Coming to theatres today, Wednesday, August 15:
CIELO
Director:
Alison McAlpine
Premiere:
New York Film Festival 2017
Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, RIDM, Full Frame, DOXA, Karlovy Vary, SANFIC
About:
A meditation on the night sky above Chile.
Venturing out to the Atacama Desert, the same setting as Patricio Guzmán’s exceptional NOSTALGIA FOR THE LIGHT, McAlpine constructs a reflective essay on the heavens, absent the political context that lent a gravitas to the previous film. When filtered through the perspectives of astronomers, taking advantage of the unique conditions of the desert to make their observations of the universe; and through the thoughtful views of local residents, the film works best, aided by some stunning footage of the nights skies. Where McAlpine falters is with her whispery, overly poetic narration and unfortunate choice of score, too often distracting from the beautiful visuals upon which she ostensibly wishes her audience to focus.
what (not) to doc 