Tragic Jungle

Tragic Jungle
Mexico, France, Colombia | 2020 | 96’ | Colour | Spanish, English, Maya, Creole | Chinese and English subtitles | Group : B
Director : Yulene Olaizola

Set in the enigmatic Mayan tropical rainforest along the Río Hondo —on the border between Mexico and what was then British Honduras, and now is Belize—Tragic Jungle  stars Indira Andrewin as a young woman trying desperately to escape from the white British landowner she is being forced to marry. While she manages to elude him, she immediately falls prey to another group of predators. But the jungle has a life on its own and will itself take revenge on the abusive and inhumane actions taking place within it. Employing the mysticism and superstition of an ancient culture, director Yulene Olaizola makes a highly accomplished first film observing the boorish behavior of men and ultimately subverting the traditional female role from object to subject.

VIOLETA BAVA

1920.Deep in the Mayan jungle, a lawless territory where myths abound, a group of Mexican gum workers cross paths with Agnes, a beautiful and mysterious young Belizean woman. Her presence incites tension among the men, arousing their fantasies and desires. Filled with new vigour, they continue deep into the jungle, without knowing that they have woken up Xtabay, a legendary being that lurks in the heart of the forest.

Yulene Olaizola was born in Mexico City in 1983. Her first film, the documentary Shakespeare & Victor Hugo’s Intimacies received more than 30 awards, including at the San Sebastian, BAFICI, IDFA & La Habana festivals. It was also awarded with the Ariel for best Mexican first film. Her second film Artificial Paradises had its world premiere at Rotterdam in 2010. Her third film Fogo was presented in Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes in 2012. She co-directed Epitaph with Ruben Imaz in 2015 and Tragic Jungle, her fifth film, had its world premiere in the Orizzonti section at Venice in September.