Ignacio Carrillo travelled all his life throughout the villages and regions of northern Colombia, carrying music and traditional songs on his accordion, a legendary instrument that is said to be cursed because it once belonged to the devil. As he became older, he got married and settled with his wife in a small town, leaving his nomadic life behind.
When his wife suddenly dies, he decides to make one last journey to the Northern edge of the country, to return the accordion to the man who gave it to him, his teacher and mentor, so he will never play it again. On the way, he is joined by Fermín, a young half-blood black man, who dreams of becoming a “juglar” like Ignacio, and to travel all around playing the accordion like he did.
Tired of his loneliness, Ignacio accepts to be accompanied, and together they start the journey from Majagual, Sucre, to Taroa, beyond the Guajira desert, finding on the way the enormous diversity of the Caribbean culture, surviving all kinds of adventures and discovering the mix of breeds and cultures that gave birth to the music they play. Ignacio will try to convince Fermín to take a different path in his life, having learned that his only led to solitude and sadness, but he will have to face the fact that destiny has different plans for him and his pupil.
[...] stunning widescreen landscapes, colourful musical interludes and sure human touch [...]
-Screen Daily
trailer
Cast and Crew
director
Ciro Guerra
production
Ciudad Lunar Producciones Colombia
Cine-Ojo Argentina
Razor Film Germany
Volya Films Netherlands
length
120'
year
2009
Sales and Distribution
distribution
Filmmuseum Benelux
int. sales
Elle Driver
festivals
Premiered at Cannes Film Festival - “Un certain regard” – 2009
Over 30 festivals including:
IFFR 2010 Rotterdam
Miami IFF 2010 US premiere
Munich IFF
SANFIC Santiago de Chile FF -
Official Competition, Award Best Director
TIFF Toronto
San Sebastian IFF
Rio de Janeiro IFF
Bogota IFF – Official Competition, Award Best Director & Best Colombian Film
Abu Dhabi FF
BFI Times London FF
Hong Kong IFF
Jerusalem IFF
