A wonderful film that presents a story about indigenous peoples from their perspective. Beautiful cinematography, great acting, and a nonlinear story make this film stand out too.

Nominated for a Best Foreign Film Oscar, Ciro Guerra’s doleful requiem on the plight of Amazonia’s indigenous peoples circa 19th century is a heady mix of spiritual parable and bitter history lesson. Using rich B&W cinematography which turns the rainforest into a waking dream, his sad film unfolds in a string of languorous chapters as cameras drift over sinuous riverbeds and steaming treetops recording each man’s journey like they were a pair of solemn pilgrimages. From the slavery of the rubber plantations to the cultural genocide wrought by Christian missionaries, Guerra doesn’t balk at the truth yet he couches the bitterness in scenes of such pastoral beauty that one is never sure where reality gives way to dreamlike allegory. A madman declares himself Christ, a disfigured thrall begs for death, and an arcing fireball heralds a twist of fate as one scientist sees his dream unravel while his counterpart across the years is transformed by a dream he never knew he held. Meanwhile the film’s one constant, Karamakate, as if absorbing the atrocities around him, goes from proud warrior to piteous senior with one last quest to perform. A clash of both cultures and philosophies tinged with narcotic hallucinations (coca leaves figure heavily in native sorcery), "Embrace of the Serpent’s" gentle plainsong rhythm never quite dulls the poison dart hovering just below its surface.

Based on the travel diaries two early last century ethnographerTheodor Koch-Grunberg and botantist Richard Evans Schultes, intense and intentional , I like the focus on how it takes Karamakate (the shaman) advancing into old age to be more open about demonstrating the (fictional) sacred plant, the 'yakruna' in spite of the abuses of Amazonian colonial/imperial like power structures not the least how the yakruna plant is taken for granted on rubber plantations.

What the heck are chops? I don't know what people go on about but I do know that I have read two books by Richard Evans Schultes that you can no longer get at the library for some reason. Plants of the gods was one and there was another I don't remember the name but it was large and had lots of black and white photos. I really wish the library would re aquire these resources.

I really dug this movie, sure, it's long, slow, black and white, and in Spanish. But once you settle into the rhythm it really delivers.

"Doesn't have any chops"? "Too long to say what it said"? "A very soft version of those alleged historical facts"? I'm not even sure what that last comment means. It frustrates me to no end that any film that is remotely ambitious or idiosyncratic draws the ire of viewers who then feel the need to post negative comments. While it is loosely based on the stories of two white explorers in the Amazon, it's not a documentary and so shouldn't be criticized for being historically inaccurate. I found this 2015 Colombian film, which was nominated for best foreign film, to be sometimes surreal, occasionally strange, and always visually striking. It also the rare film in which the native character is the protagonist (played by a non-actor) rather than the white explorers. Those who have seen Herzog's jungle films ("Aguirre," "Fitzcarraldo") will recognize some of the themes and imagery, but, again, in those films the natives were more backdrop to the monomania of the white character (No offense to Herzog, as I love both of those movies). For the adventurous viewer, I think they'll find "Embrace of the Serpent" to be one of the most fascinating and unconventional films in recent memory. Directed by Ciro Guerra.

This is a low budget drama masquerading as a peek into an aboriginal tribe, It is quite watchable. Just doesn't have any chops.

Too long to say what it said.

Overall a good film, unique with beautiful visuals. The fact that it's done in black and white adds to it's authenticity. Some scenes are disturbing and hard to watch.

While there are clear influences of earlier river-themed films like Apocalypse Now and The Mission, Embrace of the Serpent is a unique, creative film. It's one of only a handful of films I'm familiar with presented mainly from an indigenous perspective.

Based loosely on the travel diaries of two Western scientists, the story sporadically shifts between the two timelines about 40 years apart. It explores issues related to colonialism, exploitation and destruction of indigenous cultures and their environment, and questions perceptions of Western superiority.

It's truly a unique viewing experience because it presents a naturalistic indigenous rather than Western perspective of reality. It's so haunting and emotionally resonant as to leave an indelible psychological imprint on your mind as few other films do.