Socotra, the Island of Djinns

NEW DOCS

The main character of this film is an island: the mysterious and remote Socotra on the edge of the Indian Ocean. This legendary nesting place of the phoenix, laden with frankincense, myrrh, and dragon’s blood trees, is home to numerous flora and fauna found nowhere else on earth. In this alien land we join a group of camel herders making its way to the island’s isolated inner region before the rainy season begins. By day they lead their camels across rocky terrain singing haunting tunes in a dialect so ancient it’s almost forgotten. By night they prepare food using age-old methods and gather around crackling fires, where they tell tales of djinns and other supernatural beings whose antics seem no more mystifying than the men themselves. This gorgeous film is shot in black and white and features no narration. The sound design is crisp and bewitching—clouds wisp through mountain passes, camels crunch along dusty trails, and campfires never sounded so enchanting. RYS

Director

Jordi Esteva

Producer

Jordi Esteva

Editor

Santy Borricón

Cinematographers

Albert Serradó, Jordi Esteva, Albert Buendía

Original Title

Socotra, la Isla de los Genios

Release Year

2016

Festival Year

2017

Country

Spain

Run Time

64 minutes

Subtitled

Yes

Premiere

US Premiere