And So It Is (1966)

The story told in Jorge Sanjine's first film, And So It Is, is a timeless one, straight out of the great myths. A woman is raped and killed by a wealthy man while her husband is away visiting the town fair. Devastated, he vows revenge on the man who took his beloved wife's life. This is a work of stunning visual beauty, Sanjine's direction is raw and earthy interrupted by experimental flourishes. But despite an impressive opening and ending, the middle of the film meanders along at an excruciating pace, and is, sadly, really quite boring. Again, this is a visually breathtaking work, but something is missing that keeps the viewer from becoming involved in the proceedings; there is a barrier between the viewer and the events on screen, and this is certainly not a deliberate choice on the part of the director, but it is there none the less. Yet this is an important film politically and socially, especially in the Bolivian context, because it was one of the first in which most of the dialogue was in Aymara, the nation's indigenous language. Additionally, the depiction of an Indian taking his revenge upon a wealthy white man startled the military regime, which tried unsuccessfully to have the film banned. It is a shame, though, that the film itself is rather lackluster.