The Ornithologist

Among Queer Cinema's primary provocateurs, Portuguese auteur João Pedro Rodrigues reworks the life of St Anthony of Padua in this subversive and often mesmerising reverie. In the opening passage, cinematographer Rui Poças captures the lushness of the forest and the teasing perspective of the birds being studied by the intrepid Fernando (Paul Hamy). But the mood changes after his kayak overturns and he finds himself at the mercy of two lesbian Chinese pilgrims (Han Wen and Chan Suan) walking the Camino de Santiago. After escaping their potentially emasculating St Sebastian fantasy, Fernando finds further trouble after running into gay shepherd Jesus and his twin brother, Thomas (both Xelo Cagiao). As if to complicate things further, Rodrigues then starts to assume the role of Fernando for himself. Merging Catholic hagiography and Portuguese folklore with his own personal journey, Rodrigues presents a liltingly lyrical but always demanding tract that bears the imprint of both Luis Buñuel and Apichatpong Weerasethakul.