Deserto
A small group of artists travels the Brazilian backlands presenting a show. Upon arriving in a small village, they find an abandoned city with houses, a church, and a fountain spouting clean water, like a miracle of a biblical desert. Tired of and battered by their life as wanderers, the artists decide to settle in the village and start a new community, assigning themselves different roles from those they have played throughout their lives. This new arrangement, however, will reveal these artists the worst vices of the civilian life.
Insights
Plot Summary
The film follows a group of men from West Africa who embark on a perilous journey across the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea in search of a better life in Europe. Their dreams of prosperity are quickly replaced by the harsh realities of exploitation, danger, and the brutal fight for survival as they face treacherous landscapes and unscrupulous smugglers.
Critical Reception
Deserto received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its visceral portrayal of the migrant experience and Matteo Garrone's stark, unflinching direction. While some found the film's bleakness overwhelming, many commended its powerful storytelling and its ability to humanize the often-overlooked struggles of those undertaking such dangerous journeys.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its stark and realistic depiction of the migrant crisis.
- Garrone's direction is noted for its intense and immersive atmosphere.
- Some critics found the film's relentless grimness to be a drawback.
Google audience: Audiences generally appreciated the film's powerful and important subject matter, highlighting its realistic portrayal of the dangers faced by migrants. Some viewers found the intense and often disturbing nature of the journey to be emotionally challenging but ultimately impactful.
Awards & Accolades
Nominated for Best Film at the Venice Film Festival (2016).
Fun Fact
The film was shot on location in Morocco, with director Matteo Garrone aiming for a sense of gritty authenticity in depicting the vast and unforgiving desert landscape.
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