Embrace of the Serpent (2015)

The story of the relationship between Karamakate, an Amazonian shaman and last survivor of his people, and two scientists who work together over the course of forty years to search the Amazon for a sacred healing plant.

Director:

Ciro Guerra

Writers:

Ciro Guerra, Theodor Koch-Grünberg (based on the diary by) (as Theodor Koch-Grunberg)

Stars:

Nilbio Torres, Jan Bijvoet, Antonio Bolivar

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 45 wins & 31 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Nilbio Torres	...	Young Karamakate
Antonio Bolivar	...	Old Karamakate (as Tafillama-Antonio Bolivar Salvador)
Jan Bijvoet	...	Theo
Brionne Davis	...	Evan
Miguel Dionisio Ramos	...	Manduca (as Yauenkü Miguee)
Luigi Sciamanna	...	Priest Gaspar / El Missionero
Nicolás Cancino	...	El Mesias
Pediwake Daniel Martinez	...	Santiago
José Sabogal	...	El Siringuero

Storyline

The story of the relationship between Karamakate, an Amazonian shaman and last survivor of his people, and two scientists who work together over the course of forty years to search the Amazon for a sacred healing plant.

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Plot Keywords:

shaman | plant | nonlinear timeline | amazonian indian | amazon forest | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

Colombia Venezuela Argentina

Language:

Spanish Portuguese Aboriginal German Catalan Latin English

Release Date:

25 May 2015 (Colombia)

Also Known As:

Embrace of the Serpent

Filming Locations:

Vaupés, Colombia

Box Office

Budget:

$1,400,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$50,955, 21 February 2016, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,329,249

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,411,541

Company Credits

Production Co:

Buffalo Films, Buffalo Producciones, Caracol Televisión

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based on diaries by scientists Theodor Koch-Grunberg and Richard Evan Schultes.

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Quotes

Old Karamakate: To become warriors, the cohiuanos must abandon all and go alone to the jungle, guided only by their dreams. In this journey, he has to find out, in solitude and silence, who he really is. He must become a wanderer dream. Many are lost, and some never return. But those who return they are ready to face what is to come.

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Soundtracks

Acoutic River (Tema Brujula)
by Nascuy Linares
© 2016 Plaza Mayor Company, Ltd.

User Reviews

White men messing up traditions

I love how this movie is put together. By combining the accounts of two explorers - over 30 years apart - it manages to tell a story of a world changing. You can see how actions made by the first explorer directly changes the world of the people they meet. Mostly in a bad way. The movie conveys, with a sadness, how much the people of these tribes lost because of the way they were handled by "white people". But this is not the time tested "gone with the wolves"-story. It's an artistic and stylistic, yet believable, account of the old meeting the new.

One thought though: While it is an interesting discussion why it's in black and white, I think the movie would have been better off in color. At least partly. Black and white is nice, but the jungle scenery in this movie could have been breathtaking in color - but the again, maybe that's the point.