THE HISTORY OF VIOLENCE // A FILM REVIEW OF "499"
499 is a hybrid mix of a film. As the narrative structure, we meet an unnamed Spanish soldier in full armor (Eduardo San Juan) that seems to be lost in time. With a sword by his side he, and we, quickly discover that he is. He fought in the army of Hernán Cortés in 1521, a bloody slaughter where the Spanish invaded and conquered the Tenochtitlan, claiming their land as their own. We hear a female voice, also unnamed, tell us that he has been sent here, the same place that he knew oh so many years ago but now is the country of Mexico. Alongside that narrative, it's also a documentary, showcasing real Mexican citizens and connecting their stories to the ramifications of colonialism.
The fall of the Aztec empire and modern day (well, 2020 when the film was made) spans almost 500 years, hence where the title comes from. The soldier is unsure of why or where he is. He recognizes certain areas but is greeted with so many new sights and sounds that it confuses him. He first tries to announce a hostile takeover and then suddenly loses his voice. Now, without a voice, he can only wander through the land and observe. What's intriguing about this set-up is how he's essentially a stranger to this land but also responsible for the violence and hatred that has trickled down over the years. His internal monologue has him bragging of his superiority of those around him, calling the citizens of Mexico "Indians" and "Savages" and feels proud of his barbaric acts so many years ago. He's not the hero of his own story.
Director Rodrigo Reyes frames him exactly how we should see him: as a colonizer and someone who didn't care for those around him and simply took what he felt was his to take, by the will of God of course. It's a direct judgement, one that the film eventually has the soldier confront himself, wondering what his "glory" was worth. What's also interesting is who he interacts with throughout the film. All of the stories we hear are from real people, families that are still searching for their lost loved ones or family members that have tragically lost theirs. Each interaction is short, but packs a punch. Each story chips away a bit more at the armor of the fallen soldier. The theme of each interaction is hatred, oppression, violence and how time may move on but the oppressed stay oppressed and the oppressors seem to grow more confident each day. Reyes has created a powerful, moving and original film. It's devastating to see the horrors that still are going on to this day and the trickle-down effect of the horrors that happened 500 years ago. It's a unique experience that you won't soon forget.
GRADE: A-
WRITTEN BY Mischa Maclaird, Lorena Padilla, Rodrigo Reyes DIRECTED BY Rodrigo Reyes STARRING Eduardo San Juan. OPENS IN LIMITED RELEASE AUG 20 IN NYC.