MIFF 2019 - Day 7

Bunuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles

Covering Bunuel's making of Las Hurdes, this isn't quite what I expected. I was thinking there'd be more surrealism and such. Instead, it's a fairly straightforward story of the making of the documentary, animal cruelty and all, and the friendship between Bunuel and his producer Ramon Acin. A coda explains Acin was executed by the fascists because he was an anarchist. But the film itself gives no sense of a threat building or anything beyond the basics of the film itself. It barely even addresses Bunuel's falling out with Salvador Dali. It's so focused on the making of the documentary it gives you no reason to understand why they felt it was so important that they make it. Apparently it's based on a graphic novel, I'd be interested to know if that was similarly lacking in context, or if it's just a failing of the film. It would probably play better if I knew all the background already, but as it stands it's just ok. 

Capital in the 21st Century

I remember watching this film when it was called The Corporation. Well, to be fair this explores the historical and social sides of rampant capitalism more than that film did, but it's still much the same thing. An interesting talking heads piece about how screwed we are.

Cold Case Hammarskjold

Mads Brugger returns with another bizarre documentary, this time examining a conspiracy theory around the plane crash that killed UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold in 1961. What starts as a theory that he was assassinated by a coalition of mining interests intent on exploiting African countries quickly expands into something far weirder. A South African paramilitary, supposedly funded by the British, intent on sowing discord and strife across Africa. There are explosive allegations, rarely backed up with anything beyond a few people saying they were a part of it. Most of the allegations rest on one man's testimony, and it can't be corroborated. Half the time you wonder if this is a giant prank to show how inclined we are to believe in conspiracies. But other parts stack up, and do have validation. As Brugger states at the beginning of the film, "This could either be the world's biggest murder mystery, or the world's most idiotic conspiracy theory". I'm still not sure which side I fall on, but it's a thought provoking ride.