The north of Colombia in the late 1960s. During a village ceremony on an expanse of desert, Rapayet is captivated by the beautiful Zaida. But in order to marry her, he needs a large dowry. In the first 20 minutes, Pájaros de verano/Birds of Passage seems to be building up to a calm drama about the centuries-old family traditions of the Waayu people. But this is only half the story in this Colombian submission for the Oscars.
While the elderly women continue to pursue their mystic rituals, Rapayet and members of a friendly family see an opportunity to earn money by smuggling and selling large consignments of marijuana. And with the drugs and the money, comes the violence. In five breathtakingly shot chapters, and traditional Colombia changes into an arena of drugs, greed, revenge and blood. This makes Pájaros de verano a portrayal of the start of the Escobar era.
Film details
Productielanden
Colombia, Denmark, Mexico
Jaar
2018
Festivaleditie
IFFR 2019
Lengte
125'
Medium/Formaat
DCP
Taal
English, Spanish, Wayunikee
Première status
None
Director
Cristina Gallego, Ciro Guerra
Producer
Cristina Gallego, Nicolás Celis, Katrin Pors, Eva Jakobsen
Cinematography
David Gallego
Editing
Miguel Schverdfinger
Production design
Angélica Perea
Sound design
Carlos García
Production company
Ciudad Lunar Producciones, Blond Indian, Snowglobe, Pimienta Films
Sales / World rights holder
Films Boutique
Distributor NL / Benelux rights holder
September Film
Screenplay
Maria Camila Arias, Jacques Toulemonde Vidal
Music
Leonardo Heiblum
Principal cast
Carmiña Martínez, Jhon Narváez, José Acosta, Natalia Reyes, José Vicente Cotes, Greider Meza, Juan Bautista