The Ornithologist

source: The Ornithologist

Came across this accidentally perusing new additions at Netflix. I hate to say it, because I like technical aspects of the film, but after a few minutes in when oddly misplaced Chinese girls tie the apparent Portuguese protagonist up I watched the remainder mainly as a geographical documentary. Confused? Read some of the other comments here. I haven't the heart to reprise scene after scene that to me make absolutely no sense. An element of suspense becomes moot when the viewer realizes there is no "there" there. Sexual innuendo abounds. The whole thing is manipulation pure and simple. Apart from the geography, that is. The nearest place I have actually visited is Galicia to the north, and I had no idea there was such an amazing back country, replete with virgin forests, whitewater rapids, fantastic rock falls, and fjord-like bodies of water. Mind you, I think it is worth watching again for some great camera takes. But ornithology it isn't. Nor is it clearly associated with St. Anthony of Padua (Padova) except for an obvious chord of someone lost and found...unless the viewer is moved to discover religious symbolism in ordinary natural phenomena.

Is it the homosexuality in Rodrigues work that does not allow him in the Pantheon of great directors ? He has created one of the finest films in cinema, ' O Fantasma ' and ' The Ornithologist ' is quite simply one of the greatest films I have ever seen. No spoilers but how wonderful to see a Saint in the making make love to a deaf and dumb Jesus by a beautiful river. It is erotic and the nudity justified, and the combination of intense sexuality with mortality has never been so finely expressed. The lead actor is superb, and his beauty of body is equal to his capacity as an actor who can hold all of the film in the palm of his hand as everything is more or less experienced from his own viewpoint. The nature scenes in their strange wildness reminded me of Herzog but better. Everything is seen through the eyes of a visionary and in this unjust world I am appalled that he is not more celebrated. If his subject matter was not so subversive and that his eroticism was not essentially male the mafia of straight critics would be writing books about him. He has a catalogue of work that should be brought out in a boxset ( in fact more than one boxset ) and this should be considered but I guess it never will. A visionary to be discovered and cherished.

An ornithologist is out surveying birds in the wild when his canoe is swept over rapids. He is rescued by two Chinese hikers but they, due to their religious beliefs, perceive him as a threat. So they tie him to a tree. Dull, meandering and pointless. From the outset you can tell this is going to be drawn out unnecessarily, as we see long scenes of birds, and nothing else. (Yeah, yeah, Mr Director, we get it: he's an ornithologist, as if the title and plot summary didn't give it away). After all the gratuitous bird shots, the plot, what there is, just goes in random directions. Just when you think at last things might be coming together, something random and bizarre happens. Last few scenes make no sense at all. Avoid.

it is the most comfortable definition. and, maybe, the most precise. because, except the trip of an ornithologist across a forest, strange meetings and fantastic adventures, nothing could be known. but, it is not exactly an enigma. and not a cryptic improvisation. it has a lot of cultural references and this does it, in same measure, a religious film, an art film, a form of fairy tale - the rules are the same - or an experiment remembering Bunuel. but significant is not what the director says . the key remains the final feeling. without a reasonable name but who could be defined as fascination. and this is the basic virtue of this challenge/provocative film. to recognize pieces from Romano Catholic hagiography, to see fragments of expressionism, to admire an eulogy of psychoanalysis or the deep solitude like a source of escape from yourself.

I have watched thousands of movies and am no stranger to allegory or symbolism. I absolutely DO NOT KNOW what in the hell is going on in this movie. It is slow and left me constantly asking "what's happening now?" Truly a complete and utter waste of time. It made zero sense. I did not feel enriched by the experience, never mind entertained. Regardless of how Netflix tries to sell it to you, PLEASE, don't fall for it.

I thought, from the plot synopsis, this was going to be a supernatural thriller. It was neither. What it was was part nature film (the only part I enjoyed at all) and part something else that I can't even describe. It was making some kind of statement on religion, but I honestly couldn't even tell if it was positive or negative. Perhaps you have to be a native to Portugal to understand it to any degree. Regardless, whatever statement it was making was being made in a very trudging manner. I wouldn't even recommend this to people who enjoy bad movies. Perhaps it's something you could torture your enemies with though.

A bird-watcher in jungles of Portugal gets lost and embarks on a journey of rediscovery of self and religion.Apparently ,this Portuguese film is an homoerotic allegory of the life of St Anthony of Padua,who is considered the patron saint of lost things,and whose original name was Fernando.The film is shot at beautiful locations to start with and works well till the ornithologist gets lost while kayaking.Then begins the torture,as the film descends from realism into supposed transcendental surrealism.There appear two Chinese lesbians tied up in a bondage relationship,members of a cult who dance and kill a boar in the middle of the night,a shepherd by the name of Jesus who makes out with the protagonist and who the latter ends up stabbing,* huntresses riding horses and remains of a monastery.I am not sure if this work shud be classified as magic realism.The ornithologist was on medication since the very beginning,and ends up losing his pills when he meets with an accident.It can be argued then that whatever happened after that was in his mind.I watched the film because this film was on the ' to be watched' list of a friend.Maybe the cinematography made him like this nut job.

this is a portugese film. I don't see many. I didn't realize just how different portugese is from Spanish. now I understand why they can't understand one another. anyway, Fernando is a bird watcher in the wilds of Portugal. again, who knew. after an accident he is found half dead by two Chinese women, who nurse him back to life. this does not work out so well for him. he later runs into a deaf mute goat herder, and that turns into a disaster. I am not sure if we are dealing in allegory, mysticism, metaphysics or what. the portugese forests are beautiful, as is the movie. there is full frontal male nudity and frontal female as well. there is a brief scene with two men kissing and rolling around on the ground. which might disturb some. nothing happens. the scenery reminded me of brazil, which I guess is appropriate. not sure if it's for everyone, but I liked it. in a way it's one man vs. the elements with religion thrown in. peace.l

Ornithology is a sorta hobby for me, and at least in the beginning of the movie the movie delivers - it is beautifully shot and there are some great shots of some beautiful country and beautiful birds as well. But then the movie descends into this art house nonsense, and I was pretty irritated that I had invested my time in what turned out to be some sad statement. Typical. I don't really care about the story's point of view, honestly I'm pretty irritated that Netflix recommended it 'based on' my like of another movie that was a very good mystery/thriller... this is nothing at all like that. Its just a meandering bit of nonsense trying to drive home an old point that I get and could care less about - get over it.