This Evening's Film - “Embrace of the Serpent”
Selected and facilitated by Sam Choi, MD
Columbian film director and writer Ciro Guerra has created a cross-cultural masterpiece that embraces important spiritual and philosophical themes such as shamanism, science, religion, colonialism, "the other," and the magical world of the Amazon. It is based on the travel journals of German Theodor Koch-Grünberg and the American explorer Richard Evans Schultes. This engaging and thought-provoking drama swings between the parallel stories of two Western scientists who are on a quest to locate a potent sacred flower — the Yakruna — which contains healing powers.
Guerra spent five years making Embrace of the Serpent which won the Directors' Fortnight prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2015.
“Fascinating, bewitching, transformative, strange and intoxicating…” NPR
“A flawless masterpiece and essential viewing.” FilmInc
“The film we’re always searching for.” The Guardian
“Haunting, visionary sensibility, conveying glimmers and hints of a different way of knowing the world”. SF Chronicle
Free Admission.
Location: First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, 94704
About the Faith & Film series:
In this series we will examine the potent and relevant medium of film in exploring themes of love, faith, conscience, evil, death, reception, grace, morality, identity, and our yearning for the sacred. Each month we will view a different film––each unique, compelling, and demanding––reflecting our current times. Each film is curated by those who love this artistic medium and will host a conversation following our viewing. Co-sponsored by New College Berkeley and First Presbyterian Church Berkeley.
Location & parking:
FPCB is located at 2407 Dana Street, Berkeley, and the event will start promptly at 7PM in Geneva Hall, Room G202. This co-sponsored event includes free parking in the FPCB underground parking lot (on Channing Way). You must leave a note on your dashboard indicating the event you are attending.