Los Versos del Olvido - Im Labyrinth der Erinnerung

"The world is gone," wrote Paul Celan "I must carry you." These words haunt and embolden the scenic poetry that unravels in this enchanting film. An elderly cemetery undertaker with curious scars and a remarkably particular memory, tends to a little lettuce garden as well as the graves, histories and memories of people long gone. Strange things begin to happen including a visit by secret police in the night with the body of an unknown young woman. The whale earrings she wears are revealing, for whales are earth's messengers and their eerie calls begin to resound in the depths of the sky. A storm is gathering and while the elderly man seems to have a central role to play in it, he does not appear overly concerned.

The trauma and darkness of past and present oppression combine with the grace and transcendence of the human and natural world in this brilliant, beautiful puzzle of a story. It is lovely as it is heartbreaking. Ambient sounds of footsteps, cats, crickets, doves, stray dogs, bees and more, are infused throughout and comprise much of the wordless yet telling dialogue. The main actor is perfect for the role and his stellar performance carries the film. While the film is slow paced and obscure, it is thought-provoking and wonderful. The Iranian director chose Chile as the setting for the film, which really could be anywhere. Seen at the Toronto International Film Festival.