Difficult one this. I'm sure for Colombians this is a vital film dealing with a catastrophic situation that seems unending. But for a westerner without much knowledge of the situation in Colombia and surrounds apart from the drug dealing this is a perplexing film that only gradually seems to make sense. Very difficult fist half hour or so where this 'kid's army' mess about and degrade each other in the mud (although intermittent shots of cloud formations are amazing). Towards the end the pace picks up and we begin to get some measure of understanding of what is going on, during which we get amazing shots of seeming unending forests and river and the most astonishing and exciting rapids sequence. Overall it appears that the poor people of Colombia are struggling as much against each other and the elements than against any outside force and this is where the shadow of Apocalypse Now is cast, particularly wth the brief escape with the magic mushrooms and the eventual appearance of the helicopter. Music is brave and impressive and the director must have had a job obtaining such performances in such difficult conditions, its just that as this is no car chase/adventure story a little background or more helpful beginning might have made an illuminating film even more so.
Review of Monos
