Samuel in the Clouds

In the sweeping and atmospheric documentary film Samuel in the Clouds, released in 2016, Belgian director Pieter Van Eecke presents a stunning and heartbreaking reflection on climate change, memory, and the resilience of humanity. A profound and vivid tale, the movie features Juan Pablo Ando, Marta Calle, and most notably Samuel Mendoza, the humble and optimistic protagonist the film follows.

The film is set in Bolivia, in the highest ski resort in the world, Chacaltaya Glacier. This beautifully captured land of snow is at a daunting altitude of 5421 meters. However, as global warming continuously brings about climate change on our planet, the once-thriving ski resort is facing the bitter reality of a disappearing iceberg. In fact, the snow has been replaced with clouds that provide an eerie yet picturesque backdrop to Mendoza's narrative.

Samuel Mendoza, an affable local and weather station guard, gives the movie its beating heart. Samuel, the son of a past ski lift operator at the once-bustling resort, continues to travel up the mountain every day, amidst the changing landscape of his home, hoping in his heart for the snow to return. Despite the stark reality of climate change and the ski resort's gradual transformation into a ghost town, Samuel appears to be one of the few who haven't abandoned hope. His perseverance and almost poetic pathos set against the grandeur of the Andean landscapes create an ethereal, emotionally potent cinematic experience.

In this gripping tale, Samuel's deeply personal connection to the mountain and a disappearing way of life provides an intimate and human perspective on the global climate change crisis. It underscores the often-overlooked direct human impacts of these environmental shifts, taking viewers beyond mere statistics and scientific predictions.

However, audiences should not expect Samuel in the Clouds to be solely a tale of gloom and despair. Outside the magnitude of its climate-centric narrative, it's also a poetic reflection on one man's resilience, persistence, and spirit. Samuel's warm and endearingly optimistic nature, his undeterred commitment to his duties, and his deep-rooted love for his home, lend heart and hope to a story that could otherwise drown in its own melancholy.

One of the key strengths of this film is its stunning cinematography by Rimvydas Leipus. The strong visual imagery evokes a melancholic beauty that enables viewers to feel both the grandeur of the Andes and the desolation that has befallen them. The cinematography successfully juxtaposes the past and present, the snow-filled memories, and the present cloud-covered reality. Indeed, the film ends up creating a powerful visual meditation on nature’s magnificence and fragility.

Adding further depth to the narrative is the apt and poignant use of sound. The soundtrack is minimalistic yet impactful, effectively capturing the silence of the desolate resort, the whispering winds, the cloudy voids, and the overall isolation of the terrain. The soundscape contributes to the emotive force and overall atmosphere of the film.

Samuel in the Clouds presents a compelling, deeply touching portrayal of man's connection with his environment, the consequences of actions on our planet, and the belief in resilience and hope amidst desolation- all explored through the tender and persistent figure of Samuel Mendoza. The viewer is left to mull over not just the enormity and urgency of climate change, but also the enduring and unyielding human spirit that refuses to surrender.

The film paints a portrait of our rapidly altering world, with a heartfelt reminder that our actions impact lives today and will continue to shape the experiences of generations to come. A masterful blend of quiet dignity, poetic melancholy, and an urgent call to action, "Samuel in the Clouds" undoubtedly stands as an impactful contribution to environmental and social documentaries. It's a cinematic exploration of the past and present - and possibly a forewarning about our future if the current trajectory of climate change goes unaltered.