A rare bird indeed. Portugal’s Joao Pedro Rodrigues brings us an allegorical fantasy based on the life of San Antonio de Padua who was actually Portuguese and who seemed to have his pilgrimages in which he got lost. So here does our main character – Fernando (same as the real name of Antonio), a bird watcher on a canoeing trip
in the north of Portugal to spot a special breed of stork. When the rapids get his canoe, capsizing the boat and leaving him almost for dead, he begins a series of encounters that transforms him and shows him different aspects of his personality. He is helped initially by two lost Chinese backpackers
who then turn on him
, he comes across weird tribal ceremonies
, he meets a young shepherd (Xelo Cagiao) with whom he has pleasant
and unpleasant moments and he is hunted down by a trio of topless valkyries.
The forest is the unconscious and there are countless symbols
both religious and pagan throughout the film. Towards the end, the main actor (Paul Hamy)
is even replaced in some scenes by the director. Some will call it pretentious and unbearable but I think there is enough action and richness of vision to make it a decent film.
And it will linger in the mind for quite some time.
Rui Poças is in charge of glorious photography.
♦♦♦+
passionfilm 