TeenzTen
An action-packed slog
PiraBit
if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.
Stephanie
There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes
sergelamarche
Life in paradise is not always a dream come true. A promised girl get lured by the unknown attraction of money and adventure with a working boy just long enough to get screwed. The mistake is not easily solved and more dramatic the situation becomes, until we make it full circle. Not before many hearts get broken. Beauty all over the place in the film. Excellent acting, felt like it was reenacted by the very people that the story was about. Very glad to see a glimpse of the world, unknown so far as well.
kestonnhorst
Ixcanul has stunning cinematography and is brimming with passion and originality, but it might not be the best choice in terms of cultural accuracy. While it is impressive that native Kaqchikel speakers were cast to give it an authentic, indigenous feel, the representation of the Kaqchikel people is not its best. I will not claim to be an expert on the topic, but after speaking with and reading a paper about the film written by a Kaqchikel woman, Ixcanul provides the in-depth view from an obvious outsider, one who hasn't done enough research. According to her, the Kaqchikel view all life as sacred and worthy of respect, so moments when María uses a tree as a sort of dildo and when she attempts to abort her fetus are wildly unrepresentative of the culture.Looking beyond these shortcomings, it is still a good tool for a superficial observation of Kaqchikel culture. While the baby kidnapping, arranged marriages, and belief in magic and superstition may be stereotypical, they still portray real aspects of some indigenous Central Americans' lives. The manipulation of Kaqchikel individuals because of their language barrier is indisputable, as is indigenous people's poverty and often impecunious plantation life. This may be the film's message—that we are treating cultures like the Kaqchikel unfairly, and perhaps the film's own inaccuracies reinforce that thought.These high and low points aside, the film is still attractive, with expert parallel framing with María and her mother in the bath, and again with María and el Pepe before they have sex. Its long, sweeping takes of María descending the volcano balance with the stills of locals hanging at a bar or with family (these scenes themselves seem almost like neoclassical paintings). The movie is masterfully executed and naturally aesthetically-pleasing in terms of camera-work and scenery, but as a means of storytelling it falls behind somewhat because of its imperfect perception of its own subject matter.
Reno Rangan
The director's feature film debut. From Guatemala, selected to represent the Oscars in the previous year (2016), but did not make. The film was based on the real about a small Mayan family living closer to the active volcano slope working in the coffee plantation. A perfect depiction of hardship of life, but from the perspective of a teenager. The life between adulthood and childhood, and for the lack of the knowledge of the real world, how they are misled was the film's purpose.I liked the film, no question about that. But it did not start like that. I hate films showing cruelty towards animals. It does not matter livestock, wild animals or anything else. The exception is only for the nature documentaries which does not involve human. So it all started with a strong dislike for the film. I was not sure I about writing a review for it. But the film convinced me with the later parts. I was not expecting it. In the end, I felt a very good film became a just above average because of one bad sequence.The film follows the character Maria. The seventeen year old girl was promised to the one who works in the city. But she wants to leave the place, country to the United States. That's when she begins to have her sexual urge. Following that, she develops a relationship with a boy from the coffee plantation. The consequence is the bigger price she has to face. With numerous challenges, not just her, but the whole family should overcome it. So how they are prepared for it and other following struggles revealed in the remaining narration.❝He's probably living in the United States in a big house with a garden, like those in the magazine. He must speak English by now.❞The film highlights many things. One of those was how the poverty ridden, illiterate people are misguided. The indigenous Guatemalan people that showed in this film really amazed me. Okay, the girl made a mistake, but how her family reacted to it was a surprise to me. Being very cultured, I did not expect that. In fact, I thought it could turn into a thriller, particularly in its finale. But the entire film was a drama and finding a solution to solve the issue as the way it flows. Then comes the misconception which drags the family into more trouble.At that point of the narration, the film was close to the end. But an unexpected twist made its way. The part where desperation takes the front seat. With all the sudden, everything was resolved, but good or sad is to know, one must watch the film. Like the filmmaker, the casting was also new faces. The storyline seems simple, but where it sets in was the challenge the cast and crew excelled. The original title Ixcanul means volcano in Mayan language, but it is a force looking to explode is the correct definition, that's explained by the director.It is one of first Guatemalan films for me. I'm very impressed with the story, the performances, locations and the overall film. It is not just a film festival product, it is like any Hollywood or the rest of the world cinema that qualified to call a good film. So if you are watching lots of regular films and got bored, you can try this for a change. A different language, different setting, but a situation every culture, ethnic had seen, that now you can learn how it all confronted by these people. Just like the film 'Tanna', but not all the same. Excluding the opening part I complained about, this is a nice film to check it out. But I won't mention the word recommended!7/10
vesperview
Often times in Guatemala, you go watch a Guatemalan film solely for the sake of supporting your country. Ixcanul didn't feel that way, it is truly a film that transcends its origins and offers a story that feels universal. The story tackles topics such as agriculture, arranged marriages, pregnancy, among others. The film has a stunning cinematography and direction, which was quite impressive, some scenes do make use of the shaky camera method, which within context of what's happening in the film kind of make sense, however, they may feel a bit "out of place" considering the attention to detail that the rest of the film has.Although all of the actors are debuting in this film, the acting is stellar, particularly from María Telón who commands the film and really delivers some of it's most powerful and emotionally effective scenes. In some instances, the actors don't need to speak for you to understand their feelings, almost like a silent picture. The Spanish-speaking actors are the only ones that I felt lacking, but their parts are minimal and are hardly detracting to the film.Overall, Ixcanul is an eye-opener to people who are not familiar with the sad realities that the Kaqchikel people have to go through. It's the first film made in Guatemala that feels thought out, as well as culturally important and significant.
