CFF60 review - LIFE IS SACRED by Andreas Dalsgaard

ANDREAS DALSGAARD tells the story of the unorthodox political activist and leader ANTANAS MOCKUS of the Columbian Green Party, who dared to oppose the staunch and corrupt Columbian powers in the 2010 Columbian elections in his documentary LIFE IS SACRED, which screened at the 60th CORK FILM FESTIVAL.

LIFE IS SACRED borrows its title from one of the slogans of ANTANAS MOCKUS, mathematician and philosopher but most importantly, the unorthodox political activist who preached a policy of extreme non-violence and whose popularity not only made him the mayor of Bogota for two terms, but also the Green Party's candidate for the presidential election of Columbia in 2010, in which he was going up against a party that not only was ultimately favoured to win, but also represented the violence and oppression which the state of Columbia had been suffering from for decades. 

LIFE IS SACRED is directed by ANDREAS DALSGAARD, who was provided with great insight in the presidential campaign and the Columbian Green party's machinations and strategy making in order to succeed in making history with a victory. But the director also got to be up close in personal with an inspiring figure, such as ANTANAS MOCKUS, who arguably is lesser known than many other South American figures in World politics than he might deserve. It is hence no surprise that the production company behind this documentary should be FINAL CUT FOR REAL, the prodicuction company behind JOSHUA OPPENHEIMER's groud breaking films THE ACT OF KILLING and its sequel THE LOOK OF SILENCE. But LIFE IS SACRED is very different. 

DALSGAARD remains true to chronicling the events with great urgency, and remains true to the story as it unfolds. And while the film would have been greatly rewarding as one dealing with a very important political issue, the filmmaker is just as interested in the human element, and particularly in revealing in a sympathetic light the man that is MOCKUS, with all his regrets and vulnerabilities, even to the point of revealing his relationship with his mother, who seems to underrate all his political achievements despite Columbia's unofficial totalitarian ruling. 

Not to mention that, shortly after the election, it is revealed that he is is also struggling with Parkinson's, which makes his downfall look all the more drastic if not downright poetic - a KUROSAWA like wounded and nostalgic hero.

This parallel humanity in the film adds to the intensity of the narrative itself, and connects with the viewer in a very cinematic way. This in turn lends more power to all the other aspects of the film. The main narration is in fact provided by a woman, leader of the Youth Groups of the Green Party, who speaks her mind about her party's ideals, but also reveals the harrowing personal reasons why she is so heavily politically involved in her early twenties. 

Likewise, it is just as dramatically powerful to see the members of MOCKUS' party ultimately turn against him after he refuses to entertain the conspiracy theories that could have justified his loss at the 2010 Columbian elections. 

LIFE IS SACRED is a film that is rooted in modern history, and despite its attentions to the election machinations, it does not solely focus on them - like for instance THE WAR ROOM by D.A. PENNEBAKER and CHRIS HEDGEGUS would have. The cameras take us to the streets and among the people, in a passionate reveal of the meaning of the political movements of its time, and is absolutely balances in the thrill of the elections themeselves, while also maintaining a keen eye on the human aspects of the story itself, that in turn enrich the powerful viewing experience.