Well this sounds interesting, to say the least. Carl Colpaert's new movie G.I. Jesús took the grand prize at the CineVegas movie festival over the weekend. The movie serves to analyze two hot button issues making the news rounds right now: Immigration and the Iraq War. Jesús concerns a Mexican national who goes to war for the Army in Iraq in exchange for citizenship, but things turn nightmarish when the soldier returns home to discover his wife and daughter have been caught up in a cultural of "materialism and conspicuous consumption."
I haven't had the privilege of seeing the movie yet, but it makes me proud that filmmakers are starting to really churn out work in protest against the state of our current administration. Flixens wasn't around when Syriana came out, and if it had been you would have read a glowing review of the movie by me. Not only was Syriana an amazing indicator for our life and times, but it was the most engaging movie of 2005. Jesús sounds like it might tread similar ground, and judging by the CineVegas website, it sounds like there may be some dark humor thrown into the mix. Hopefully the movie will find distribution. I think it's important for artists to find a voice, and right now, in this country, nothing is more inspiring (or depressing) than the sad politicization of important issues like energy conservation, immigration and how our country wastes resources on pointless wars.
Congrats Mr. Colpaert, I hope your boldness and protestations find an audience. Hollywood Reporter has the details on this and other films honored at the festival.
