Altiplano

It has been noticed that films which deal with multiple themes often fail to strike a chord in viewers' minds. It is due to the fact that while watching films,most viewers have a limited attention span which gets impaired when an endless array of plots and subplots is revealed.Belgian film "Altiplano" suffers enormously from this fate as the richness of its themes cause active viewers to question whether there is something which will tie these loose themes or they have just been included in order to get an opportunity to speak about world's problems.The main reason to watch this film is Olivier Gourmet-a famous Belgian actor who has acted in various well made,offbeat as well as excellent commercial films.Apart from Olivier Gourmet's presence viewers might develop a liking for the film's South American setting where visually rich religious imagery characterizes the behavioral patterns of its inhabitants.Finally,how human beings reach out to each other in times of grief is one of this film's recurring leitmotif.Film critic Mr.Lalit Rao saw this film during 18th European Film Festival 2013 which was held at Alliance Française De Bangalore.

There are films that, not being perfect, have some exceptional moments of cinematic wonder. Altiplano is one of those films. First of all, it's not for everyone. The film is actually a quite complex mix between fiction and documentary, which should't be a surprise considering it's the second feature film from Brosens and Woodworth, creators of Khadak, a film that also lies in this intriguing conception of cinema. But, unlike Khadak, Altiplano has a very strong and story oriented narrative, which is extremely good, since the constant allegorical images that the movie possesses are much more well timed and effective than in Khadak. Apart from the style issues, the movie is a intense journey in the fight between modernism and tradition, nature and city. I don't want to give away anything, because seeing this filme without any kind of expectations (storywise, that is) is the best way to enjoy it. Visually stunning, with a exceptional soundtrack, Altiplano is, despite his flaws, a movie that should be watched for anyone that likes cinema or, at least, original cinema. If you belong to that group, go see it. Don't expect action packed sequences, or determined heroes overcoming evil. Altiplano is about life. Slow, real, and unforgiving.A really good film with some brilliant moments. If you like cinema, take a chance on this one. It's worth it.

What to say, have no words to describe... but sheer beauty.

The magnificent combination of story, images and music takes it to a higher level, literally! Carefully chosen shots, no more then the necessary words and all through the music, as if it came out of the camera resulting into a complete experience for all senses. You'll find yourself blown away after this movie, and it takes a couple of days to get back to life.

Can't wait to see Khadak and State of Dogs, more work from this fine producers Peter Brosens and Jessica Woodworth.

GO EXPERIENCE!

This movie needed an editor with a sharp machete to make it flow and not appear to be so aimless. The actors look so conscious of the camera that they at times look to be characters in a newscast when they are surprised by a news crew and reporter. But above all, my goodness, a good editor is worth his/her weight in gold (not mercury!) - You need to be a mystic movie goer infatuated with the ghosts of Daly & Luis Buñuel to sit through this film. It is so aimless and so lacking in focus. A movie is supposed to be a story and this is just a bunch of moving National Geographic type of photographs without a focused story telling.

After seeing Khadak, the first film of the creative duo behind Altiplano, I was totally blown away. Soon after I got to see Altiplano and the feeling left after watching Khadak was even topped by the later one. As much as with its story as with its powerful images, Altiplano grabs your attention and doesn't let go until the very end. Some visual moments reminded me of a more comprehensible version of Tarkovsky. Same with the previous film, Khadak, directors here don't aim the entertainment-seeking audience, but the one with higher standards. Visually, it is completely different from Khadak, but the same cinematic "language" of the directing duo can be felt in both. The leading star Magaly Solier gives a remarkable performance, which is a carrier of the whole film. Music is a very big part of this film. It blends with every image perfectly and gives extra power to every scene. Bottom line, I would warmly recommend this film to anyone that has the chance to see it.