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The Ornithologist (2016)

2016 • 1h 58m • Adventure, Drama • Unrated
On September 27, 2026
#90676▲ 72867
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CinemaSerf on The Ornithologist

6/10 · Aug 25, 2024

While birdwatching in the Portuguese countryside, "Fernando" (Paul Hamy) is swept away by rapids, losing his canoe and being rescued by two Chinese women, "Fei" (Han Wen) and her girlfriend "Ling" (Chan Suan). From that point forward, his experiences grow increasingly strange as he then meets "Jesus" (Xelo Cagiao), a silent, attractive goatherd, before an inexplicable event occurs. The narrative subsequently develops into something almost fantastical, forcing "Fernando" to confront the consequences of what he’s done, all while seemingly watched over by a white dove that appears to have some deeper meaning. It remains unclear whether he will reach civilization or if he even desires to do so. This is a rather peculiar film, lacking any immediately apparent point. At first glance, it resembles a nature documentary with beautiful shots of birds in their natural surroundings and the people observing them—including "Fernando"—as mere spectators. However, once his journey deviates from the ordinary, the story veers sharply off course, becoming overly arbitrary for my taste. It's not that the film is without structure; rather, director João Pedro Rodrigues seems unconcerned with ensuring the audience follows along as his imagination wanders across a lengthy, unusually self-indulgent two hours. The middle section feels disjointed, as "Fernando" unexpectedly encounters what looks like an abandoned garden from Michael Jackson’s estate and then runs into paintballers who seem to believe they are Centaurs. It's unusual and explores beliefs—not just those of the 20th century—and I did appreciate the final five minutes; however, overall, it felt like a very long film that left me feeling somewhat confused.

Source on TMDB