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David and Nathan Zellner’s film, “Sasquatch Sunset,” is a bold and innovative comedy that explores the hidden world of the legendary Sasquatch, also known as Bigfoot, said to reside in the wild areas of North America. In terms of its style and themes, the film can be compared to classics like “Planet of the Apes,” “Watership Down,” and even silent era cinema. Through nonverbal storytelling, the film delves into themes of fear, particularly the fear of climate change, environmental destruction, and humanity’s potential demise.
As the film commences, it is possible that humanity has already perished. We witness four Sasquatch traversing through a clearing in the forest: large, hairy, making grunting and whooping sounds, resembling apes. The roles of a female and three males are portrayed without dialogue and with extensive prosthetic makeup by Riley Keough, Jesse Eisenberg, Nathan Zellner, and Christophe Zajac-Denek. Two of them are in a romantic relationship, which is observed dispassionately by the other two. One dominant male tries to initiate a sexual encounter with another male after observing them in the midst of self-exploration. He also intimidates the others and claims a blackberry bush for himself, indulging in it to the point of drunkenness and then experiencing a hangover. Mushrooms serve as another perilous stimulant for them. In moments of tension and crisis, they scream, dance around, and clench their fists.
These fictional mammals interact with actual animals – a turtle, a badger, a skunk, a snake, a big cat – and the simple juxtaposition of real and imaginary is weirdly disturbing and funny. The Sasquatch are certainly crude and yet they have evolved an effective method of communicating at distances by ritualistically beating sticks together.
We are inevitably anticipating their encounter with humans, which occurs gradually. The sight of a red cross painted on a tree by human loggers deeply disturbs them. They are further puzzled and fascinated by the exposed age-rings of a cut tree log floating in the water. This ultimately leads to disastrous consequences for them. As they come across a potential abandoned camp and tent, they are surprised to hear music playing from a tape deck. However, the Sasquatch are most terrified by something they have never seen before: a man-made road that stretches out into the horizon. They are in awe and scream in fear, as if facing a terrifying predator, and even defecate in fear. But their most distressing moment comes when they spot a thick plume of smoke in the distance, beyond the trees. Is it a wildfire or even a nuclear bomb?
The Sasquatch have remarkable communication skills, both among themselves and with us, the viewers. Despite their ancient origins, they also serve as messengers from a post-apocalyptic future. It is a captivating and clever portrayal of the enigmatic quietness of animals and a world where humans may no longer exist. Their dusk is our dusk.
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Source: theguardian.com
