"By photographing and developing a story based on the current relation between man and his habitat in Chinchorro (Mexico), I portray my love for this region and the admiration and respect I have towards the lives of its fishermen." (written before the BP oil spill)
Alamar is a rich compelling documentary film that captures life in the Gulf of Mexico before the modern day encroachment from tourists, (luxury hotels with all their destruction and a long pier for cruise ship docking that cut into the longest coral reef on the planet.) oil and the like.
The film takes us on the long trip from urban Mexico to this remote fishing town and onto the water, into the water via scuba diving and into the house built on stilts in the water where a seemingly normal life ensues. Normal, living on top of water, no land around and a little boy with his father and grandfather spending their time eating at a table, reading books, checking the weather, writing with paper and colored pencils while spending the majority of the day at sea; fishing, unloading the fish into another ship, watching the dismantling of the fish into eatible bits of what we call food, fit for a King or Queen.
and then it is night and the hammock is the only place to sleep, covered with netting to keep the bugs away; repose is full, relaxing, in tune with the movement of the stilt house and that is a way of life that will be removed from our earth, from the people who want nothing more than to join with nature and enjoy what is there to be enjoyed, cherished and complied with.
Alas this film will be a relic, a testimony to times past. Although there is no tragic moments in this film, the film itself reflect a tragedy of unknown proportion.
NOTE:
In 1996 UNESCO declared Banco Chinchorro, the main location where the documentary takes place, a National Reserve of the Biosphere.
How sad, How Poignant. How beautifully captured. Alamar!
González-Rubio’s , Alamar, will open theatrically in New York City at Film Forum on July 14th, courtesy of Film Movement.
Linda Zises
wbai radio
criticalwomen.net
