Apocalypto
Released 2006
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”Apocalypto” is an American film released in 2006 and stars a cast of very talented Mayan actors and people of Native American descent. It was written by Mel Gibson and Farhad Safinia. The entire film is spoken in the Yucatec language with English subtitles and can best be categorized as historical fiction. The story shows the decline of the Mayan empire through the eyes of a meso-american tribesman who must escape the fate of human sacrifice and then save his family. This film is beautifully shot from a non-eurocentric perspective. There are no non Native American actors.

In an interview, Mel Gibson stated the title ”Apocalypto” meant a new begining. He also stated that empires crumble from within first. The film does a good job of representing both of these themes. As the tribesmen captives are brought to the capitol we get a chance to see the empire and it is in decline. At the very end of the movie we also see the arrival of the Europeans which heralds a new begining.

An important point to note is that in corrupt systems people will have a tendency to prey on each other rather than work together and make individual sacrifices. The priests wore all this fancy jade and performed daily sacrifices but did not seem to care about the citizens of the empire. How many of them would give away their jade or even lives to help the empire?

”Apocalypto” was a very good and original movie with important historical relevance. That is why it is a must see and own.

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