THE LOST CITY OF Z
US, 2017, 140 minutes, Colour.
Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller, Tom Holland, Angus Mc Fadyen, Franco Nero.
Directed by James Gray.
In terms of marketing, Lost City of Z, may not be so successful for promoting the film. On the one hand, the title sounds very much like a blockbuster adventure, even fantasy. On the other hand, it is a reference to exploration expeditions to Bolivia and the search for a city lost in the jungles of Amazonia. Which means, it is a rather more serious historical film.
The director is James Gray, much better known for small-scale American stories, with criminals in Little Odessa, of relationships in Two Lovers or reminiscence about people arriving in America, The immigrant. He has written a screenplay and directed, recreating Ireland and England in the first part of the 20th century, action in Amazonia, the jungle, the rivers, falls, animals – and the continued threat of the spear-throwing inhabitants.
The film opens in Ireland in 1905, the gentry assembled Hunt, helped by the military, especially with the lieutenant, Percy Fawcett, played very seriously by Charlie Hunnam. It is he chases and kills the stag but is unacceptable to society because of his father’s disreputable reputation. He is deprived of medals and promotion, returning home to England with strong-minded wife, Nina (Sienna Miller).
It is quite a surprise for Fawcett when he is invited by the Royal Geographical Society to lead an expedition to Amazonia, the area between Brazil and Bolivia, to determine the borders because of rubber barons and their clashes. Fawcett was an excellent cartographer in his study days. The expedition will last at least two years.
The film highlights the distance between England and Bolivia, the liner in the Atlantic, train travel in Bolivia, slow riding by horse, walking. The adventurers are surprised to find a city in the jungle with its own opera company performing (for film buffs, echoes of Hertzog’s Fitzcaraldo). As they go into the jungle, Fawcett is accompanied by a journalist who becomes his friend, Costin (Robert Pattinson) as well as a military attache, a local Indian guide and various carriers. As expected, things are not easy in the jungle, snakes, piranha in the river, hunger – and the shooting of a boar when they are desperate for provisions. There are also dangerous encounters with the local Indians as well as making friends with them, and hearing of the possibilities of cities covered over by jungle. Fawcett uses the term Lost City of Z, which, if found, would contribute to the ethnographic understanding of the world.
Fawcett is welcomed on his return but is eager to go again, giving talks to the Royal Geographical Society, mocked by some of the members about his theories, others being enthused and offering to accompany him. His wife would like to accompany him, stressing her capabilities and those of women, but Fawcett is rather old-fashioned in his expectations of what women can and cannot do. She remains at home over the years and they have three children.
The second expedition achieves some things but, an encounter with a cannibal group, one of their benefactors, Murray (Angus Mc Fadyen) is cowardly, is sent off with provisions after his capsizing their boat – and, when Fawcett goes again to the Society, Murray is there to denounce him and demand an apology.
World War I intervenes and Fawcett goes to the trenches, quite graphically pictured here, showing heroism and being blinded by chlorine gas and repatriated.
Five years pass, his oldest son Jack (Tom Holland) who had regretted his father’s absence and influence on his family has become something of a hunter and proposes that they are going in to Amazonia, raising American finance which is met by British finance. And the Society acknowledges Fawcett’s work in awarding him its highest medal.
Fawcett and his son disappear – and the film speculates about their being taken by local Indians who respect them but lead them to their deaths. There is a postscript to say that in the early 20th century, there have been some discoveries of Amazonian cities (and a reminder that Machu Picchu was discovered in the early 20th century in Peru).
A film about Intrepid British explorers rather than an action blockbuster.
1. The title, audience expectations? Adventure and blockbuster fantasy? Not?
2. History, cartography, ethnographic, military, exploration? The early 20th century?
3. The work of the director, his usual interpersonal dramas, relationships? The scope of this film, his writing and directing?
4. The opening, Ireland 2005? The military, Percy Fawcett and his place in the military, his relationship with Nina, family? The group of gentry, the hunt? Percy and his daring, riding into the woods, killing the stag? His reputation? The party, inquiries about him, the disrepute of his father, therefore not acceptable, shutting the door on the dinner? With Nina, their getting ready, the intimacy between the two? The importance of the hunt, his promotions, medals? Dancing, with his wife, others coming in? Nina as strong, sharing with him – and happy to wear trousers if she could!
5. The timespan of the drama, over 18 years, the changes in the world, from Edwardian England, to World War I, to the 1920s? England changing? The opening to South America, the issue of borders, rubber plantations, South American wars?
6. Fawcett, the Royal Geographical Society? Calling him in, his past studies and map drawing? The offer, the promotion, rehabilitation from his father’s reputation? Discussions with Nina, the issue of Jack, her pregnancy, away for two years? Acceptance?
7. The visualising of Amazonia, remote, the jungle, the rubber plantations, travel to South America by ship, train rides, horses, walking? Finding the town – and the performance of the Opera? The Baron, his life and style, owning the plantations? The recruiting of men? The lush terrain, the difficulties, falls, the river, the animals, reptiles, the hunger, the shooting of the boar? The river and not getting any fish, the piranha? The work for the society and the coordinates?
8. Costin, Percy meeting him, the discussions, work as a journalist, on the expedition, his contribution? The local men, the British military man? The Indians, the guide and his taking the group to the falls and then disappearing? The various carriers?
9. The locals, unknown, the spear attacks? The friendly tribe, Fawcett going, friendship with the chief, sharing? Finding the pottery, the theory about the city of Z? The reason for this title, completing understanding of human history?
10. Return home, acclaim at the wharf, the articles, Percy giving speeches, issues of the borders, the lost city, the ethnology? His being derided, the jokes and repartee? Murray and his support? Murray and his money, his background on an Arctic expedition? The challenge and the plan to go again to Bolivia?
11. Return, the family, Jack and his wariness of his father, the birth of Brian? Percy as an absent father? Nina and wanting to go, the discussion about a woman’s place and abilities, Percy and his conservative views about the place of women?
12. The second expedition, easier, Murray present, Costin, the others? The difficulties, the tribes? Encountering the cannibals, the visuals, Percy keeping calm, accepting the hospitality, experiencing the rituals? Murray and his spurning the primitives?
13. Murray, fears, on the river, the boat, losing their suppliers, Percy giving him the horse, supplies and sending him back?
14. The return, the achievement, the theories about the lost city? The meeting with the Royal Geographical Society, Murray and his presence, his interpretation of what happened, his demanding an apology from Percy? Percy and his apology to the men for Murray’s conduct?
15. Family, the birth of Joan, Jack and his resentment, Percy hitting him? The prospect of war?
16. Two years of the war, his patriotism, military background, the scenes in the trenches, the spirit of the men, Percy and his leadership, over the top, the deaths, the chlorine attack? Percy in hospital, the damage to his eyes? Jack and his support of his father?
17. The five year gap, Percy recovering, Jack as a hunter, family life?
18. Jack wanting to go to Bolivia, persuading his father, the announcement? The American backing? English cash? Percy and his being honoured with the prize medal? Farewelling Nina?
19. The expedition, the repetition, the exhilaration, being captured, the tribes, the rituals, courage? Carried to their deaths?
20. Nina, the Brazilian, giving the compass to the society, the pledge that Percy had found the lost city? Nina and her hopes, continuing to believe in their survival?
21. South American exploration, Machu Picchu, Bolivia and Brazil, the 20th century explorations and discoveries?
