Also, I have to confess I was wrong about Netflix buying just one documentary for this year's awards season. They bought two, and the one I want you to watch and post about this week (which I think is better than E-Team) was just released on Netflix Instant five days ago. It's called Virunga, and you can watch it here.
Yesterday, both Virunga and E-Team received Best Production and Best Cinematography nominations from Cinema Eye, a super respected non-fiction filmmaking organization. Virunga earned a nomination for the top prize - Best Non-Fiction Feature (along with Life Itself!) - as well.
For this week's post, critically analyze Virunga referencing some of the concepts and aesthetics we've been talking about throughout the semester. And if you can swing it, please let me know how this film compares (and contrasts) to the one we saw last week. Did you like it better than E-Team? Why/why not?
By this point, you know what to do, you know how to do it well, and you know when it needs to be done here and on Moodle - by Tuesday at 9am of course.
Until then, enjoy Virunga, and I'll look forward to reading what you wrote and talking about it more about it with you next Wednesday!
I wish we would have watched Virunga before the last class. It would have been considered for the number one spot, at least I would have argued for it. Our number one was The Act of Killing, one of the main reasons being the complicated layers it presents us in the narrative story as well as the subtext and questions it raises about the human experience. I would argue the same for Virunga. This is not just a story about saving the apes, it is not just about the Congo civil war or the various groups involved in it; this is a film about people, cultures, and beliefs clashing with each other over money and earthly goods as opposed to personal merit, honor and integrity.
ReplyDeleteI admit I let some tears well up during the first half hour or so, especially when they are hauling the apes away as if a member of the family had died, but the tears really poured around the 45 minute mark. It is here that the female French reporter, I don’t recall her name, is secretly recording the young SOCO employee (also French). “Conservation, how much is it worth? Oil, how much is it worth?” my tear ducts are acting up just typing those words again. Later on she goes out with two of these fuckers and they say something about how the rangers can’t really being doing all this for a monkey. I stopped crying and just shook my head for the remainder of the scene.
Is it ignorance? They are so young, how could these boys have such shallow beliefs? I’m sure I’ll never understand. But this is what I love about the film, it follows such a deep, tragic story, but doesn’t just get caught up in the action of it all (the way I feel E-team did). Some of the best moments are when the film slows down, to images of the park and the villages, giving the audience time to consider the story and the deeper meaning to it all.
I absolutely loved this film. The characters were memorizing, as well as the landscape. The editing was great, I thought the film had a great pace. Even little things were thought of, such as reshooting images of the club and people smoking to show over the audio of the French reporter’s hidden camera footage. The last ten minutes of the film tore me apart. Very powerful ending, a fresh perspective on war documentaries.
I think the easiest way for me to compare Virunga to E-team is by saying Virunga seemed to have more of a soul. I don’t know if that makes sense, but I felt like the filmmaker had a more genuine interest, or attachment, or passion, or something that was missing in all the short chopped up stories in E-Team.
Unfortunately I was unable to watch last weeks movie due to netflix problems so it may be hard for me to compare the two films. However I felt this one was amazing cinematically with its areal shots, shots of wild life (both in slow motion and normal speed), and its shots of the land with the sun rise. It gave me a strong feeling of what the land is like there and why the people there take so much pride in their land and wild life around.
ReplyDeleteI felt the story was a strong story. As touched above, the way people really care for the land and wild life in the area is amazing. I felt the oil company coming in honestly could care less, which is not uncommon for major corporations of big money in any area. The reporter did a very good job being undercover and exposing their comments and motives. I did feel like it was a bit of lot going on at times that made some gray areas of what the main focus was at the time with switching between talking about the oil company, the rebels, and the men taking care of the gorillas. As the documentary progressed it became more apparent as to what is going on and why. For me I am a bit of a slow reader at subtitles because I am trying to focus on the picture and what its saying. This film had very fast subtitles that may have been the problem with the gray area.
This is one of those films that opens my eyes to the world outside of the United States. The struggles some of these countries go through. 60,000 people living in that dirty camp and that being their only home getting scattered by the rebels is a shame. However the positivity and dedication to whats going on around them is unreal. For example the one man taking care of the gorillas says I would die for the protection of these animals. That shows the true compassion and dedication to not only his job but the land around him.
In my opinion Virunga is definitely the most aesthetically pleasing film we’ve watched this semester. I could tell I was going to enjoy it and that it was going to be filled with passion of the people involved right from the opening scene. Hearing the Congolese people sing a song as they laid a ranger to rest was a very powerful opening scene. I especially enjoyed the scenes that focused mostly on the nature I felt so calm and at peace. I can only imagine what it was like to be there and get those shots. On the other hand a lot of the close ups on the park rangers were also pretty great to look at. There is one moment in the film when all the rangers are getting ready and it cuts between them checking their guns, to a rack focus shot of the barrel of a gun then to the face of the man holding it, then another of beads of sweat dripping from his forehead. I think these scenes help balance out some of the shakey and hidden camera footage.
ReplyDeleteWhile I did enjoy this documentary I dont think it was the best one we have this semester. While I do enjoy awareness films I think this film was a bit all over the place and it got a little confusing. I was interested in the work of the park rangers and them watching over the land and the mountain gorillas. The hidden camera footage gave a lot of insight on the intentions of SOCO, and how members of the congolese army were easily persuaded by money. However I was a little thrown off every time Melanie was included in the film. Clips from her sit down interview felt out of place and they didn’t vibe with the rest of the film. It felt too forced, while a majority of the rest of the film felt free flowing.
I think Virunga still takes the cake over The E-Team. I’m very glad to have learned about the Human Rights Watch and the amazing work that they do however the documentary itself was not to my liking. While watching it there were times that I felt like the doc was more focused on the lives of Anna and Ole outside of the combat zones, than on the work they were actually doing. I understand that the film may have wanted to show us that they are people just like the rest of us but steering the film in that direction ruined it for me. With Virunga we see the park rangers doing the hard parts of their job walking around with guns protecting the park from poachers, but we also see them at the gorilla sanctuary having fun with the animals. We see another ranger with his wife and child, who says he wants his son to be in the sciences because he himself is a biologist. Those scenes dont drag on for too long nor do they overpower the film like in The E-Team. But those scenes are successful in humanizing the park rangers, and showing how passionate they are about protecting the forest.
Incredible film. This was by far my favorite film assigned this semester. Some of it may have to do with my interest in protection of land and parks and my love of animals. But it also was my favorite because no other film this semester has stirred up the emotions I felt during this film. I was pleasantly surprised about how suspenseful this entire film was. I was practically at the edge of my seat the whole time watching it and wondering what was going to happen next. The only times that I felt at peace were when Andre was with with gorillas playing and hugging them. For some reason, one shot in particular really touched me. The shot of one of the gorillas hands up close to where we can see the details in its fingernails was absolutely wonderful. I love good B roll and this shot was one of my favorites for some reason. Hearing all of the talk at the dinner table from the guys in support of SOCO saying how gorillas are practically meaningless and that “they’re just fucking monkeys” to seeing that shot of the human-like hand of that gorilla was amazing. It really showed how ridiculous and selfish most humans are. The disrespect of nature and animals just to make some extra money is a terrifying thing. In the film, one of the men (it may have been Andre) said something along the lines that oil is exhaustible (and therefore money is, also). Natural places like Virunga, however, are inexhaustible. These natural places, with its plants and animals, have been here for millions of years and will continue to thrive and replenish itself if kept protected. It is sad, though, to think that these places really do need to be protected. Humans have spread out across every habitable zone of this earth capable of supporting life. The problem is is that most people think that this life is only for them. The plants and animals are just off to the side, wild and uncivilized, and therefore secondary to humans. I believe films like these are what will save this earth, and innocent people like the ones in the Congo, from dying.
ReplyDeleteThe themes of corruption and money were prevalent in this film. In fact, without them, this film wouldn’t exist. (Side note: I’d be okay with this film not existing if it meant that Virunga and all it’s workers, plants and animals went along peacefully living their lives.) But that is not the case. There seems to be an “impending disaster”, as Errol Morris of the Huffington Post said, in this film. The scary thing is that the people in control of the whole SOCO operation never even appeared on film. (I’m talking about the people who truly run the company.) They are somewhere in this world running things with their money and narrow-minded perspective. These are the people with power in this world. The more money and people working for you, the better. This film shows you just how easy pieces of paper and coins can distract you from your morals. It can even push you to kill a man if it meant not getting paid. Seeing that Emmanuel was shot at the end of the film but survived made me smile. Whether you believe in God or a creator or the universe or anything else, it is hard not to see something good at work when you read that Emmanuel survived after being shot multiple times. This film was wonderful and I’ll be recommending it to friends and family.
In "Virunga," Rangers in Africa are risking their lives to save the gorillas, in the national park. The film kept making me ask myself why should the rangers have to protect the gorillas when all innocent lifeforms should be protected. The movie starts off with Africans crying and singing during a funeral, then the scene changes. Afterwards, the film gives the history of Africa. It shows how Africa was ruled by European nations in 1885, to Africa losing resources, to the genocide in Rwanda spreading.
ReplyDeleteThe rangers treat the gorillas like family, and the gorillas would show their affection by hugging them. I think that it is a discouraging task for the rangers to fight for the safety of the gorillas if they are all almost dead in the national park. On a positive look, by the rangers simply protecting the gorillas, they can produce babies. There were many trees in the park, which showed in the changing of the weather. The weather would change from sunny, to cloudy, to rainy.
Maisha is the name of one of the gorillas. She was rescued at 3-years-old by being taken from poachers who wanted to sell her. Kaboko is a one-handed male gorilla who lost the other hand due to poaching. I like how one ranger describes Kaboko as the animal is recorded. On July 2007, a massacre was described as killing nine gorillas. The children of a dead mother, Noeze and Noakasi, are two gorillas that survived from that family. There was footage of a large gorillabeing transported with bamboo sticks by many men. If all of the respected gorillas died, there is no purpose for having the national park. I agree with the rangers on attempting to do anything it takes in protecting the animals they feel are like human. The rangers are both a mother and father for caring for the animals in the African National Park.
Footage of the heart of Rwindi hotel was shown. President Mobutu Sese Seko's guests stayed in small rooms while the President stayed in a large house. Inside of the large house, lively gorillas would be seen. From 2010, the wildlife in the national park was almost gone, but the wildlife increased. There are now antelopes, deer, warthogs, elephants, lions, and hippos. Buffalos are returning to the park as well. I favor the view of the waterfall out of all of the scenes. During the middle of the film, a dead hippo was turned to the side as if though it died from dehydration. I favor it because it is a peaceful look as well as representing life.
Africa is the only region in the world where mountain gorillas currently exist. Tourism brings the rangers money, so tat they can keep the park active. What is sad is that SOKO attempted to control the park, but the rangers did not want them to. SOKO would offered to build universities, roads, schools, and guaranteed them access to cultivate the park. SOKO was believed to be participating in illegal operations in the national park. Rodrigue attempted to stop SOKO from doing illegal operations, but he was wrongfully arrested and tortured. Also, it was said at the ending of the film that Emmanuel filed a report on Soko's activities to the Congolese. As a result, he survived being ambushed and shot several times.
Did I like this film more than the E-Team? Hell yeah I did. Virunga had all the depth and passion I felt was missing from E-Team. The film was also structured incredibly well. They spent the first 20 minutes or so getting me attached to the gorillas and then bam, they hit me with SOCO assholes who can’t even comprehend a human loving an animal. The director and editors knew how to reel you in so you were on the park ranger’s side.
ReplyDeleteAesthetically, I think this was the most beautiful movie we’ve watched. Unlike The Square or the E-Team, Virunga showed a lot of nature. There was something about those broad panoramic shots of the Congo forest area that made me very emotional. Also the close ups of the gorillas reminded me strangely of humans. The footage was so seamlessly put together (except the issue I had with the reenactments that I’ll talk about in a second) that it was almost too good to be true.
Virunga, in my opinion, deserves an Academy Award much like The Square did because it brings to light an issue that most citizens of the world and a lot of Americans I’m sure don’t fully know or understand all the facts. Not that this documentary gives us all the information, but I now feel like I can have an opinion on the matter. I want to do research and keep up to date with the situation because this film helped me become more passionate about wildlife preservation while also keeping informed on an important issue in Congo.
A choice I found interesting was that the filmmakers weren't in the film itself. It didn't upset me really but Im curious how they came to that decision. The only thing I didn’t absolutely love about the film was the switching back and forth between the journalists secret footage and the reenactments. I don’t think they were needed.
Overall, Virunga captured my heart and my mind. There were tears with every gorilla loss, hatred toward the SOCO guys, and smiles when they found the gorillas in the forest after the fighting. The story was complex, the footage was beautiful, and the impact was immense. Thanks for sharing this amazing film with us!
I know I have said this before but this film is one of the best documentaries that I have seen this year. It was refreshing to see that there are people who truly care about the earth as well as the other animals who inhabit it. I did not enjoy watching E-Team nearly as much as I liked watching Virunga. Mainly because throughout Virunga I did not feel like I was being forced to sit through American or European white people drinking wine in their expensive homes, having babies, and talking to their children about bringing back souvenirs from war-torn countries. I felt like this documentary allowed me to truly become invested in the characters involved, while completely focusing on the problems at hand as well as the measures being taken to help solve these problems. I absolutely loved the cinematography and wholeheartedly believe that this film should win an award for how stunningly beautiful and cinematic it looks despite the film being nonfiction.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion if you film in Africa it is going to be difficult to not find an opportunity to shoot some unbelievably vivid landscapes. However, this unbelievable scenery is nothing more than a backdrop for the excessive violence between humans and the poaching of animals by humans who have no regard for living creatures or their quality of life.
I also really liked how they integrated more cinematic shots into the scenes where the female journalist whose name I cannot remember is interviewing and secretly filming associates of the SOCO oil company. This technique really kept me engaged and interested in what was being discussed, but did not seem out of place to a point that I could not focus on what the people being filmed were saying. There were a few montages containing mostly wildlife that really made an impression on me because the images that were used were exceptional and really portrayed the various ways you can see unimaginable beauty just be looking a little closer and by simply being at the right place at the right time. Ultimately, I never felt like this film was trying to bring attention to anything other than the Virunga national park and the difficulties of maintaining this vast conservation area. I think this film did a terrific job at spreading awareness on a very important issue that is only at the forefront of a dozen other issues that have yet to be solved.
WOW! When I first started watching this I thought it was going to be the same as the E-Team and it took me a few minutes to breakdown and get into it. The image quality was something that I specifically enjoyed. Many of those images were so strong. The nicer production equipment provided a more intense feel the landscape shots and to normal shots or soldiers standing. I was more compelled visually than by the story. There is definitely a real story but the way it was told didn’t seem concise enough for me to really be able to follow along. They had a handful of characters they followed and when dressed differently it was hard to distinguish especially the head park ranger, Emmanuel, for me. I guess there are 2-3 stories crammed into this one movie so one didn’t particularly get to shine through so it felt a bit cramped at the end. When the bombs and the shooting started about 20 minutes from the end, which was a beautiful sequence visually. I am grieved that happens in our world but it really helped me feel that this story was real. The first hour were watching and waiting, the pace is somewhat slow almost setting us up for the big bang and I thought there was real chaos brought through editing that absolutely fit the scene. I appreciate how when they chose to end the scene the gunfire and bombs got somewhat distant and a calm of noise came over and they ended the sequence with slow motion wildlife clips. I thought it was a similar cause that motivated the E-Team, powers that be, etc. But I felt the convictions of these filmmakers were geared in a much different way. While the E-Team focused on the people themselves, who did the work, Virunga uses the people who do the work for the park for the bigger story itself.
ReplyDeleteThis cinematography of this documentary was visually stimulating and artistically magnificent. I was immediately drawn in with the breathtakingly panoramic views of the Congo and gorgeous wildlife shots and the wonderful up close shots of both the people and animals. The way the filmmakers edited the various clips together was very interesting, and almost seamless, weaving a compelling story together that had me intrigued, as stories of human encroachment of wildlife always have. The one story line that seemed out of place was that of the female reporter, Melanie. I was confused as to where she honestly fit in to the story naturally.
ReplyDeleteI preferred this documentary over E-team because of the people that were involved were directly connected to the issue at hand, that they were the ones living in the Congo working with the animals in the park, trying to keep SOCO from coming in rather than in E-team just swooping in every so often to collect information. One of my favorite parts of this film was the gorilla orphanage and how the caretakers played with the gorillas. And I think the most moving part of the film was during the fighting, and how it affected the animals, and it was during those moments in the film when I was moved the most.
This documentary was fantastic and I would have placed it at the top of the list as my favorite last week. The subject matter is heart wrenching, the cinematography is beautifully shot, the sound is of superb quality, and the editing is meticulous. Not only does the filmmaker have to deal with the human story but also the stories of the animals and he has done a magnificent job of doing so. Award worthy indeed.
Shortly after the opening of the film we are hit with a beautiful montage retelling the history of Congo that leads to the current problems the country is facing today. This film is was by far one of the best we’ve watched to date. This doc features wonderful shots of wildlife and their habitat. Seeing the wide location shots of the jungle had me mesmerized. I was really impressed with the b-roll with this film. One sequence that stands out is about the ranger that escaped from the army to join and protect the jungle. The b-roll intertwined in this editing sequence made me feel for this character and his past and how he was enlisted in the army at such an early age.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing that bothered me about the film was the subtitles! I had to watch this film twice to truly appreciate it I had no problem doing this and anybody that did not like the film should at least watch it twice.
Virunga was definitely visually stunning, and, out of all the films we have watched for class this semester, it wins best cinematography in my book. Half of the time I felt like I was watching a DisneyNature documentary, and the other half felt like a spy thriller. Although the blending of both genres may sound strange, it works out very well with the story of Virunga. The beautiful landscapes and images of the wildlife, paired with the ugliness of human greed and war definitely evokes support for the Virunga National Park rangers. I believe that was definitely the intention of the filmmakers, especially since it is such an immediate issue; people made this film with the purpose of spreading awareness and to elicit a response from the public, and most importantly from world powers to help in the Congo conflict.
ReplyDeleteOne aspect I enjoyed about the film, obviously besides the beautiful shots of the park, was the choice to open (into the current timeline of the film) with the scene of the rangers walking through the fields and reacting to guns and rockets popping off in the distance. It pulls the audience right in, leaving us wondering, what is happening?
Although I really enjoyed watching the documentary, during the viewing of this film I did feel somewhat overwhelmed by the mass of information. It jumped around a lot from the park, to the gorilla orphans, to the reporter doing her exposé on SOCO, to the history of colonialism and political unrest in Congo and in the overall region of Africa, and then back again to the park. Of course the film needs to be as informative as possible and rally up a call to arms, and I appreciated that they left out as little as they possibly could so that the audience knows all the factors that contributed to this exact moment in Virunga, but they really did sacrifice style storytelling-wise. Throughout the film, the facts teetered between making us feel sympathy for the animals and the supporters of the national park, and trying to form opinions about the Congolese conflict, which shifts focus throughout and kept me wondering, what should we prioritize? The saving of the national parks and its animals, or condemning SOCO and other companies from exploiting resources (resources that we first world countries consume), or supporting intervention by foreign powers to stop the political unrest in the continent of Africa (which we have unsuccessfully done these past few decades)? I feel like I bit off more than I could chew.
To be honest, I don't think it's fair to compare E-Team to Virunga as a whole, and ESPECIALLY in terms of subject matter, because it feels to me like I'm trying to choose which conflict take precedence over the other. But in terms of storytelling, I enjoyed watching E-Team, and in terms of cinematography, Virunga, hands down. But both are very informative, and very current issues that need to be called to attention. Both also do employ the "immediate danger" emotion, as both of the subjects and filmmakers shot this during very dangerous situations where things could have gone very bad.
Aesthetically, Virunga achieves two things: It creates a rich sense of place and it establishes strong points of emotional connection.
ReplyDeleteThe visuals craft an intimate portrait of the Congo's people and landscape by exploiting details of its character (hippos bathing in the river, chalk-covered children learning their vowels, people carrying bundles of branches, exquisite shots of wildlife, etc.) as well as intricate sound design. From distant gunfire to burning cigarettes to flies swarming animal carcasses, the sound of the film brings viewers closer to the landscape and culture of the Congo.
But to me, the most impactful images are shots of the characters. The film includes any close-ups and reaction shots of both the humans and the gorillas. When emotional moments take place, the camera often becomes more intimate, focusing on the facial reaction of a character (ex. when the gorillas are found alive and well, we are brought very close to Emmanuel's face as he closes his eyes with a sigh of relief). The gorillas as well are treated with the same cinematic intimacy. We see them reacting blissfully to their caregivers, we see them interacting with their habitats in ways that express their character, and we see close ups of their eyes which reveal surprising depth.
Similarly, the editing and music create resonating emotional progressions and maintain dramatic tension, paralleling the ominous military conflict with the love and threatened safety of the gorilla sanctuary. The craft of the film is impeccable, as it fully exploits its cinematic tools to generate emotion and empathy.
Virunga, for me, was one of those documentaries that didn’t feel so much like a documentary (and I say that in the absolute best way possible). I mean, it is ultimately and indefinitely an informative and emotionally captivating piece of non-fiction filmmaking. But aside from some the elements that automatically render it a documentary such as the talking head interviews, the entire piece felt extremely cinematic and viscerally enthralling, and read almost like a dramatic narrative. The enchanting imagery of the Congo, the majestic wildlife, the humbled modesty of the townspeople yearning to escape the domineeringly militant hostility that surrounds them, the innocent spiritedness of the animals caught in the middle of the political warfare – it is all captured masterfully with an impeccable sense of pacing and narrative balance, lengthy, lingering close-up shots, and evocative, well-timed music and sound design of the multifaceted sense of vitality that surrounds Virunga, giving the entire film an incredible heart to compliment the well-contextualized argument presented throughout.
ReplyDeleteI will definitely be watching this again! WOW! This is a film that filled me to the brim with inspiration. Easily the best cinematography in any documentary we have watched to date. Being a cinematography major and being interested in documentary, this film excited me so much! So many beautiful and captivating images! This is exactly what I dream of doing, something exotic and filled with culture and nature. I didn’t know anything of the subject going into the film, so the beginning montages that help review Congo’s history were very helpful & thorough. The subtitles and all the information being fed to me adds to the idea that I want to rewatch this film so I can truly absorb all the information. This film blew E-Team out of the water, in my opinion. The subject and story telling techniques were so captivating. I love animals and nature, so this film was especially interesting to me. At first I was slightly confused about if the film was about violence in Congo or about protecting the wildlife, but it was clearer after getting through the beginning of the film where they are trying to catch you up with so much information. I loved the way they showed the gorillas interacting with their owners. They’re so human-like, I feel like I could watch it all day. A person “playing” with the gorilla can grab at their ankle and the gorilla pushes away playfully in a “hey, don’t do that” manner, instead of responding in a defensive or violence way. Those human qualities they showed in the animals was my favorite part of the film. It made me feel very connected.
ReplyDeleteVirunga is the documentary I’ve been waiting to see this whole semester. It was everything I wanted. It was both compelling and beautiful. The cinematography was more artistic than last weeks documentary, so much that it felt like a well thought out movie. I think thats what a good documentary should be: a movie. I didn’t think this took away from the story at hand either, but rather made room for more mood and style in the doc itself. The shallow depth of field used in interviews was like looking at a photograph. Why shouldn’t mundane interviews have style to them?
ReplyDeleteThere were a few montages of close-up shots of nature where the footage was slowed down. I loved this approach used in the film because it let us into an intimate space of life. The close ups introduced the rhythm of nature to us as a viewer, thus allowing us to appreciate all of its small corners. The shots would then become areal views to show the expansiveness of the forest, while still maintaining scrupulous attention to detail. Based on the b-roll footage, it seemed very planned out which I appreciate from the director.
One thing I didn’t really like was the real footage used from the hidden cameras mixed in with the “re-enactment” footage. I think they did a nice job in deciphering between the two and meshing them together, but they seemed to be a distraction from the words on the screen bellow. It was hard for me to follow what was happening at times, and I think I became even more confused about what was actually going on. I wonder if just having a black screen at times would heighten the senses to read. The shaky cigarette and lopsided half eaten plate of food footage just was taking me out of the film as a viewer, but I understand why they used it.
Within the last thirty minutes of the film, when it intensified, I think the director made a lot of clever decisions to not have us feel like a “viewer” but more so be apart of the whole journey. To shift us into the war zone the director cut from the secret footage when they say “Business is business is business”, to the cigarette being dapped out in the ashtray, then cut to black screen. I thought that was perfect. It symbolized that these men were going to do whatever it takes to get control, and the light of the cigarette was like life itself and was ready to be put out if it needed to. After all the initial gun fire, when the director finally cut the sound and had footage of what was left in slow motion, it really once again intensified the senses to make it all feel very real. Then the segway into the next scene where we finally get to understand the aftermath with the gorillas is beautiful. The director uses a shot of a sun through some shrubbery and then cuts to golden hour being cast upon the face of nature. It was another way of saying “we endured a lot, but were still here and want to come out strong”. Great great great documentary.
ReplyDeleteThis film was incredible. I think it far surpasses E-Team. The difference between this film and that film is the connection and investment you have while watching it. I found myself laughing and crying multiple times throughout this film.
The film shows footage from not just the people working with the gorillas but also nature shoots of the beauty of the land. By doing so it gives you so much context for where this place is located and what surrounds it. Providing the context of the area allows the viewer to put themselves in the film. I felt like it was happening right as I was watching it, I felt like I was there and I felt like I had to do something anything to stop it but I couldn’t do anything. I had to just wait and see what happened much like the workers. It was so deeply troubling and emotional.
I thought the hidden camera footage was also very effective in the same way. By being given that you feel the same pressure and responsibility as the people that knew these back door deals were being made but what are you supposed to do? I was a little bothered by the recreation of the footage when I realized it during our class discussion, just because it makes you question the authenticity. I think I would have preferred what ever bad quality the actual footage or sound was but I understand the point and it’s not bother some while watching it.