Watch El Mar La Mar

El Mar La Mar is a visually stunning and thought-provoking documentary film released in 2017. Directed by Joshua Bonnetta and J.P. Sniadecki, the film provides a unique and poetic view of the Sonoran Desert, located on the US-Mexico border. The film captures the essence of the desert through a series of stunning visual captures that are accompanied by mesmerizing sounds from the desert. The visuals take the viewer on an immersive journey through the Sonoran Desert, showcasing the vast, arid landscape and the unique flora and fauna that exist within it. The sounds of the desert provide an additional layer of immersion, with noises ranging from the gentle rustling of the wind to the haunting howls of coyotes in the night.

Through interviews and conversations with members of the local community that call the Sonoran Desert home, the film explores the complex issues surrounding the border area. The interviews highlight the challenges, fears, and hopes of those who live on either side of the border, and the impact that the border has had on their lives.

The film’s title, El Mar La Mar, is taken from a local phrase used to describe the vast and unforgiving Sonoran Desert. The phrase translates to “the sea, it is the sea,” highlighting that the desert, like the ocean, is a vast and ever-changing landscape that is both beautiful and dangerous.

One of the most notable features of the film is its visual style. The directors have employed a range of techniques to create a sense of the unique atmosphere and mood of the Sonoran Desert. These techniques include long panning shots that provide a sense of the vast expanse of the desert, close-ups of desert plants and animals, and abstract shots that show the textures and colors of the landscape.

The filmmakers also use sound in innovative ways, with the sound captured in the desert often taking center stage. These sounds provide a unique perspective on the desert, with the audience able to hear the winds that sculpt the dunes and the trickle of water in hidden streams.

Throughout the film, the Sonoran Desert acts as a central character, with the filmmakers portraying the border region as a complex and multi-layered landscape. The interviews with residents highlight the tensions that exist between communities on either side of the border, but also reveal the deep connections that exist between them. The desert provides a shared space in which people on both sides of the border can come together and find common ground.

Overall, El Mar La Mar is a unique and captivating film that offers an alternative view of the US-Mexico border. Through stunning visual captures and innovative sound design, the film creates a poetic portrait of the Sonoran Desert and the communities that call it home. The film is deeply moving and thought-provoking, providing a rare glimpse into the lives of those affected by the ongoing border issues.

El Mar La Mar is a 2018 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8 and a MetaScore of 79.