Rolando Klein: CHAC: DIOS DE LA ILUVIA (CHAC: THE RAIN GOD)
Language: Tzotzil, Spanish, English subs. Colour. 95 min. Mexico, 1974.
A very unique and incredible film, Rolando Klein made it in 1974 after spending two years living among the Tzeltal Indians of Chiapas, collecting stories, events, and anecdotes from their culture. A graduate of UCLA film school and of Chilean birth, Klein "returned to his Hispanic roots" at the urging of director and mentor Jules Dassin in 1972. A village is experiencing a drought detrimental to their crops and, resultantly, their survival. After only failure comes from consultation with their usual shaman, they attempt to gain aid from a mysterious diviner living in the mountains, who is said to practice the ancient ways forgotten by all else in the village. After securing his help, the diviner leads twelve tribesmen on a long journey as part of the rain-bringing ceremony. Eventually they return to the village to enact the ceremony proper, and incredible events ensue. In the meantime, there is always skepticism of the diviner's abilities; indeed, he might be merely bewitching the village for his own purposes. Or is he...?
(Source: IMDb)
Written and directed by: Rolando Klein
Cast:
Pablo Canche Balam - The Diviner
Alonzo Mendez Ton - The Cacique
Sebastian Santis - Mute Boy
Pedro Tiez - Father
Antonio Osil - Principale
Antonio Ton - Principale
Alonso Puj - Principale
Antonio Castellanos - First Captain
