Auteur Lucrecia Martel’s (The Holy Girl, The Headless Woman) first film in 10 years is a haunting tale of anti-colonialism, existential limbo, and a dangerous search for a feared bandit. Told with great dexterity and dazzling, magical realist visuals, Martel has delivered one of the most mysterious and brilliant films of the year.
Zama is an officer of the Spanish Crown. Stagnating somewhere in the backwaters of Paraguay, he awaits a letter from the King granting him a transfer to a better post. His situation is delicate. He must ensure that nothing overshadows his transfer. He is forced to accept submissively every task entrusted to him by successive Governors who come and go as he stays behind. Adapted from Antonio di Benedetto’s 1956 classic of Argentine literature, Zama is perfect for fans of Embrace of the Serpent, _Aguirre, The Wrath of God_ and The New World.
