Cinematic Journeys in Latin America: Geography Through the Lens of Exploration and Discovery Films - Paperback

by Richard Francaviglia (Author)

This book critically examines how movies that feature real or imagined explorers and expeditions creatively feature the geography of Latin America. It focuses on how locales are scripted into film plots and artistically depicted, and demonstrates that place is as important as any character in a film, especially in this genre.

Nineteen key films are analyzed. Some, like Aguirre, the Wrath of God, Fitzcarraldo, The Other Conquest, Embrace of the Serpent, and The Lost City of Z are based on the exploits of real explorers. Others are fictional, including Apocalypto, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and Dora and the Lost City of Gold. The author also discusses the evolution of exploration-discovery films, including trends that will likely be found in forthcoming movies.

Author Biography

Over the last fifty years, geographer Richard Francaviglia (professor emeritus, University of Texas at Arlington and associated scholar, Willamette University) has studied varied places and published fourteen books about them. He lives in Salem, Oregon.