Sayen

As "Sayen" (2023 release from Chile; 95 min) opens, a Mapuche woman is chased in the forest by 4 people with guns. All of the sudden she reaches a deep ravine with a big river at the bottom. Rather than be caught. The soman jumps... We then go to "Three Days Earlier" as the woman, who is named Sayen, arrives back after years away at her original village, in a remote part of southern Chile...

Couple of comments: this is not your standard foreign movie. "Sayen" is specifically made around the aboriginal Mapuche people of southern Chile. Without giving much away, the film centers around how the Mapuche people's life style and more is threatened by an aggressive out of towner who envisions the area as perfect for eco-tourism. Of course! One of the best aspects of the movie is that we get a glimpse of what that part of the world actually looks like. The movie's photography is eye candy from start to finish, almost like a National Geographic documentary. That is a problem for the film, as there is quite a bit of awkward acting, and the underlying script is weak and predicable.

"Sayen" started streaming on Amazon Prime and I stumbled upon it when I was scrolling through the "recently added" section. I had never heard of this movie, and took a chance on it. Even though it's not the best of films, I'm nevertheless glad that I checked it out. Of course don't take my word for it, so if you are in the mood for a foreign film that is definitely not standard fare, I'd readily suggest you check it out and draw your own conclusion.