Embrace of the Serpent

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An Amazonian shaman, Karamakate, travels the river with two different German ethnologists, 40 years apart, in a bid to find the sacred Yakruna plant.

Inspired by the real-life journals of two explorers — Theodor Koch-Grünberg and Richard Evans Schultes — the film reveals Karamakate’s world vision at two different stages of his life, though these remain united by his understanding of time and man’s place within it. In contrast to the Western view, he perceives time as non-linear, perpetually unfolding in a myriad series of overlapping worlds.

In the first journey with the ailing Theo, Karamakate is at the peak of his powers and rails against the toxic influence of the whites as he reluctantly bids to heal the sick German. In the later journey with Evan, he is spiritually adrift, regarding himself as a chullachaqui, a hollow and empty human facsimile. Finding the Yakruna will make him whole again. This is a film that honours the mysteries and majesty of a lost world.

"Ciro Guerra’s transcendent adventure takes us on a dreamlike journey to the Amazon, guided by a charismatic shaman," - Film of the week, Mark Kermode, The Guardian

"An anthropological adventure and character mystery, poignant condemnation of colonialism and teemingly rich tribute to a lost world, Ciro Guerra’s monochrome heart-of-darkness fable is a multitudinous stunner." - BFI.

One of Sight & Sound's Best Films of 2016

This film is screening in connection with our Woodland Bathing workshop during the day at 2pm.

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