A serious contender for the Golden Lion has emerged. Even before Birdwatchers screened to the press, the Lido was saturated by rumours that the film was something special. This technically impressive tale didn’t disappoint
THE TIMES
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An evocative, surprising, vivid and well constructed scenario allows the actors, recruited from real Indians, to give substance to a tale that avoids all the traps of its subject’s potential worthiness
THE GUARDIAN
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The plight of the Indians living on reservations in the Brazilian Amazon has rarely been portrayed with such warmth and realism as in “Bird Watchers,” a well-constructed film that proudly wears its politically correct credentials
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Bechis is a confident director, good with actors and skilled at showing little touches …Bechis’ passionate film wears its heart very much on its sleeve.
SCREEN DAILY
Raw voltage
THE INDEPENDENT
The best film in the competition…it explores rather than parades its liberal agenda, raises questions in an arresting fashion and offers strong performances. If only there was more of the same
TIME OUT
A brilliant and subtle example of filmmaking that paints a powerful, although not exactly optimistic, picture of human resilience and dignity…neither sanitizing nor romanticizing its subject…sympathetic, sensitive
HERALD TRIBUNE
Solid, sympathetic filmmaking with a terrific opening…Bechis spent considerable time rehearsing his performers, and it shows in their naturalness and ease before the camera. Especially praiseworthy is Alicelia Batista Cabreira…always an idiosyncratic employer of music, Bechis beautifully inserts motets by Domenico Zipoli
VARIETY
A performance that effectively highlights the sharp clash between the New World often based on tyranny, and a profound spirituality and ancient culture connected to nature.
CINEUROPA
Marco Bechis’ riveting look at a native Indian tribe in Brazil in his latest “Birdwatchers,” lifted sagging spirits. Despair and cynicism faded away, and certain joy de vivre emerged. Politically correct, well constructed
THE SEOUL TIMES