Watch Vivan Las Antipodas

Vivan Las Antipodas is a documentary film released in 2011, directed by Victor Kossakovsky. The title of the movie means "Long live the antipodes" in Spanish. The movie takes the audience on a journey across the world, exploring four pairs of antipodes or places which are opposite each other on the Earth's surface. The movie opens with a shot of a glistening beach in Argentina, with waves crashing on the shore. From there, the film takes us to China, where we see a group of elderly people practicing Tai Chi in a park, with a massive skyscraper in the background. The contrast between nature and modernity is immediately evident, and this sets the tone for the rest of the movie.

Throughout the film, Kossakovsky juxtaposes images and sounds from different corners of the world, highlighting the differences and similarities between them. We see the vast landscapes of Patagonia in South America, with its towering mountains and endless plains, and the sprawling cities of Shanghai and New York, with their teeming crowds and towering buildings.

In one of the antipodal pairs, we see a small village in Spain on one side, and rural Argentina on the other. The contrast between the two locations is stark- the Spanish village is peaceful and quiet, while Argentina is bustling with activity. We see gauchos riding horses on vast plains, and vibrant street festivals, all set against a backdrop of stunning natural beauty.

Another antipodal pair is made up of a remote island in the Pacific, and bustling Tokyo. The island is home to a small community of people who live off the land, while Tokyo is a modern metropolis, full of bright lights and advanced technology. The contrast between the two could not be more striking, and yet, both places have their own unique beauty.

Throughout the film, Kossakovsky eschews traditional documentary techniques, such as narration or interviews. Instead, he allows the images and sounds to speak for themselves. The movie is almost meditative in nature, with long shots of landscapes and cityscapes accompanied by ambient sounds.

One of the most striking aspects of the movie is the way in which Kossakovsky is able to find connections between seemingly unrelated places. For example, we see a shot of a factory in China, with workers assembling small plastic toys. This is followed by a shot of a factory in Argentina, where workers are making leather goods. Despite the obvious differences between the two locations, both factories are part of a global manufacturing network, and both offer employment to workers who might not have had other opportunities.

Overall, Vivan Las Antipodas is a visually stunning film that offers a unique perspective on the world we live in. The movie has been praised for its innovative approach to documentary filmmaking, as well as its ability to find connections across cultures and geographies. It is a must-see for anyone interested in global perspectives and the way in which we are all connected.

Vivan Las Antipodas is a 2011 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.