Trailer For 499 Tells The Story of a Time-Traveling 16th-Century Conquistador
I’ve got an interesting trailer here for you to watch today for an indie film titled 499. The film is described as a “creative documentary, mixing fictional and nonfictional elements, that explores the brutal legacy of colonialism in contemporary Mexico, nearly five-hundred years after Cortez conquered the Aztec Empire.”
The story follows a 16th-century conquistador (Eduardo San Juan) who travels through time witnessing the repercussions of history in modern-day Mexico. The film comes from director Rodrigo Reyes, who says in a statement:
“The cinematic image has a unique magical power. Suddenly, on-screen, centuries co-mingle and the conquistador walks the earth again, confronting the stories of survivors. This felt so much more provocative and enriching than taking a traditional approach. What better witness to the lives of the real people portrayed in the film than the Conquistador? He is the one that needs to learn the most.”
Here’s the synopsis that was shared for the movie:
Stranded in modern-day Mexico, a 16th-century conquistador (Eduardo San Juan) begins a journey, visiting bereaved relatives of murdered activists, exploring haunting strip clubs, and traversing misty mountains. A narrator brings to life text from old diaries, as the time traveler crosses over dunes and through bustling cities, detailing accounts of how the Spanish dehumanized the societies with whom they met, and with what impunity they maneuvered and battled. There are hints of remorse over the violence they unleashed, but these are few and far between.
Director Rodrigo Reyes combines documentary and a bit of fiction, using magical realism to draw a parallel between the apocalyptic sacking of Tenochtitlan and the harsh reality of many modern-day Mexicans. The carefully crafted cinematography and the dream-like style of the film serve as a gentle backdrop for the restrained tenacity and stubborn hope of all the migrants, activists, and grieving mothers. In bringing these issues to the forefront, 499 can provide a way for a country and it’s citizens to finally start healing from centuries old wounds.
499 was selected to world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Source: The Film Stage