Cocote

Released in 2017, Cocote is an amalgamation of genres - an intense drama, a social critique, a religious exploration - all nested in a remarkable piece of contemporary cinema that often feels like an anthropological exploration. The film is directed by Nelson Carlo De Los Santos Arias with impressive performances by Vicente Santos, José Cruz and Yuberbi de la Rosa.

Cocote follows the story of Alberto, portrayed by Vicente Santos, who serves as a gardener to a wealthy family in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. Alberto is an Evangelical Christian and his religious beliefs significantly influence his life and actions. He leads an uncomplicated life, keeping himself within the confines of his faith and duty until a family tragedy calls him back to his rural homeland.

In stark contrast to the urban environment where Alberto works, his hometown in the countryside archives the remnants of Dominican tradition. It is a place where religion, superstitious beliefs, and legacy hold their ground against the encroachment of modern beliefs and lifestyle infiltrations. It is here that these two worlds - the traditional and the modern, the rural and the urban - clash.

The central focus here is the brutal murder of Alberto's father. Upon arrival, Alberto is confronted with a community rife with grief, anger, and an intense thirst for justice, or to put it more accurately, revenge. The customary mourning rituals, filled with chants, prayers, fires, and dances, reveal a rich culture laden with a profound connection to spirituality and roots. This interaction between tradition and religion becomes the film's core, a topic explored with unprecedented rawness.

The cinematographer, Pedro G. Guerrero, paints a fascinating picture of the Dominican highlands. He captures the texture of the land, the everyday life, the community norms, the rituals, and the flora with astonishing beauty and authenticity. The contrast he portrays between the tranquil city life and the intense, almost chaotic provincial life is one of the most intriguing visual treats the film has to offer. The aesthetic narrative of the film is so realistic that one may feel the heat of the tropic country through the screen.

Cocote, in its essence, explores the idea of revenge in a disturbingly honest manner. It delves into the tumultuous psychological landscape of a man torn between his deep-set religious moralities that prevent him from indulging in violence, and the societal customs that compel him to do so. The film articulates the power situation, oppression, class difference, and the conflicting ideas of faith and vengeance, all with an exceptional balance.

Vicente Santos is remarkably sublime in portraying the character of Alberto, a man stuck in an excruciating moral dilemma. José Cruz and Yuberbi de la Rosa too, put forth memorable performances, holding their ground with their vivid and emotionally charged portrayals.

Cocote doesn’t shy away from challenging its viewers to engage thoughtfully with its raw and unstinting portrayal of life and the complexities of human behavior. Its narrative flow is intricately non-linear, interspersing slices of Alberto's life in the city with scenes from his village, creating a narrative collage that reveals the character's psyche and the social dynamics he navigates.

Films like Cocote demand the audience's attention and contemplation. The film is not solely about the narrative it presents, but also the themes it invites audiences to ponder over. It's a commentary on society, religion, traditions, human nature, and the inherent conflicts that lie therein.

Cocote is an ambitious cinematic exploration that challenges narrative norms and blurs genre boundaries. The film’s true essence lies deep within its depiction of the multifaceted complexities of human life - a raw, gripping, and unsettling rumination on life, faith, and vengeance. It leaves its audience with an abundance of questions, inviting them to reevaluate their understanding of religion and societal norms far beyond the film’s end credits. Bringing the Dominican Republic's culture to the global stage, Cocote is a stark, gritty yet beautiful film that echoes long after the last scene.