I've already covered a Mel Gibson rant in my defunct blog, set in the Little Theology Corner. Back then, I said that I would see
Apocalyto, nevertheles, and I followed through. So let's forget about Mr. Gibson personal journey,(as a fellow Christian who understands the whole stumbling along the way factor, I certainly wish that he soon finds out that Jesus was Jewish and gets over with it) and most of all, let's put aside our compare and contrast table to THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST.... All right, GO!
I had the pleasure to go and see this movie with my very pregnant sister Lysandra who promised me not to break water in the middle of a jungle chase. Thank you Lysandra for both a rolling good time and no stress factor other than the one generated from the screen. :)
This is what we saw:
Apocalypto is first and foremost, a Mel Gibson film. It's cinematography is breathtaking, the characters are engaging, the experience almost interactive. Say what you may, the man knows how to translate emotions into film... when it is relaxed is bum lazy, when it is tense, it will be breaking point.
There are two main treads running through this film. One is the blind action sequence, the other is subtle, worth of following, intriguing enough for us to take on the violence, which is, in certain ocassions, extreme. I'll get to the blood later, let me stay with the characters a little while.
MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD>>>> just to prove my little point
In the beginning of the movie there is a quiet scene, a moment of peace in which the tribe gathers around to hear word from an elder. The man tells a story that has been told in one shape or another through all cultures. A story that poses a question... what the hell is wrong with us humans? The more we are given, the more we want. This story does two things for us
- It de-romanticizes the native Americans. It tears down the theory of the noble savage. There is no disrespect in this. The plain exposition of the story tells us that men are men and it is part of human nature to know of pain, death and the destructiveness of greed. It is bullshit to look into history with teary eyes and say, the natives of the Americas didn't know the meaning of these words. They knew alright, they might not have had precise words for it (the English- Mayan translation will make little sense sometimes) but the emotions were there, even if they chose to avoid them.(Who wouldn't, if given the chance?)
- The story also sets the stage for what is to come. The message of this story is simple as it is powerful: Those in power want to hold on to it, they will kill others if needed. They will exploit and rape and pillage and burn until someone else comes and knocks them out and starts the cycle all over again.
The secret behind the fall of Empires is the need to grab more than you can handle... In this case the High tear, the Mayan elite, wanted to keep the gods smiling upon them. Gods demand blood and blood will be offered. No priest, no Cacique, no warrior offered themselves to keep the sun above their heads... they grabbed the weakest among them and lead the to the slaughter.
When the Conquistadores set foot in Yucatan's sandy beaches, they didn't come with open arms... the High Mayas sacrificed to keep their status in an altar of stone, the Spaniards would eventually drench a continent in blood to sacrifice in an altar made of gold. When the first English came to the New World, the Spaniards knew it was their turn...
This is not a story about Mayans, although the story is set against that particular backdrop-note on the side, the production value of this thing is amazing, it's like stepping on a time warp and seeing those alomost alien pictures in walls all over Central America come to life... -it is a story about quiet human dignity against oppression. I had the privilege to meet some Sudanese refugees through a friend that deals on Human Rights Issues. When I saw the scene at the Mayan village, I could have easily interchanged their story with that of any of the characters. A story of abuse of power, genocide, rape, murder, children left behind...
There are two scenes that made me shudder in this movie, and none of them involved blood or guts, they conveyed dignity. One is of a girl left, discarded, if you may, along with all the children of the tribe to die of starvation and exposure to the elements. The girl couldn't have been over ten. She screams at her mother who has been taken captive "They are mine now. I will care for them." It was a breath of humanity after the brutal scene that preceded it, a reason to go on. The other one was delivered by the main character, and it was a simple statement "My name is Jaguar Paw", very much like Roots "My name is Kunta Kinte," it is powerful to hear a human being holding on to the dignity of his name when he has been stripped of everything else.
Now GORE FACTOR
It is nasty, gruesome and true. Once again there is mo romantic notion involved here. Bloodletting was natural in the religious order. After all, the Maya believed blood sacrifice kept the cosmos in balance. Victims were painted blue, then sacrificed by removal of the heart. These ceremonies were held either at the top of the pyramids, or the temple courtyard. It was an honor to be sacrificed, the blood kept the sun rising. The way is presented is very matter-of-factly, the violence is not trivial, though. Maybe it is too much for some of all to follow, because come on, it is not your typical Sunday service. Nevertheless, I'll take a Mayan Human sacrifice any time over let's say HOSTEL or SAW
Historical Accuracy: Time line is not specific, probably anytime between 1511-1519 which brings about the whole question of when the Mayans collapsed, since they stopped recording the history of the Empire before the Spanish set foot in Mexico and Guatemala.... another thing which might or might not have been an inaccuracy (depending of how far into the whole time line we are in)-is the girl prophet that carries "the mysterious sickness," which looks like smallpox. This sickness was brought about by the Europeans, so there is a sign of an early exposure to the white man... it is the only thing that bothered me and made bring the movie into the nerdy Little Historical Corner...
Did I like it? Yes
Will I recommend it? Only to the strong of stomach and open of mind, who can see beyond the gore.
To close a sad quote:
"Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor, and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst." - Robert Heinlein
