A teaser is meant to, well, tease. Though that definition has changed over the years, as modern teasers have been known to be bonafide trailers that spoil major plot points and leave little to the imagination. That is most definitely not the case for the new teaser for the upcoming festival film, “Tragic Jungle.”
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With “Tragic Jungle” arriving stateside for its North American premiere at this year’s New York Film Festival, we are thrilled to offer our readers an exclusive look at the first teaser for the beautiful film. But don’t watch the footage expecting to learn everything about the film. In fact, you learn very little, as the footage only serves as a way to build tension between two groups that seems to be coming to a head for reasons that aren’t made clear. However, the beauty of the lush jungles, the mysterious, but interesting cast of characters, and the ominous narration are plenty to make anyone intrigued by what is surely going to be a standout from this year’s festival circuit.
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The film stars Indira Andrewin, Gilberto Barraraza, Mariano Tun Xool, Lázaro Gabino Rodríguez, and Eligio Meléndez. “Tragic Jungle” is written and directed by Yulene Olaizola. The new film marks the director’s fifth feature, after her previous work in films such as “Epitafio,” “Fogo,” “Artificial Paradises,” and the documentary, “Shakespeare and Victor Hugo’s Intimacies.”
As mentioned, “Tragic Jungle” is set to make its North American premiere at this year’s NYFF. The feature has already been selected by various other festivals, including Venice and San Sebastian.
Here’s the synopsis for the film:
Set in the 1920s in the deep thickets of a Mayan tropical rainforest along the Rio Hondo—then the border between Mexico and British Honduras, now Belize—Tragic Jungle follows Agnes (Indira Andrewin), a young woman trying desperately to escape with her sister from the white British landowner she doesn’t want to marry. With the man armed and on her trail, she barely gets away, and is discovered by a troupe of chicleros—gum tree workers—who become both her rescuers and captors.
Follow along with the rest of our 2020 New York Film Festival coverage here.