I Saw Three Black Lights

Santiago Lozano Álvarez's mesmerising feature debut immerses the viewer into a reverie that explores the violent degradation of family and traditions within a Colombian rainforest community. Following José (Jesús María Mina), a local priest seeking redemption on his final journey, the camera unveils a dreamlike environment intertwined with the reality of an overbearing local armed conflict. Venturing into the jungle's depths, his voyage becomes an emotional prayer for generational pain, lost amid the sound of gunshots.

Wise elder José tends to the dead villagers, performing a ritual that safeguards their passing into the afterlife. Once a task of great honour, his calling feels inconsequential in the fading community. As spiritual trinkets gradually replace companions, he senses his fate leads him into the forest. His voyage takes an eerie turn once he receives the visits of different apparitions, including that of his son, Pium-Pium (Julián Ramirez). In stark contrast to the lingering shots of pristine wilderness, the appearance of the spectres is startling. They haunt the protagonist and challenge the viewer with an evocative portrait of a past robbed by senseless violence.

The lead actor presents a subtle interpretation of guilt, guiding the audience through a slow-burning passage that might lead to redemption. As he encounters a small militia, deafening bullets overtake the tranquil sounds of the jungle. Being forced to relive his son's death, the wise priest resists humiliation with impressive resolve. Once the shooting returns, he narrowly escapes, leaving behind a group of young people whose confusion and anger led them into the clutches of conflict.

Delving deeper into the wilderness, the protagonist encounters intensifying strangeness, highlighted by an absorbing sound design and a hypnotic camera work. Under the beautiful foliage, Jose’s tragic past resurfaces. Eerie revenants haunt his journey, questioning his ability to protect and honour his community. Though it loses momentum by indulging in visual exploration, the sequence paints a startling portrayal of a realm caught between the chaos of paramilitary violence and its chilling repercussions.

The elder is ultimately incompatible with a new world in which militias and illegal mining have tainted his community. Turning his back on exploitation and ignorance, he finds solace in a quest for an afterlife which might reunite him with Pium-Pium. Álvarez's talent for highlighting the delicate expression of nature offers the narrative a meditative feel. As the protagonist ventures to confront his fate, the serene sounds of leaves, unseen animals and the muffled gust invite the viewer to engage with a unique perspective on mourning.

While highly aware of its contemporary social implications, the Colombian feature plunges into magic realism to craft a poem of consolation. As the stoic man makes his way through the vastness of the jungle, the ambience provides him with a glimmer of hope - a final respite from the brutality that took his son. In these moments, I Saw Three Black Lights shines, brimming with compassion for José’s plight, with Nidia Góngora's vocals keeping vigil for his fractured community.