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Echoes of Exile: A Sound Map of Endangered Tongues
13 Aug
Summary
- Film follows a sound artist recording endangered languages in Peru.
- The journey connects family history, silence, and artistic expression.
- Director emphasizes listening to preserve cultural and linguistic heritage.
"Far From the Trees" ("Lejos de los árboles") by Meritxell Colell is a Spain-Italy-Peru production that centers on Adela, a Mexican sound artist. Adela travels from the Peruvian jungle to the Andes, meticulously recording endangered languages. Her journey is deeply personal, continuing the work of her exiled grandfather and confronting fragmented memories and familial silences.
Director Colell was inspired by the profound impact of loss and the concept of unspoken emotions, linking them to the power of sound. The film evolved from the story of a Vienna-based composer, drawing parallels to Colell's own family legacy of silence and hybrid identities shaped by migration and exile.
The film transforms anthropological work into art, creating a sound map of languages on the brink of disappearance. Colell underscores the idea that language is a fundamental aspect of thought and existence, advocating for listening to and appreciating these diverse forms of expression.
Utilizing Super 16mm for dreamlike sequences and incorporating layered sounds, the film explores the emotional and perceptual impact of sound in cinema. It specifically portrays a rarely seen figure: a woman in her fifties pursuing her passion for music abroad, examining the complexities of building a life far from home.
