“A Vanishing Fog” is based on a guardian of the mountains who is condemned by his fate and strives to protect the fragile ecosystem he inhabits while caring for his sickly father.
“A Vanishing Fog” is another eco-activist film from Colombia that is addressing climate change while rooted in magical realism.
Filming took place in the topographical phenomenon of Páramo of Sumapaz – a delicate ecosystem formed by various Alpine tundra essential for Bogotá’s water source. The story centers on F (Sebastian Pii in a striking debut performance) who is tasked with protecting this ecosystem and caring for his sickly father. F is learning English to plan his escape for North America.
Written and directed by Augusto Sandino, his screenplay is mostly silent. Sandino images capturing industrial devastation are steeped in sci-fi, documentary, and fantasy. During the few times characters speak, their language is made up like “Twin Peaks” backward manner.
Although it is cryptic, “A Vanishing Fog” is a splendid subversive vision of a dying planet. It will alienate a fair amount of people but for those than can tune into its bizarre frequency, you will not regret it.
“A Vanishing Fog” recently had its North American Premiere at the 2022 SXSW Film Festival
