Tragic Jungle
By Jennifer Green,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Graphic violence, sex in suspenseful Mexican mystery.
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Tragic Jungle
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What's the Story?
At the start of TRAGIC JUNGLE, English-speaking Agnes (Indira Rubie Adrewin) and a female companion are escaping British Honduras (today Belize) for Mexico to avoid capture by an English man (Dale Carley) Agnes has apparently rejected and who now wants her dead. Her friend and their guide are killed, and Agnes is left for dead with a gunshot wound to her side. She's found the next day by a man who takes her back to his camp, where a group of men work collecting gum from trees. They hold her hostage, and their desire for her grows by the day, causing tension among them. They make a collective decision concerning their livelihoods and future that will put all of their lives at risk.
Is It Any Good?
The Mayan jungle and the local myth of a femme fatale known as Xtabay give form and meaning to this suspenseful Mexican mystery. Most viewers will have to take to Google to grasp the connections between Xtabay and Agnes in Tragic Jungle (Selva Trágica). But even without fully understanding the myth or the historical and geographical setting, and despite Agnes's lack of spoken lines, there are enough clues to convey that all is not as it appears with the mysterious woman. The actors comprising the excellent, expressive male cast have more to work with, as the true nature of each of them must inevitably rise to the surface in the face of temptation and conflict.
This story is more wretched than tragic, and it unfolds slowly and deliberately. The life of man and woman -- especially here and then -- was indeed nasty, brutish, and short, but the majestic jungle endures. It can't have been easy to shoot this film, but it pays off. The camera is placed at all kinds of interesting angles to capture the lush, disorientating, disconcerting setting. Animals small and large loom, their noises rising and falling on the wind. Crocodiles, tigers, monkeys, ants, and more lurk at every turn. Rain pours down out of nowhere. Fog settles on top of the river, making dawn and dusk indistinguishable. The jungle is a character unto itself, and it may be the most memorable aspect of the movie.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the myth of Xtabay, referenced in Tragic Jungle. Where could you go for more information about her? Can you connect aspects of the mythical character to the portrayal of Agnes in the movie?
One of the indigenous men narrates the film at moments and seems to possess ancient wisdom about the jungle. What were some of his warnings?
Agnes's character has very few spoken lines in the film. How did this affect your understanding or interest in her character?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: June 9, 2021
- Cast: Indira Rubie Andrewin, Gilberto Barraza, Mariano Tun Xool
- Director: Yulene Olaizola
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures
- Run time: 96 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
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