Embrace of the Serpent

Name: Embrace of the Serpent
Genre: Adventure, Drama, History
Released: February 17, 2016
Duration: 125 min
Rating: 82
Cast: Antonio Bolivar, Brionne Davis, Jan Bijvoet, Luigi Sciamanna, Nicolás Cancino

2016

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 31 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 79 Ratings

See All

7.8

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.8	Your Score
7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 79 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Embrace Of The Serpent (US)

Now Playing: Embrace Of The Serpent (US)

Movie Details & Credits

Oscilloscope Pictures | Release Date: February 17, 2016 | Not Rated

Starring: Antonio Bolivar, Brionne Davis, Jan Bijvoet, Luigi Sciamanna, Nicolás Cancino, Nilbio Torres, Yauenkü Migue

Summary: Embrace of the Serpent centers on Karamakate, an Amazonian shaman and the last survivor of his people, and the two scientists who, over the course of 40 years, build a friendship with him. The film was inspired by the real-life journals of two explorers (Theodor Koch-Grünberg and Richard Evans Schultes) who traveled through the ColombianEmbrace of the Serpent centers on Karamakate, an Amazonian shaman and the last survivor of his people, and the two scientists who, over the course of 40 years, build a friendship with him. The film was inspired by the real-life journals of two explorers (Theodor Koch-Grünberg and Richard Evans Schultes) who traveled through the Colombian Amazon during the last century in search of the sacred and difficult-to-find psychedelic Yakruna plant. [Oscilloscope Pictures]… Expand

Director: Ciro Guerra

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama, History

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 125 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Collin Brennan

Mar 10, 2016

This is that rare film that has the power to transform, to shake one’s belief system so thoroughly that one feels like a slightly different person walking out of the theater. Read full review

100

Alan Scherstuhl

Feb 16, 2016

Colombian director Ciro Guerra's Embrace of the Serpent is a legitimate stunner, a river-trip that will mesmerize and jack with you, leaving you not quite certain, at its end, how to go about the rest of your day. Read full review

The Film Stage Michael Snydel

Feb 14, 2016

The movie is more about how outsiders – whether consciously or unconsciously – exert control. The repercussions of colonialism hover over the text even as these characters have “noble” intentions. Read full review

Jordan Mintzer

Jan 7, 2016

If the film runs a tad too long, especially in its second half, Embrace of the Serpent is still an absorbing account of indigenous tribes facing up to colonial incursions, revealing how Westerners are in many ways far behind the native peoples they conquer. Read full review

Time Out London Tom Huddleston

Jun 9, 2016

Unique and intoxicating, an art movie that grips like a thriller. Read full review

Soren Andersen

Mar 10, 2016

Throughout, the fragility of the native cultures and of the rain-forest environment that is their home is underscored by Guerra in this fascinating, melancholy movie. Read full review

Farran Smith Nehme

Feb 18, 2016

A sudden lurch into trippy abstraction at the end simply doesn’t work, but for the vast majority of the time this is a strong and original film. Read full review

SEE ALL 31 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

jojojojojojo

Feb 18, 2016

Do yourself and favor and go see this movie.

Karamakate will take on a trip to discover what you've lost, to question your existences and numbness, Karamakate is the hero in this duality of myth and history, western civilization and amazon, dream and reality. It´s a psychedelicDo yourself and favor and go see this movie.

Karamakate will take on a trip to discover what you've lost, to question your existences and numbness, Karamakate is the hero in this duality of myth and history, western civilization and amazon, dream and reality. It´s a psychedelic experience, ready to give you the most spiritual trip. Do you remember how to dream? what is to know? What's the difference between knowledge and wisdom?, and how teach or pass that information. It´s many thing and it´s none, but you won't be the same after watching it.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

Slightyhastyent

Oct 23, 2020

Powerful. Brilliant. Beautiful. Horrifying. An outstanding piece of cinematography on a subject that is far too overlooked and unexplored.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

mvpoeti

Feb 23, 2016

Most remarkable foreign film of 2016. Amazing cinematography, an almost mystic story that takes you to the depths of the unknown Amazon. Embrace of the Serpent, a trip back to the roots, is worth watching and highly recommended.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

LeZee

Jun 24, 2016

In any world, the history keeps repeating itself.

It is one of the last films to I watch from the 2016 Oscars nominees. It was a Colombian production that represented the country in the 88th American Academy Awards. It had all the qualities to win that major international award, but lostIn any world, the history keeps repeating itself.

It is one of the last films to I watch from the 2016 Oscars nominees. It was a Colombian production that represented the country in the 88th American Academy Awards. It had all the qualities to win that major international award, but lost the bet to 'Son of Saul'. In my perspective, after seeing all the five, no doubt, but this film's the real winner. The film was loosely based on the real occurrence that was written in the diaries of two scientists on their expedition into the Amazon's deep in search of something what intrigued the conflict between the two worlds.

It portrayed the beautiful Amazon in the black and white pictures and I loved it because, it recreated the world that was over 100 years ago. It would have not affected the viewers same if it was rendered in colour. It is awesome to see a film like this about the Amazon people after a very long time. Because prior to the 80s and 90s, there were plenty of African and South American exploration films made which rapidly reduced its number when comic book films became the frontrunner in the world cinema. So going back to the lost world was really an amazing experience that this film had given to me and you should not miss it as well.

It takes place in the first half of the 1900s that breaks into a two part narration. In the first, where a German scientist Theo, looks for a help from the last surviving young man from his tribe, Karamakate, to explore the jungle for the scientific research. In the second, 40 years later, an American scientist, Evans follows a similar kind of quest who once again seeks help from the aged Karamakate. When Karamakate realises their agenda, concerns for the peace and stability in the region, so goes for the measure that has to be taken.

"Ants like money. I do not. The taste is bad."

It was like lost in translation. During the invasion of the remaining parts of the South America in the Amazon basin on the Colombian side, how the both worlds suffered was the part of this narration and cultural collision was one of the main topics. Most of the film was shot alongside of the rivers Inirida and Varupes, especially the final scene location was so beautiful. The film concept was similar to the 'Anaconda 2', but there's no intense action-thriller, especially there's no fast and aggressive serpents in the act. The scientists are looking for a certain kind of plant which is considered sacred and protected by the Amazon tribes.

It was boring in the initial parts, because I did not know what to expect. So I just kept watching as whatever it was focused on. But during the end of the first act, I started to like it. Because it was not as complicated as I thought and it was not the art film like those without the plot and background score. So at the end of my watch, I'm very satisfied. The actors were stunning as the amazing Amazon basin is. Of them all, the 'Borgman' actor was the only familiar face to me.

It is a powerful film, with a bit of a documentary style presentation. The main theme was about the history repeating itself. In your lifetime if it repeats means a second chance to divert it from the possible future nuisance. So how the one who cares would reach and solve it is what this film was told. The film characters were brilliant and Karamakate will be remembered. A neatly narrated tale that will remain people's favourite for a very long. One of the films of the 2015 and of the Oscars nominees that nobody must miss it.

8/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

EpicLadySponge

Jun 23, 2016

Embrace of the Serpent brings so many things that I couldn't even explain what was even going on by the split of a second. A gem worth collecting and keeping.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

DirigiblePulp

Feb 25, 2017

The dreamlike odyssey of this movie is important and tragic. It has revelation in its bones, not of profundity but of empathy. This movie is about more than the raping of entire cultures at the hands of colonialists and rubber barons, it's about the inescapable sadness in the human conditionThe dreamlike odyssey of this movie is important and tragic. It has revelation in its bones, not of profundity but of empathy. This movie is about more than the raping of entire cultures at the hands of colonialists and rubber barons, it's about the inescapable sadness in the human condition that results from an unfeeling universe. An entire culture torn asunder to be no more. One man, Karamakate, as its last shadow, barely able to remember even the most basic of his people's recipes, let alone the faces of those he loved. Doomed to be forgotten forever. It's not just the loss of homeland and trees but the loss of the spiritual side of nature and the planet around us. The reduction of things to "things."

As a last hurrah, Karamakate saves one white man by showing him the limits of his own imagination -- a last attempt at preserving what once was, what can still be.

Impeccable shot with black and white cinematography. Its purpose seems to be that the world has been blanked of color. Its meaning stripped down to its barest essentials.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

pendulum321

Jun 30, 2016

Just been to see this movie with my wife, who loved it on lots of levels.
I, on the other hand, thought it the most boring film I have ever seen. It's like Deliverance but without the tension, the action, or the music. Also, it is in BLACK and WHITE!!!
When my wife said she wanted to seeJust been to see this movie with my wife, who loved it on lots of levels.
I, on the other hand, thought it the most boring film I have ever seen. It's like Deliverance but without the tension, the action, or the music. Also, it is in BLACK and WHITE!!!
When my wife said she wanted to see this film, I thought "Oh well, at least its set in the Amazon rain forest so the visuals will be stunning. Er, no, It is in black and white and looks like Scotland on a wet October afternoon. There is almost no action, no sense at all that you're supposed to be in a jungle, not one shot of an exotic bird or a waterfall. After two tedious hours the guy finally takes a trip courtesy of the local shaman, and whoever filmed that scene has clearly never taken a hallucinogenic substance. They don't seem to have tried so much as a joint. If you are a woman you'll probably like this film, if you are a bloke, bang yourself over the head with something heavy instead, it'll be more satisfying and you can do it in colour. (And at least something will actually HAPPEN!!)… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

SEE ALL 12 REVIEWS