Documentary Film Review: Aquarela

 

There is a terrific truth about nature that only real nature lovers, I suppose, are aware of: its blind strength. If one ever witnessed a tornado or a storm for instance would thereafter rarely depict nature in the pastel glamorous colours that may happen to be used from a completely outsider viewpoint. After surviving an episode of nature outrage, no one will think about nature other than with contempted fear. 

In this vein, Aquarela, a 2018 documentary film by the Russian film director Viktor Kossakovsky ís a one hour and a half sequence of episodes potraying the presence of water in the life of humans, mostly in its overwhelming power-driven aspect. The images are from all over the world and we rarely acknowledge the geographical location - some English words over there, some Cyrillic-written words on the working overall there - which is largely irrelevant. The camera is moving slowly, always passive observer of the unchained forces of nature. 

Underwater there is a silence that you can hear. Outside, the waves are brought by the wind out of the sea, breaking out trees and splashing the human houses. Even as an outside watcher, a nature voyeurist, one will acknowledge how insignificant humans can be facing the force of nature. 

As a frequent nature lover and photographer - especially in my pre-Covid19 life, I appreciated the silent discourse of the images and the techniques which are outstanding. Kossakovsky authored other documentary movies, one in which he is quietly observing the passers-by in Sankt Petersburg. I would definitely love to know more about the specific techniques used in filming Aquarela. 

The musical background is matching often the images when it does not outline directly specific water-related contexts. 

Indeed, this film is first and foremost about water. Not necessarily in the everyday life interpretation - which is so important for the humans, as a source of life - but equally as an autonomous source of destruction, as a terrifying poetry of natural freedom. 

Aquarela is one of those movies that I can watch over and over again without ever getting bored - which is a high occurrence when it comes to reading a book or watching a movie twice. Its beauty is so natural and unassuming that I will hardly be sure that I really understand everything even after at least ten more watchings. 

Rating: 5 stars