Definitely felt like more of a parent than a participant in watching this film, as a lame disclaimer. Yeah, you'll get old too though partner. ;>
Anyways this film captures that youthful vibe of being fearless and clueless, but that's focusing on the American characters. In a way, Champa is the star of the film (with a slight nod as well to one of the minor characters at the end, a whale researcher).
The film has a sort of home movie warmth to it, partly in how it was shot, but also in having the director utilize his brothers. There's a tacit brotherhood that helps to reinforce the more kindly nature of strangers that keeps the film afloat. In listening to interviews, it was interesting to hear that the director in real life was the Jamie character, so I wonder if creating this film with Champa helps him atone for his overly caustic and solipsistic reaction to the original Crystal Fairy? Cera is so good as a callous Casteneda devotee (from folks old enough to remember those once-popular Don Juan wandering books).
I don't know it's a small film that worked fine for me, sure there is a sense of exasperation with the two American characters that might have driven off others. I like that the film does not wrap up with a simple epiphany, thus avoiding hopelessness.
Anyways this film captures that youthful vibe of being fearless and clueless, but that's focusing on the American characters. In a way, Champa is the star of the film (with a slight nod as well to one of the minor characters at the end, a whale researcher).
The film has a sort of home movie warmth to it, partly in how it was shot, but also in having the director utilize his brothers. There's a tacit brotherhood that helps to reinforce the more kindly nature of strangers that keeps the film afloat. In listening to interviews, it was interesting to hear that the director in real life was the Jamie character, so I wonder if creating this film with Champa helps him atone for his overly caustic and solipsistic reaction to the original Crystal Fairy? Cera is so good as a callous Casteneda devotee (from folks old enough to remember those once-popular Don Juan wandering books).
I don't know it's a small film that worked fine for me, sure there is a sense of exasperation with the two American characters that might have driven off others. I like that the film does not wrap up with a simple epiphany, thus avoiding hopelessness.