The Ornithologist

As mesmerizing as it is gorgeously surreal, Jo�o Pedro Rodrigues' "The Ornithologist" is unlike any film you'll see this or any other year.

Paul Hamy stars as Fernando, the titular birdwatcher, who's washed ashore after his kayak is overturned by ferocious river rapids. After two Chinese pilgrims (Han Wen and Chan Suan) come to his aid, he attempts to escape from the unspecified forest that appears to be rooted in dreamlike logic. Through a series of spiritual vignettes the viewer is immersed within the film's rich, unclassifiable world, defying any sense of conventional structure. There are pagan rituals, Amazon huntresses and even an erotic fling with a shepherd named Jesus within this experimental odyssey.

Inspired by the life of Saint Anthony of Padua, Rodrigues has crafted an allegorical meditation on queer identity and religion, and both themes intertwine into something wholly idiosyncratic. This is not an easily accessible film, particularly for audiences who are unfamiliar with Saint Anthony's story and his impact on Portuguese culture. Even upon a second viewing, I found myself to be nearly as mystified by its symbolic escapades as I was the first time around. But great art is meant to challenge us, and while I may not fully grasp everything "The Ornithologist" conveys through Fernando's transcendental arc, the film is an aesthetically intoxicating experience on its own terms, impeccably crafted and brimming with feeling. For adventurous filmgoers, it's an avant-garde journey worth taking.

The DVD features the theatrical trailer, as well as trailers for other films distributed by Strand Releasing.

"The Ornithologist"
DVD
$17.99
http://www.strandreleasing.com/films/the-ornithologist