MARIA CAMILA ARIAS

BIRDS OF PASSAGE (2019)
Starring Carmina Martíñez, José Acosta, Natalia Reyes, Jhon Narváez, Greider Meza and José Vicente. Directed by Ciro Guerra and Cristina Gallego.

Guajira, Northern Colombia, 1970s. Wayuu tribe- member Zaida has come of age, leaving formidable matriarch Ursula with the important task of finding a suitable match. Her instincts warn her against young Rapayet, an ambitious man with strong links outside of the clan, but the word of his respected uncle Peregrino carries weight, so she succeeds, setting an outrageous dowry. The seed sown, Rapayet stumbles onto a plan with his flamboyant friend Moises and cousin Aníbal to sell marijuana to a visiting American. It’s the beginnings of a profitable new enterprise.

As the family rises to prominence, Ursula becomes increasingly complicit in her son-in-law’s business dealings, insisting traditional honour codes are respected and observed. But the trappings of wealth and power soon incite a war that threatens to tear them and their ancient traditions apart.

REVIEWS Birds of Passage - A visually stunning, narcotised gangster epic