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IMDbPro

The Ornithologist

Original title: O Ornitólogo
  • 20162016
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
3.5K
YOUR RATING
The Ornithologist (2016)
Trailer for The Ornithologist
Play trailer1:51
2 Videos
16 Photos
AdventureDramaMystery
Fernando, a solitary ornithologist, is looking for black storks when he is swept away by the rapids. Rescued by a couple of Chinese pilgrims, he plunges into an eerie and dark forest, trying... Read allFernando, a solitary ornithologist, is looking for black storks when he is swept away by the rapids. Rescued by a couple of Chinese pilgrims, he plunges into an eerie and dark forest, trying to get back on his track.Fernando, a solitary ornithologist, is looking for black storks when he is swept away by the rapids. Rescued by a couple of Chinese pilgrims, he plunges into an eerie and dark forest, trying to get back on his track.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
3.5K
YOUR RATING
    • João Pedro Rodrigues
    • João Pedro Rodrigues
  • Stars
    • Paul Hamy
    • João Pedro Rodrigues
    • Xelo Cagiao
    • João Pedro Rodrigues
    • João Pedro Rodrigues
  • Stars
    • Paul Hamy
    • João Pedro Rodrigues
    • Xelo Cagiao
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 36User reviews
    • 82Critic reviews
    • 85Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos2

    The Ornithologist
    Trailer 1:51
    Watch The Ornithologist
    The Ornithologist
    Trailer 1:51
    Watch The Ornithologist

    Photos16

    The Ornithologist (2016)
    Paul Hamy in The Ornithologist (2016)
    Paul Hamy in The Ornithologist (2016)
    The Ornithologist (2016)
    Paul Hamy in The Ornithologist (2016)
    Paul Hamy and Xelo Cagiao in The Ornithologist (2016)
    Paul Hamy in The Ornithologist (2016)
    Paul Hamy in The Ornithologist (2016)
    Flora Bulcao in The Ornithologist (2016)
    Paul Hamy in The Ornithologist (2016)
    The Ornithologist (2016)
    Paul Hamy in The Ornithologist (2016)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Paul Hamy
    Paul Hamy
    • Fernando
    João Pedro Rodrigues
    João Pedro Rodrigues
    • António
    Xelo Cagiao
    • Jesus…
    Han Wen
    • Fei
    Chan Suan
    • Ling
    Jules Elting
    Jules Elting
    • Caçadora Loira
    • (as Juliane Elting)
    Flora Bulcao
    • Caçadora 1
    Isabelle Puntel
    • Caçadora 2
    Alexandre Alverca
    André Freitas
    David Silva Pereira
    Gil Mendes Da Silva
    Miguel Ângelo Marujo
    Nuno Santos
    Ricardo Jorge
    Alessandra Marquez
      • João Pedro Rodrigues
      • João Pedro Rodrigues
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Fernando is trying to observe the rare Black Stork (Ciconia nigra). In reality, its endangered status is officially mix as its population is increasing in parts of a wide range habitat such as the Iberian Peninsula. As a result, International Union for Conservation of Nature is a species of least concern. It is experiencing a population decline in parts of India, China and parts of Western Europe. Various conservation measures have been taken for the black stork, like the Conservation Action Plan for African black storks by Wetlands International. It is also covered under the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Story of Film: A New Generation (2021)
    • Soundtracks
      Canção do Engate
      Performed by António Variações

    User reviews36

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Totally mesmerizing and completely baffling
    When I came out of The Ornithologist I was totally perplexed and unsure of what I had just seen. At one point I thought it was a film about one man's descent into madness, at another I thought it was a tale of the mystery and spirituality of nature and the unknown, a film about loneliness and despair, then I thought maybe it was a character study of queerness and male sexuality. For all I know this film could be all of these things or none of them whatsoever.

    Because I don't want to spoil anything - and because I can't describe what happens in this film without sounding like a lunatic, I'll say this: the film follows a solitary Ornithologist who gets lost in the forest and the increasingly strange things that happen to him as he tries to find his way home.

    Funnily enough, The Ornithologist plays almost like a parody of an art-house film - and like most art-house, this is not a film for everyone. Consider yourself warned. In terms of its structure, the unfolding of its narrative as well as the way it uses images and sounds to unnerve and to hypnotize you - this is either going to infuriate or bewitch viewers. I can happily say that I was completely bewitched. I fell under its spell, it got under my skin in a way that I cannot describe and I couldn't stop thinking about it after I saw it. I am under no illusion that I understand most of what I saw, but watching it I could tell that this is exactly the film that director João Pedro Rodrigues wanted to make - it makes no compromises for anybody.

    The Ornithologist is daring and strange - there are so many unanswered questions, and I couldn't possibly explain to you what it's about or what happens without sounding certifiably insane, but I am so fine with that - I was completely mesmerized. Give it a chance; you might hate it with every fiber of your being or you might love it and be as enchanted by it as I was.
    helpful•33
    14
    • Jesse_Ung
    • Sep 7, 2017

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 20, 2016 (Portugal)
      • Portugal
      • France
      • Brazil
      • House on Fire (France)
      • Portuguese
      • English
      • Mandarin
      • Mirandese
      • Latin
    • Also known as
    • Production companies
      • Blackmaria
      • House on Fire
      • Ítaca Films Brasil
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 57 minutes
      • Color

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