IFFK Assignment - Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles

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A breathtaking depiction of an unfortunate real tale in the glorious history of cinema.

This animation spectacle explores the making of the 1933 documentary ‘Las Hurdes’ by Luis Buñuel, the legendary Mexican filmmaker who is often cited as the father of cinematic surrealism. After falling out with fellow creator Dali, Buñuel faces a crisis when no one shows their willingness to fund for his next solo project. A newfound interest for ethnography causes him to take up the idea of making a documentary about Las Hurdes region, one of Spain’s poorest states. What follows forms the rest of the story.
  
Click here to watch the trailer 

Outstanding finesse in the animation generously contributes to the efficient storytelling. Though the makers could have opted for advanced technology like CGI, here the pattern of art  reminds of the 90's animated classics. It perfectly suits the timeline and the essence of the story. The internal conflicts of Bunuel right from his childhood also come in episodes. Surrealism is used as a mode of storytelling in these sequences, as if a tribute to the compelling artistic style that Buñuel himself popularised. The few number of characters are adequate and all of them leave an impact. Elements of humour are present in a majority of the scenes and they all work wonderfully with the audience.

The endless hardships that creators face are revealed through a set of inspiring events which illustrate Buñuel's passion for filmmaking. Some original scenes from 'Las Hurdes' are shown then. Them seamlessly blending with the narrative is quite impressive. The sad fate that many encountered in the era is also addressed, particularly of those who were destroyed by the cruel and oppressive rule that existed. So moving, the fact that it is based on true events could even tear one up.

Apart from the factors that make 'Buñuel in the labyrinth of the turtles' an engaging experience, it needs to be wholeheartedly applauded for delivering the forgotten history of a key intervention in the world of cinema.

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