"Los Viajes del Viento" is more than just a typical road story. It is a quest for an unknown world, one which neither protagonist understands well, but somehow are compelled to discover. Whatever the original reasoning for each to take on the journey, the end point is surprising for both characters, and opens the doors to new beginnings. This is a truly remarkable, unique film which deserves (and may indeed need) to be watched more than once.
*The following may contain spoilers... please read only as discussion after watching.
Though the quest may seem incomprehensible on the surface, Guerra offers valuable clues in the film, particularly musical: the only melody that Fermín is able to "sort" of play on the horned accordion. He hammers it twice, getting himself into trouble (first when Ignacio is sleeping, who then wakes up and scolds the boy, and then with the Marimbero crew, where Fermín almost gets himself killed when attempting to recover the two-liner). Finally, at the foot of his Master's coffin, Ignacio plays this same song after reading the posthumous note from Maestro Guerra. It becomes the most powerful message from Ignacio to the eager Fermín, about what living on the road is truly like, and the toll it takes on the troubadour's emotional life.
This brings about the first truly emotional reaction from Fermín that is not anger or frustration. What does this young boy feel, when he hears this melody, close to his heart, played so beautifully, at that particular time? Yes, there are unanswered questions, but a very sensitive Ciro Guerra has left us valuable clues which are immersed in the music, and also in the matrix of cultural references which appear throughout. Pay close attention to all of the characters who don't speak in the film. Much is communicated by their timely appearance, and the music which is played/sung when they walk into this life-changing journey.
Indeed, do not watch this film expecting usual Hollywood feel-good endings, hearty relationships between the characters, or all answers to be revealed point-blank. You will get none of that. Ciro Guerra has opened a path for Criollo filmmakers which had been largely unexplored.
The film is brilliant in what it reveals, but genius in all it conceals: like life itself.
Well done, we expect much more from Ciro in the future.
*The following may contain spoilers... please read only as discussion after watching.
Though the quest may seem incomprehensible on the surface, Guerra offers valuable clues in the film, particularly musical: the only melody that Fermín is able to "sort" of play on the horned accordion. He hammers it twice, getting himself into trouble (first when Ignacio is sleeping, who then wakes up and scolds the boy, and then with the Marimbero crew, where Fermín almost gets himself killed when attempting to recover the two-liner). Finally, at the foot of his Master's coffin, Ignacio plays this same song after reading the posthumous note from Maestro Guerra. It becomes the most powerful message from Ignacio to the eager Fermín, about what living on the road is truly like, and the toll it takes on the troubadour's emotional life.
This brings about the first truly emotional reaction from Fermín that is not anger or frustration. What does this young boy feel, when he hears this melody, close to his heart, played so beautifully, at that particular time? Yes, there are unanswered questions, but a very sensitive Ciro Guerra has left us valuable clues which are immersed in the music, and also in the matrix of cultural references which appear throughout. Pay close attention to all of the characters who don't speak in the film. Much is communicated by their timely appearance, and the music which is played/sung when they walk into this life-changing journey.
Indeed, do not watch this film expecting usual Hollywood feel-good endings, hearty relationships between the characters, or all answers to be revealed point-blank. You will get none of that. Ciro Guerra has opened a path for Criollo filmmakers which had been largely unexplored.
The film is brilliant in what it reveals, but genius in all it conceals: like life itself.
Well done, we expect much more from Ciro in the future.