DIRECTOR: ARON GAUDER
STARRING: ANIMATION
RUNNING TIME: 1 HR 43 MINUTES
Native American teenagers confront an oil pipeline project, down the hill from their ancestral land. The grandfather evokes the tale of Creation, reminding all of us that we need to find our place in the great circle of creatures.
STARRING: ANIMATION
RUNNING TIME: 1 HR 43 MINUTES
Native American teenagers confront an oil pipeline project, down the hill from their ancestral land. The grandfather evokes the tale of Creation, reminding all of us that we need to find our place in the great circle of creatures.
FILM REVIEW:
(This review contains spoilers.)
“It’s everything I could ever want. I need nothing more.”
Fours Souls of Coyote is the International Feature submission from Hungary. This incredibly well done animated film is an environmental parable that merges together a present day story of an oil pipeline protest with a beautiful story of creation. The film is an ode to the importance of humans living together with the natural world.
The film begins right at the start of the world, where there’s nothing but water and sand. And the creator and a duck. Once mud is discovered, the creator is able to construct a fresh new world, beginning with grass, plants and the trees. Slowly animals begin to emerge. Houses are formed and life is perfect. But, one night, when the creator has a dream, he creates a coyote made with four souls, four lives. This coyote is a combination of arrogance, greed, gluttony, lust and envy. When the coyote steals the “magical” mud from the creator and shapes two little humans it leads to the appearance of death, of murder for food, the cycles of the seasons and reproduction. Humans are now part of the world and nothing will remain the same.
Four Souls of Coyote is a fascinating new take on the myth of creation. Here, humankind is simply one of the creatures of the earth, with no more importance than any other animal. Here they live harmoniously as one, living of the earth’s resources and working together to build a world that works. Life is so very good here. But, with the coyote always in the background looking for trouble, the world will eventually lead to the mess that humans have created in the present day.
Men does not weave this web of life. He is merely a strand of it. Humans are not the sole owners of the earth. Every tree and animal have the same rights to live in the world, although humans have exploited their rights to live. But, every human has the choice to be better, to make different decisions, and to create a new better world. Every human has the ability to be kinder to nature and to live together as one.
“Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned, and the last fish has been caught, will we realize that we cannot eat money.”
REVIEW: B+
(This review contains spoilers.)
“It’s everything I could ever want. I need nothing more.”
Fours Souls of Coyote is the International Feature submission from Hungary. This incredibly well done animated film is an environmental parable that merges together a present day story of an oil pipeline protest with a beautiful story of creation. The film is an ode to the importance of humans living together with the natural world.
The film begins right at the start of the world, where there’s nothing but water and sand. And the creator and a duck. Once mud is discovered, the creator is able to construct a fresh new world, beginning with grass, plants and the trees. Slowly animals begin to emerge. Houses are formed and life is perfect. But, one night, when the creator has a dream, he creates a coyote made with four souls, four lives. This coyote is a combination of arrogance, greed, gluttony, lust and envy. When the coyote steals the “magical” mud from the creator and shapes two little humans it leads to the appearance of death, of murder for food, the cycles of the seasons and reproduction. Humans are now part of the world and nothing will remain the same.
Four Souls of Coyote is a fascinating new take on the myth of creation. Here, humankind is simply one of the creatures of the earth, with no more importance than any other animal. Here they live harmoniously as one, living of the earth’s resources and working together to build a world that works. Life is so very good here. But, with the coyote always in the background looking for trouble, the world will eventually lead to the mess that humans have created in the present day.
Men does not weave this web of life. He is merely a strand of it. Humans are not the sole owners of the earth. Every tree and animal have the same rights to live in the world, although humans have exploited their rights to live. But, every human has the choice to be better, to make different decisions, and to create a new better world. Every human has the ability to be kinder to nature and to live together as one.
“Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned, and the last fish has been caught, will we realize that we cannot eat money.”
REVIEW: B+
