Silent Light (15)

Director Cyfarwyddwr Carlos Reygadas
Starring Gyda Cornelio Wall Fehr, Miriam Toews,
Maria Pankratz
Mexico Mecsico/France Ffrainc/Netherlands Yr Iseldiroedd, 2006, 2 hours awr 7 minutes munud, subtitles isdeitlau

A visual tour de force that is worth seeing just for the amazingly beautiful opening and closing shots, this contemplative study of spiritual crisis among Mexico's Mennonites confirms Reygadas (Japon, Battle in Heaven) as one of the most consistently interesting directors on the world scene. Stolid farmer Johan is torn between his wife and family and the woman he loves. Although he has been honest with his wife about his adultery this does little to diminish his inner conflicts or his wife's heartbreak. Grounded by the use of amateur actors and an almost ethnographic observation of the Menonite community's daily rituals that make the spiritual moments even more moving and effective.

Mae'n werth gweld y ffilm hon yn unig oherwydd y golygfeydd cyntaf a'r olaf. Hanes argyfwng ysbrydol ymysg cymuned y Mennoniaid ym Mecsico. Mae Johan yn cael ei rwygo rhwng ei deulu a'r fenyw y mae'n ei charu go iawn, darlun gonest o sut mae dyn yn delio gyda theimladau'r bobl o'i gwmpas a'i rai ei hun.

"Rivetingly beautiful . . . powerfully dramatic . . . truly extraordinary . . . a sensuous and compassionate experience" Sight & Sound