The Last Wave (Peter Weir, 1977, Australia)

David though his practice as an attorney stumbles across a world of mysteries and prophecies leading to catastrophic events.

Last Wave is a detective story of apovalyptic proportions. Like all of Peter Weir´s films this ine defies the simple definitions of reality. Weir got the idea when he asked hemself; “What if someone with a very pragmatic approach ti life experienced a premonition?”. The film grapples with the dilemma of the native black race ruled by immigrant whites who at their own risk ignore the aboriginals spiritual identity. It is visulally stunning all the way an the acting superb from Chamberlain´s febriel intencity of confusion to the intractable and calm tribal leader Charlie. Though the film touches many political and spiritual themes it refuses to solve these issues.

Peter Weir is one of the directors tha gave birth to the so called “australian new cinema, others to be film-makers such as Fred Schepisi and Bruce Beresford . Peter´s narrative signature is the mans struggle agaisnt his own made destiny and civilization as can be seen Picnic at Hanging Rock, Witness, The Mosquito Coast and The Truman Show.

Memories of Underdevelopment (Memorias del subdesarrollo, Tomás Gutierrez Alea, 1968, Cuba)

Sergio, an intellectual playboy and a aspiring writer, decides to stay in Cuba when his wife his friends all flee to Miami. The year is 1961 shortly after the Bay of Pigs incident and follows Sergios lifestyle, his relationship with his girlfriends Elena and Hanna, and the everyday living in a undeveloped country.

The film is a character study and the effect of lifelyhood during the turmoil of social changes. It is told in a subjective point of view throught the fragmented memories of Sergio. Based on a book by Edmundo Desnoes, it mixes documentary, fantasy and fiction to place the viewer in the mind of a man caught between capitalist and revolutionary worlds. Shot in black and white with hand-held cameras it stages scenes and cuts to bring it to a realism and keeps the end open just as life is. It is a critique of the revolutionary society and also a critique of itself using a artistic subtlety.

It quickly became a international favorate after sweeping awards and prace at Havana Film Festival and is Gutierrez Alea´s best known film, others being Muerte de un burócrata, La,Última cena, La and more recently Fresa y chocolate and Guantanamera. Edmundos is working on the sequel and another movie to be released this year based on the book, called Memories of Development.