Sil-Azevedo

"Listen, this is not just a single story, there are many..." says the narrator, in a soft yet authoritative voice of one who knows. He's warning you the viewer, or is it the protagonist? Both, because the story we are about to witness transcends the mountains of Peru. It is a universal story.

This mysterious narrator's voice--possibly the voice of our collective unconscious--coupled with the masterful, stark black and white imagery create a universe where reality and myth are one. "Mother Lode is a fable," explains director Matteo Tornone in an interview with Swiss magazine Daily Movies.

This is a simple story of a young taxi driver in Lima whose tuk-tuk breaks down forcing him to try his luck at La Rinconada, the highest and most dangerous Andean gold mine in Peru. The odds are stacked against him, the game is rigged, as if a devil were in control of his destiny. This is the story of workers everywhere, caught under the crushing machinery of unrestrained capitalism and the empty promise of fortune.

I was surprised to learn that this film was shot on a Sony A7S2--not an 100K+ Arri rig. The cinematography is exquisite. The writing, editing, and structure are exceptional. This is no ordinary documentary. It's a film of rare clarity and conviction - grounded in reality, yet free to do what great cinema must: tell its truth, artfully.

Wow. What director Ryan Maxey was able to accomplish here is nothing short of miraculous. Quartzsite, AR is a town of 2400 people, in the middle of nowhere halfway between Phoenix and LA. Every year, over a million RVers and nomads flock there to escape the cold up north and the vicissitudes of life everywhere. The result of this unlikely confluence is an otherworldly community that reminds me of a Wes Anderson movie -- except for this is real.

This documentary, shot in observational style by someone who knows the community very well, is a delight to watch. Superb cinematography coupled with masterful storytelling bring the community to life, and what a community this is. From old folks driving their RVs and flying their model airplanes to meth addicts trying to find a way out, the people in this camp are authentic, eccentric and lovely in their own way. Distinctively American and universal at the same time. What a film!

This could have been a great documentary. For some reason, the producers decided to spread 90 minutes (max) of content over 4 episodes. The result is a painfully repetitive series with a bit of new info in each episode diluted in a pool of repeat images and info. The title is also misleading. While the issue of Hitler's odd sexual preferences is addressed, this is not the central theme. There is his use of drugs, his manipulative and oppressive relationships with women and childhood traumas. It is important to know more about such an important figure in history who caused so much harm to humanity. Unfortunately, this poorly produced series squandered its opportunity.