This Film is a "must see" I have to agree with the positive reviews on this movie. I saw it several years ago, I think on PBS. It was so long ago I can't be sure but what I am sure is this movie continues to haunt me to this day. With the problems about the rendering to DVD, I hesitate to spend $86 and wait only for a better price or a better rendering. The producers and directors of this movie had enormous vision and created a world so alien to us that it pays respect to those characters in history, both Spanish and Native. It should not be missed or forgotten.
See the New World through the eyes of ancient explorers This movie is so surreal! It places you inside the eyes of early Spaniards landing in the Americas- how they see the land and People, having only their life in a European context to relate. The viewer is drawn in by their fears and superstitions, the mystery of these unexplored places, and the clashes of cultures and difficulties of understanding. I saw a subtle message comparing the indigenous societies and shamans who were in sync with their surroundings, to the Catholicism of the time which seemed to be about fear, demons, and not part of the natural world(and did not save their lives either). Some scenes reminded me of Hieronymous Bosch paintings-as though the Spaniards thought they had decended into a Hell.
This is not at all like a Hollywood Native American movie.
I have read some first hand explorer accounts from these early times and was entranced by how the director of this movie placed us there in the heart of this "strangeness"- how the Spaniards interpreted what they were experiencing. It does not matter if it is accurate word for word from his diaries- the feeling of being there in that time is very strong.
This movie was quite original and well done in all ways.
Fascinating and Entertaining Complaints about how this film departs from the original memoir are unfair for two reasons:
1) In order for any historical film to stand on its own, it needs to mess with the original and find its own truth and shape. Film is art, not history. The question is: does this film entertain and fascinate us? It does!
2) Cabeza de Vaca's memoir is full of gaps--he doesn't go into detail about alot of the things he experienced and how he survived. For example, in the span of one chapter (a few pages in his memoir), he tells us that several years have gone by. Thus, the film makers had some flexibility with regards to being creative. In fact, Cabeza de Vaca states in his preface to the king that he is intentionally leaving things out for the purpose of brevity. Also, there was another reason not to spill all the beans-- in light of the Inquisition, there might have been experiences he left out on purpose.
This is one of the finest films about the Conquest of the New World ever made. Don't miss it. If you enjoy it, read the original story.
Brilliant art movie (in a terrible DVD rendering) Cabeza de Vaca is a Mexican movie about a conquistador who survives a shipwreck and ... well, no spoilers here...
Since "Cabeza de Vaca" is a multiple times awarded Mexican movie, any expectation of epic Hollywood-style action means that one didn't pay attention. Looking at "Cabeza de Vaca"'s background, one can only expect expect an intellectual effort in a "foreign" style. If you watch the movie on that premise, it clearly delivers:
"Cabeza de Vaca" may be compared to - 1) "The Mission" due to its narrative style, using pictures rather than words for large parts of the storytelling, 2) German director Werner Herzog's cinematic style, especially in "Fitzcarraldo", and 3) John Boorman's "Excalibur" for its' strange story with supernatural elements and glimpses of sudden violence.
All in all, "Cabeza de Vaca" is a highly recommendable "artistic movie".
The only possible point of criticism is the DVD rendering, which is nothing less than terrible. It's in 4:3 format with English texts that can not be turned off, and are placed almost in the middle of the picture - and the picture quality is not exactly a state of the art DVD rendering either. Shame on the publisher for making an edition of such a movie look like a DVD conversion of a cheaply made rental VHS. I looked for this movie for several years... and I'll keep looking for a decent 16:9 version.
The five stars are for the movies' own qualities, but other customers should be warned that the rendition quality itself deserves a straight zero. A widescreen VHS would be better.
Confusing and Boring I had really looked forward to viewing this movie. I guess I should have read all the reviews before I bought it. I was expecting a rendering of de Vaca's actual survival experiences and hoping to learn more about a fascinating bit of history. Instead the movie focused on a few of his experiences which were so mysterious as to be unintelligible and dragged those scenes out into sheer boredom. The movie jumped from one experience to the next with no narrative and no explanation of time passed. There was no way to understand the main character, much less empathize or sympathize with him. As my husband said after watching it, "And you paid HOW MUCH for this movie????"
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
