Atarrabi and Mikelats is my 3rd film of the New York Film Festival and my 2nd Eugene Green film. I was a big fan of Son of Joseph (2016), so I was excited forward to see Green's latest film. In many ways Attarabi is more of the same, but weirder. Atarrabi and Mikelats are the two sons of the Basque Goddess Mari, who seems to be an earth goddess especially connected to the weather. The film starts with Mari entrusting the education and upbringing of her two sons to the Devil, because he is educated. We fast forward to the sons as young adults. Atarrabi (Saia Hiriart) is naive and innocent and wishes to leave the charge of the Devil and live a godly life. Mikelats (Lukas Hiriart) enjoys his devilish life, and spend most of his time "downstairs" partying with his friends. Atarrabi eventually convinces the Devil to let him leave, but as he does, the Devil steals Atarrabi's shadow. This act proves to have disastrous consequence for Atarrabi who can no longer receive the light of God. This disqualifies him from serving in the priesthood or getting married, and the rest of the movie focuses on Atarrabi's quest to find meaning in a life without God's light.
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NYFF: Notes on Atarrabi and Mikelats
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Atarrabi and Mikelats is my 3rd film of the New York Film Festival and my 2nd Eugene Green film. I was a big fan of Son of Joseph (2016), so I was excited forward to see Green's latest film. In many ways Attarabi is more of the same, but weirder. Atarrabi and Mikelats are the two sons of the Basque Goddess Mari, who seems to be an earth goddess especially connected to the weather. The film starts with Mari entrusting the education and upbringing of her two sons to the Devil, because he is educated. We fast forward to the sons as young adults. Atarrabi (Saia Hiriart) is naive and innocent and wishes to leave the charge of the Devil and live a godly life. Mikelats (Lukas Hiriart) enjoys his devilish life, and spend most of his time "downstairs" partying with his friends. Atarrabi eventually convinces the Devil to let him leave, but as he does, the Devil steals Atarrabi's shadow. This act proves to have disastrous consequence for Atarrabi who can no longer receive the light of God. This disqualifies him from serving in the priesthood or getting married, and the rest of the movie focuses on Atarrabi's quest to find meaning in a life without God's light.