemalan film kept us talking for a while after we saw it.
