Review of Zama (2017) by Brian B — 08 Dec 2018

*Spoiler Warning.

A remarkable film which is, at times, funny, absurd, and infuriating. Zama, a Spanish officer who's awaiting a transfer to Buenos Aires, thinks he has authority in his current residence, when in reality, he's commonly disrespected by the governors who have a way of ignoring his requests by trying to dodge around them or requiring for him to do other tasks first. As the film progresses and the passage of time is shown by how he slowly ages before our eyes (shown by his hair turning gray and his face developing wrinkles), his life begins to feel like an inescapable, absurdist nightmare. Martel doesn't attempt to paint him as a sympathetic character though as scenes such as how he had an affair with a native woman or an early scene where he spies on a group of naked women by the beach only to slap one of them after he's discovered reveal his character flaws. The visuals and the sound of this film are also pretty interesting. Martel often fills the film with disorienting sounds and visuals which feel like they don't belong in the setting the film takes place in. Instead of coming off as jarring, however, they reflect Zama's state as being a man out of time. Then, there's the shocking final act. It's a disturbing outcome for Zama, yet still darkly humorous as he wouldn't have had to endure any of it if he had been allowed to transfer. Overall, I found this to be a complex and compelling film, and I imagine that I'll pick up on new details once I rewatch it.