Bacurau - 2020
Bacurau belongs in a class all its own. It is the most wholly original film that I watched in 2020. A total genre mashup, Bacurau begins like a folk tale of a small town in mourning for the loss of its matriarch, before shifting once into western territory and AGAIN into an ultra-violent showdown. The film hops around between moods and tones so much it can almost be disorienting. But, if you just sit back and begin to recognize what is "going on," it is about as FUN a ride as you'll encounter.
In this case, the "going on" is actually some pretty slick satirical social commentary. Its critiques are right on the nose. We have some townspeople who have been deprived of water, and a well-groomed mayor making empty political promises and granting meaningless small gifts. There are real colonialist motifs at play here.
Then the film spins like a top and we meet a whole band of hired mercenaries out on the take. The performances are roundly convincing. From the alcoholic doctor to the dangerous social pariah in the hills (speaking of Western tropes), it's all delightfully hammy and vicious. If you love Tarantino and Western last stands, this one will likely delight you as much as it did me.
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