Encounters at the end of the world

Encounters at the end of the world (EAEW) is a hypnotic film. It is a philosopher's delight with sublime cinematography and otherworldly music. Those features are apt companion to the incredulous stories of the Antarctica's residents.

To paraphrase one of the residents - All those living on the edge get thrown off the margins at some point and fall into Antarctica. It's a movie about rebels without guns, iconoclasts armed with ideas and theories that are either simply quirky or ahead of their time. But the true trump card is Werner Herzog, the legendary German peddler of dreams. Herzog articulates his thoughts lucidly and his accent adds that tad bit of edge to his ideas. He questions our desire for quest, the impact of race to the top and does it all with a touch of class and enigma. None of his comments are direct or offensive but a lot is said between the lines in that acerbic tone. Although there is a sense of kinetic energy to the film with ample dose of guitar playing, shots of flags waving wildly in the arid landscape and scientists partying in the desert, but the film is primarily a meditative experience. Many minutes are spent in a surreal ice cave and swimming with seals in water holes under ice with lovely fusion music by Henry Kaiser , another heretic from the main land.

Encounters is about Antarctica but not about Penguins. It is a film that you don't ever want to end. And why should it end after all? There is no arc to it. There is no high point or low drama. It is simply a series of observations. Relax and immerse in this top notch art.

Virunga: Conservation is War - A Review

Virunga is a rare gem that concerned citizens around the world should lap up wholeheartedly because it depicts what would have been impossible to access without generous helpings of luck. To begin with, the film maker gives a whole new meaning to the idea of being in the right place at the right time and secondly, persisting with the story in the middle of brutal conflict requires the sort of daredevilry that comes with extreme sports experience which this director had in his prior career. Some stories are just way too important for audience to ignore because they represent the essence of life, they question why we live and bring forth what we should die for. Virunga is one of those stories.

Conservation is THE epic problem to tackle for our post modern industrial society. Virunga movie refers to one of the most crucial and stunningly gorgeous eponymous national parks in the world that is also one of the last 4 resorts for Mountain Gorillas (our closest cousins after Chimps). The beauty captured by the gradual camera movement in panoramic shots alone is worth dying for. This park is cursed by its location on the border of 3 countries marred by deep conflict - Rwanda, DRC and Sudan. Sudanese and DRC rebels have repeatedly sought to occupy the park. Caught in the middle of poachers and rebels are some of the most dedicated and heavily armed park rangers in the world. Having visited National Parks in Tanzania and interacted with rangers and locals, I could grasp and believe their deep affection for the park and importance of its conservation. Wait a second, its not over yet. Add to this fiery cocktail, a shady oil corporation with questionable past seeking to probe for oil and you have the makings of a Hollywood thriller. Only this time, its a moderate budget documentary. This time, its real and its apocalyptic predictions of our planet's demise are not random conspiracy theories but result of scientific observations.

Despite this heady mix of depression inducing drama, its actually a inspiring film primarily due to director's focus on personal value system of the true heroes of the film - The Park Rangers. The music inspires introspection and nostalgia and has continued to haunt me.

The film is part political drama, part military conflict and part call for conservation.
Go Watch it Now on NetFlix.