Apocalypto (2006)
Action, Adventure, Drama |
Apocalypto is a American epic historical adventure film co-produced, co-written, and directed by Mel Gibson. The film features a cast of Native American and Indigenous Mexican actors consisting of Rudy Youngblood, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Sérbulo, Dalia Hernández, Ian Uriel, Gerardo Taracena, Rodolfo Palacios, Bernardo Ruiz Juarez, Ammel Rodrigo Mendoza, Ricardo Diaz Mendoza, and Israel Contreras. Similar to Gibson’s earlier film The Passion of the Christ, all dialogue is in a modern approximation of the ancient language of the setting. Here, the Indigenous Yucatec Maya language is spoken, with subtitles, which sometimes refer to the language as Mayan. This was the last film Gibson directed until 2016’s Hacksaw Ridge ten years later.
Set in Yucatán, Mexico, around the year 1502, Apocalypto portrays the hero’s journey of a young man named Jaguar Paw, a late Mesoamerican hunter and his fellow tribesmen who are captured by an invading force. After the devastation of their village, they are brought on a perilous journey to a Mayan city for human sacrifice at a time when the Maya civilization is in decline. The film was a box office success, grossing over $120 million worldwide, and received mostly positive reviews, with critics praising Gibson’s direction, Dean Semler’s cinematography, the performances of the cast, and the portrayal of Mayan civilization.
While hunting in the Mesoamerican rainforest, Jaguar Paw, his father Flint Sky, and their fellow tribesmen encounter a procession of refugees fleeing warfare. The group’s leader explains that their lands were ravaged and they seek a new beginning. He asks for permission to pass through the jungle. Flint Sky comments to his son that the visitors were sick with fear and urges him to never allow fear to infect him.
At sunrise the next morning, the tribe’s village is raided by a group led by Zero Wolf. Huts are set on fire, many villagers are killed, and the rest of the adults are taken captive. Jaguar Paw nearly kills the sadistic raider Middle Eye, who kills the captive Flint Sky in retaliation and names Jaguar Paw “Almost”.
Director: Mel Gibson
Writers: Mel Gibson, Farhad Safinia
Stars: Gerardo Taracena, Raoul Max Trujillo, Dalia Hernández, Rudy Youngblood, Jonathan Brewer, Morris Birdyellowhead
Cast:
Rudy Youngblood | … | Jaguar Paw |
Dalia Hernández | … | Seven |
Jonathan Brewer | … | Blunted |
Morris Birdyellowhead | … | Flint Sky |
Carlos Emilio Báez | … | Turtles Run |
Amilcar Ramírez | … | Curl Nose |
Israel Contreras | … | Smoke Frog |
Israel Ríos | … | Cocoa Leaf |
María Isabel Díaz Lago | … | Mother in Law (as Isabel Diaz) |
Espiridion Acosta Cache | … | Old Story Teller |
Mayra Serbulo | … | Young Woman |
Iazua Larios | … | Sky Flower |
Lorena Heranandez | … | Village Girl |
Itandehui Gutierrez | … | Wife |
Sayuri Gutierrez | … | Eldest Daughter |
Hiram Soto | … | Fish Hunter |
Pepe Suárez | … | First Temple Sacrifice (as José Suárez) |
Raoul Max Trujillo | … | Zero Wolf (as Raoul Trujillo) |
Gerardo Taracena | … | Middle Eye |
Rodolfo Palacios | … | Snake Ink |
Ariel Galvan | … | Hanging Moss |
Bernardo Ruiz | … | Drunkards Four |
Ricardo Diaz Mendoza | … | Cut Rock |
Richard Can | … | Ten Peccary |
Carlos Ramos | … | Monkey Jaw |
Ammel Rodrigo Mendoza | … | Buzzard Hook |
Marco Antonio Argueta | … | Speaking Wind |
Javier Escobar | … | Vicious Holcane |
Fernando Hernandez | … | High Priest |
Maria Isidra Hoil | … | Oracle Girl |
Aquetzali García | … | Oracle Girl |
Abel Woolrich | … | Laughing Man |
Antonio Monroi | … | Chilam (as Antonio Monroy) |
Nicolás Jasso | … | Man on Temple Top |
Ronaldo Eknal | … | Slave Auctioneer |
Miriam Tun | … | Woman Auctioneer |
Rafael Velez | … | King |
Diana Botello | … | Queen |
Joaquin Rendon | … | Head Chac |
Nelly Castillo | … | Jade Woman (uncredited) |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia