Bancoco movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Bancoco

This lovely documentary is now available on streaming platforms like Amazon Prime, Tubi, and Apple TV.

RATING: Documentary (PG)

LENGTH: 1 hour 4 minutes

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: A

IN A NUTSHELL:

A New Yorker journeys to the dangerous jungles in the Darien Gap of Panama to reconnect with an indigenous tribe he met and photographed 20 years ago. Their reunion highlights the profound power of photos and the human connection that transcends cultural barriers.

The film was directed by Brad M. King who also produced it with Rose Kowalski. Already, it has won many awards at various international film festivals!

I absolutely loved it!

THINGS I LIKED:

The film is just lovely with beautiful music that perfectly underscores each scene with wonder and delight.
We get to see inside a beautiful jungle and villages that very few people in the world ever get to see.
It’s so touching to see the expressions on the faces of the children when they first see themselves in pictures, as well as when Brad finds them again as grownups on his second visit.
The children are absolutely precious and so filled with life, energy, and happiness.
I loved seeing the homes, food, temporary and permanent tattoos, and traditional dress of the members of the tribe.
We get to learn why the tribe decides to name him “Bancoco.”
I love Brad’s eagerness to learn from the tribe. He is open to everything and by being that way, the tribe embraces him completely. Just beautiful. No judgment. No trying to teach them his ways. Just love and acceptance.
Before Brad left the tribe on his last day, they dressed in their finest clothing, performed ceremonial dances, played instruments, and cooked a feast. One of the leaders in the tribe explained that Brad would always be welcome because of his big heart. What a wonderful honor.
It’s such a testament to the power of photography and film.
I actually have a nephew who is currently living in Panama! He’ll be so excited to see this film, as I know he is falling in love with the Panamanian people already.
It touched my heart tremendously and even made me a little weepy to see such kindness, compassion, and brotherhood.
To learn more about this film and project, you can go to https://bancocofilm.com

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

I hope we don’t have to wait another 20 years for Brad to return to show the film he made of the tribe to them!

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

We see some little boys in the village not wearing underwear or pants.
We also see two older, topless woman.
We hear an indigenous tribe of people speak a foreign language with no subtitles.
Talk of dangerous drug dealers and guerilla gangs in the area.
We see military guards with guns.
We learn about the death of one of the children.