Gabriel and the mountain

Synopsis

“On one level, the film can be classified as a journey of discovery, but what deepens interest is the way Barbosa constantly asks the viewer to question what it means to travel. Gabriel (João Pedro Zappa) bristles at the idea that he’s a tourist, insisting on the more egalitarian word “traveler.” He believes he can approach the people he encounters on their own level, yet the truth is far less cut-and-dry than he’ll admit: He’s white, he goes to touristy places, he carries the Lonely Planet guide to Africa, and whether or not he’s wearing a Maasai “shuka,” he cannot blend. He believes he can “delve into the soul of Africa,” but he’ll always have one foot elsewhere, no matter how hard he tries to convince himself that his locally made rubber sandals mark him as authentically African. (…) The film picks him up in Kenya, 70 days before his death, staying with a local family. After climbing Kilimanjaro in impressive time, he heads to Dar Es Salaam to meet girlfriend Cristina, who’s joining him following a conference in South Africa. (…) Once again, laurels go to Pedro Sotero, Brazil’s reigning cinematographer, whose works with Kleber Mendonça Filho and Barbosa have brought him to the peak of his field — now in more ways than one.” (Jay Weissberg, Variety)

Around The World in 14 Films 2017, presented by Sherry Hormann – in attendance of a special guest…